Missouri may be banning steak and seafood from Food Stamp Program

[DisneyNutMary]

In some states, ALL food is taxed. It may be taxed modestly, but it is still taxed. So suggesting not having taxable items count as eligible won't work in some areas as all food would be ineligible.

You got me there. I've worked in the industry in four states, and it's always been the same consumables that have been taxed. I didn't even think other states would differ. My error.
Still, certain categories can be eliminated from the program without damaging the whole point of the program. Steak and seafood are more beneficial to a healthy diet than Mountain Dew and Hershey bars.
it would not take much programming for the retail food industry to make candy and soda as non-foodstampable. Or even to make lobster and pre-made sushi no foodstampable for the matter, and still allow flounder, shrimp, tilapia and cod available.

 

[Miskey]

Yeah those pesky entitlement programs like social security, unemployment, VA programs, medicare, medicaid, federal employee health care. Combined they make up a whooping 2% of our federal budget. We need to rein in all that unnecessary spending

You mean social security that is taken out of my paycheck every single pay period?? Hell yes, when I reach a certain age I am entitled to that money because I earned it.

No one is entitled to any form of welfare. Should there be programs in place to help people in need? YES. Temporary solutions to unexpected situations, not a way of life.

I deal with Medicaid and Medicare in my job. My opinions are based on things I see on a daily basis.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I find your comment regarding - people getting as much as they can for doing as little as possible - applies to a large portion of the population. Not just the poor using public assistance programs.
I do find people who are very lucky to have never needed to take advantage of these programs like to toss that statement around a lot!

Really, people that went to school, got degrees, work 40+ hours/week at a job to support their families are doing "as little as possible"....

Again, try working in the system and seeing what really goes on. Yes, there are some people that need the TEMPORARY assistance that the welfare/food stamp system was designed to help, but it was NEVER set up to be a way of life. The system itself creates the problems by allowing the abuse to happen in the first place. When you give someone something for nothing, it will eventually create a system of entitlement. The system needs to require some "payback" in the form of volunteer work or paid work, along with an education requirement, plain and simple. However, that will never happen because no one wants to admit that the system is what it is.

And I'm sure all the stores that I see in the impoverished neighborhoods on the way to the Cleveland Clinic (on the bus lines or close enough to walk to) carry these items and encourage their shoppers to purchase these items.

I'm sure most of those stores do sell cartons of Quaker Oats, for $1.99 or so. Keep making excuses and NO ONE benefits. It would be pretty simple to change the EBT system to deny purchases of unhealthy foods---especially since its already set up to do so. The system would be be better set up to allow purchases based on good diets, so they could purchase enough fruits and vegetables to provide 3-5 servings/day and enough meat to provide a serving a day, etc. instead of going off a set dollar amount. It would then exclude candy and other junk foods. Not only would people be eating better, they would be healthier and cost less overall for medical/dental care, etc. too. There are a lot of good changes that could happen....if people stopped making excuses why they can't happen.

 

[Gracie09]

You mean social security that is taken out of my paycheck every single pay period?? Hell yes, when I reach a certain age I am entitled to that money because I earned it.

No one is entitled to any form of welfare. Should there be programs in place to help people in need? YES. Temporary solutions to unexpected situations, not a way of life.

I deal with Medicaid and Medicare in my job. My opinions are based on things I see on a daily basis.

Most people who are on food stamps (which is what we are talking about and different than welfare) work and pay taxes that go toward the program. In fact with the recent recession, many of the people who now qualify for food stamps paid into the system for many years. I base my opinions on the things I see as well. As a foster mother, we were entitled to food stamps and wic for our foster children. We only chose to take wic for infants still on formula but some of my foster family friends took it for their foster kids. They were called horrible names by "fine upstanding citizens" as they used them to pay for part of their groceries. They were followed to the parking lot and again called names because their car was too good for someone on public assistance.

 

[Gracie09]

Really, people that went to school, got degrees, work 40+ hours/week at a job to support their families are doing "as little as possible"....

Again, try working in the system and seeing what really goes on. Yes, there are some people that need the TEMPORARY assistance that the welfare/food stamp system was designed to help, but it was NEVER set up to be a way of life. The system itself creates the problems by allowing the abuse to happen in the first place. When you give someone something for nothing, it will eventually create a system of entitlement. The system needs to require some "payback" in the form of volunteer work or paid work, along with an education requirement, plain and simple. However, that will never happen because no one wants to admit that the system is what it is.



I'm sure most of those stores do sell cartons of Quaker Oats, for $1.99 or so. Keep making excuses and NO ONE benefits. It would be pretty simple to change the EBT system to deny purchases of unhealthy foods---especially since its already set up to do so. The system would be be better set up to allow purchases based on good diets, so they could purchase enough fruits and vegetables to provide 3-5 servings/day and enough meat to provide a serving a day, etc. instead of going off a set dollar amount. It would then exclude candy and other junk foods. Not only would people be eating better, they would be healthier and cost less overall for medical/dental care, etc. too. There are a lot of good changes that could happen....if people stopped making excuses why they can't happen.

Welfare recipients are required to go to work within 2 years of receiving benefits or risk losing the benefits.

You should look up food desert. You don't seem to understand that the stores in inner cities don't carry things like fresh fruits and vegetables. Or fresh meat. It is a well documented problem.

 

[morgan98]

Most people who are on food stamps (which is what we are talking about and different than welfare) work and pay taxes that go toward the program. In fact with the recent recession, many of the people who now qualify for food stamps paid into the system for many years. I base my opinions on the things I see as well. As a foster mother, we were entitled to food stamps and wic for our foster children. We only chose to take wic for infants still on formula but some of my foster family friends took it for their foster kids. They were called horrible names by "fine upstanding citizens" as they used them to pay for part of their groceries. They were followed to the parking lot and again called names because their car was too good for someone on public assistance.

Many people who are on food stamps, due to the low income requirements, are not paying FEDERAL income tax which is what pays for food stamps. (I am not talking about a foster situation) Yes, they may be paying social security and medicare taxes on their income which pays for those future benefits. They also probably pay sales tax which goes to whatever their states use sales tax/gas tax revenues for. Very few are paying enough in federal taxes to offset their food stamp benefit, let alone all the other federal shared services we use. In addition, those that are chronically low wage earners and that have a family don't really pay that much in federal tax at all once they claim personal exemptions, standard deduction, child care credits, EIC etc.

Believe me, I agree that we need the programs and I also agree that we cannot police such minute details about the program. However, to say that those who are collecting the benefits are paying for them through taxes is not necessarily true.

 

[HelenePA]

1.99$ for oats? are you crazy? at a place like turkey hill (local convenience store in the NE) they are probably close to 6$. I've shopped there in a pinch for lunch stuff for my kids before school in the mornings when they wanted to bring their lunch.. bananas are .89$ each.. EACH not a pound not a bunch.. EACH! I'll snap some pics for you later when I'm there buying milk later. You'll have a nice reality check.

 

[luvsJack]

So when do we get the post about the lady who couldn't buy dog food on ebt so she bought steak for her dogs? Or how about the one with the lady who buys $300 worth of groceries (or has it gone up to $500 now?) with ebt and goes out and gets in a brand new BMW (or Camri or Jaguar or whatever)? Or, I know, the one where the lady tells the cashier "I really need more money. Guess its time to have another kid".

I know they are coming, they always do.




Most of you here have no idea what is like to live on foodstamps. Even those that "work in the system" many times do not have a clue. Its not easy. Your kids are still normal kids that want treats. You say "they should buy oatmeal". So, if your child hates oatmeal and refuses to eat it, you only have enough money to buy oatmeal or Frosted Flakes for the month. Your kid will eat the Frosted Flakes or will not have breakfast if you get the oatmeal. What are you going to do? Well, why do you expect them to do any different?

Kids will eat cereal for a snack as well as breakfast. Not many will eat oatmeal for a snack. So, she buys enough cereal, she takes care of a meal and snack every day rather than one meal.

Its not excuses its actual facts to say they may not have a way to cook oatmeal. Or mom has to leave for work before the kids get up, cereal is safer than the kid cooking oatmeal.

Do we really want to give the government so much control over one group of society? They are poor so we "upper class" get to tell them how they should feed their kids? Give them education and information but telling them what they should be allowed to make the final choices.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Welfare recipients are required to go to work within 2 years of receiving benefits or risk losing the benefits.

You should look up food desert. You don't seem to understand that the stores in inner cities don't carry things like fresh fruits and vegetables. Or fresh meat. It is a well documented problem.

Well....if EBT cards could only buy those things, stores would carry them or go out of business.....cause and effect....

 

[luvsJack]

Well....if EBT cards could only buy those things, stores would carry them or go out of business.....cause and effect....

uhmmmmm. . . no, that is not how it works. The stores don't carry those things because they would have charge so much for them that no one would buy them. Plus, they may not be able to get deliveries often enough to keep the produce fresh or they may not have the coolers that these things need. These stores aren't like Walmart, they don't buy cases of bananas at a time, they would be lucky to need 1 case at a time. A pp already mentioned .89 a piece bananas. Do you really think someone on food stamps can afford that? They may as well buy the lobster.

 

[Gracie09]

Many people who are on food stamps, due to the low income requirements, are not paying FEDERAL income tax which is what pays for food stamps. (I am not talking about a foster situation) Yes, they may be paying social security and medicare taxes on their income which pays for those future benefits. They also probably pay sales tax which goes to whatever their states use sales tax/gas tax revenues for. Very few are paying enough in federal taxes to offset their food stamp benefit, let alone all the other federal shared services we use. In addition, those that are chronically low wage earners and that have a family don't really pay that much in federal tax at all once they claim personal exemptions, standard deduction, child care credits, EIC etc.

Believe me, I agree that we need the programs and I also agree that we cannot police such minute details about the program. However, to say that those who are collecting the benefits are paying for them through taxes is not necessarily true.

Many of the people who have been added to the food stamp rolls in recent years held higher paying jobs. They paid taxes on their earnings.

 

[Gracie09]

Well....if EBT cards could only buy those things, stores would carry them or go out of business.....cause and effect....

and be replaced by empty store fronts...

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

Do we really want to give the government so much control over one group of society? They are poor so we "upper class" get to tell them how they should feed their kids? Give them education and information but telling them what they should be allowed to make the final choices.

This. This so much. TANF is already a limited program, to begin with. There are a lot of things that my Almighty Tax Dollars pay for that I don't agree with, but that's the price of living in a democratic society. Sometimes, we have to put up with things we don't like for the benefit of all. I am not going to begrudge people food. I'm not going to begrudge them treats, come to that.

 

[ReneeA]

Yeah those pesky entitlement programs like social security, unemployment, VA programs, medicare, medicaid, federal employee health care. Combined they make up a whooping 2% of our federal budget. We need to rein in all that unnecessary spending

This. All the people grousing about their taxpayer dollars really need to educate themselves on where your money actually goes. You don't want to give $50 of your money a year to feed the poor, but are okay with $3875 a year going to corporate subsidies?

That's where are your money goes! The poor with their ebt cards are just an easier target because you see them out in the community. I'm okay paying my measley $50 a year if a kid isn't hungry.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Yeah those pesky entitlement programs like social security, unemployment, VA programs, medicare, medicaid, federal employee health care. Combined they make up a whooping 2% of our federal budget. We need to rein in all that unnecessary spending

Do you have a source for that? I thought those programs were much more than 2% of the total.

 

[mnrose]

You know, people who "complain" about poor people and government money are often receiving large amounts themselves. This guy might be my (current) personal favorite. Rails about "big government" and how "government" never created any jobs (and on and on and on), yet his business (day care) derives over 90% of it's "revenue" from (gasp, the HORROR) from government subsidies. In his case, over $4 million dollars since 2010. Makes those food stamp people pale in comparison, doesn't it?

Now, I don't for one second doubt that his day care is providing a valuable community service, and I firmly believe this is a good use of government money. But, I do think it's people like this who are the biggest hypocrites on the planet. Government spending is all bad, except for that which *I* receive.

http://m.arktimes.com/arkansas/hypocrite-watch-rep-justin-harris/Content?oid=1562968

 

[Gracie09]

Do you have a source for that? I thought those programs were much more than 2% of the total.

Your right the 2% is food stamps and cash aid. I miss typed.

 

[Gracie09]

You know, people who "complain" about poor people and government money are often receiving large amounts themselves. This guy might be my (current) personal favorite. Rails about "big government" and how "government" never created any jobs (and on and on and on), yet his business (day care) derives over 90% of it's "revenue" from (gasp, the HORROR) from government subsidies. In his case, over $4 million dollars since 2010. Makes those food stamp people pale in comparison, doesn't it?

Now, I don't for one second doubt that his day care is providing a valuable community service, and I firmly believe this is a good use of government money. But, I do think it's people like this who are the biggest hypocrites on the planet. Government spending is all bad, except for that which *I* receive.

http://m.arktimes.com/arkansas/hypocrite-watch-rep-justin-harris/Content?oid=1562968

Don't get me started on him. He should be in jail.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

This. All the people grousing about their taxpayer dollars really need to educate themselves on where your money actually goes. You don't want to give $50 of your money a year to feed the pour, but are okay with $3875 a year going to corporate subsidies?

That's where are your money goes! The poor with their ebt cards are just an easier target because you see them out in the community. I'm okay paying my measly $50 a year if a kid isn't hungry.

One of the largest USA tax subsidies is the mortgage interest deduction.

 

[MIGrandma]

This. All the people grousing about their taxpayer dollars really need to educate themselves on where your money actually goes. You don't want to give $50 of your money a year to feed the pour, but are okay with $3875 a year going to corporate subsidies?

That's where are your money goes! The poor with their ebt cards are just an easier target because you see them out in the community. I'm okay paying my measly $50 a year if a kid isn't hungry.

I certainly don't mind giving $50 to help the poor, but it's the deadbeats that make welfare "a way of life" that I don't want to pay for.

I used to be a secretary at a local church, and they ran a food pantry. Part of my duties were to distribute from the food pantry to people who came in. They were allowed to come once a month. Some came month after month, year after year. One woman (who could afford a seasonal site at a local campground) that did that actually had the nerve to complain because the pantry was out of toilet tissue. Then there were those that only came a couple times a year, when they really needed a little help and there was an elderly woman with a handicapped daughter who came a few times a year and I would bend over backwards to help them. They weren't "milking the system." It's those that milk the system year after year that should be stopped.