Missouri may be banning steak and seafood from Food Stamp Program

[Luvchefmic]

I just LOVE the stories of some EBT recipients selling their food for cash, baby formula being pulled out of dumpsters, food stamp users drinking beer, smoking, driving cars. Yep, love those stories the same way I love the tales of " Italians are..., blacks are....., Hispanics are ....... gays are...... Enough already. I am learning much about people I have seen here for years, both good and bad.

 

[Gracie09]

The poster paints herself as an expert in all threads pertaining to education, based upon her experiences in Mississippi. Any college experience is somehow odd or tainted if not done the way things are at the cc she is employed at. This is why many of her posts appear to be end it all's, not open for discussion. So I find it funny that there are so many needy students at the cc and rather than help them, she continues to push agenda here. Just my opinion and something that I have seen here over the years I have been a poster here.

Thanks for worrying about my time use, I don't have to worry about how I'm spending mine. Perhaps we could all devote more time to charitable activities and bring an end to the need for the food programs that are the hot button issue on this thread.

So we shouldn't worry how you spend your time but it's ok for you to worry how others spend their time. Got it.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

 

[smadath]

While I was checking out at the local grocery store this past Christmas, the cashier and bagger were discussing a previous customer who purchased $115 worth of Redstone Candy with a SNAP card. They were irate because they were working and could barely afford the Holiday, and this person was using money intended for food on candy. They felt that money shouldn't be taken from their paychecks so someone else can waste it on non-necessities.

My first though? Shut up, before someone hears you complaining about a customer! Second though, they kind of have a point. Even though only person did it, it can shine a bad light on everyone.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

My grocery funds shouldn't go to people gossiping on the job, so I guess no one wins.

 

[smadath]

My grocery funds shouldn't go to people gossiping on the job, so I guess no one wins.

Yeah, I have to say it was somewhat uncomfortable. That's what break rooms are for.

 

[Colleen27]

While I was checking out at the local grocery store this past Christmas, the cashier and bagger were discussing a previous customer who purchased $115 worth of Redstone Candy with a SNAP card. They were irate because they were working and could barely afford the Holiday, and this person was using money intended for food on candy. They felt that money shouldn't be taken from their paychecks so someone else can waste it on non-necessities.

My first though? Shut up, before someone hears you complaining about a customer! Second though, they kind of have a point. Even though only person did it, it can shine a bad light on everyone.

And really, how many tax dollars are they really kicking in on a cashier's wage? That's something that tends to bug me about the food stamp griping; it tends to be loudest, in my experience, among the "vacationing on my earned income credit" bracket - you know, the people who work as cashiers or lunchroom staff and claim they see food stamp/free lunch abuse every day, but don't think of the help they get as government assistance. After all, it says "earned" right in the name!

 

[smadath]

At the time, I chalked it up to being Christmas. I think everything irritates everyone right before Christmas. Holidays are stressful!

 

[luvsJack]

No, not at all. As stated earlier, my family only qualified for $320/month to feed a family of 8, when our only source of income was unemployment (which is just a fraction of the regular salary). No, we did not have other assets either that made us receive a lower amount. So I know first hand that government food aid doesn't always last the month. I also know that families half our size received more than twice as much. I know there are qualifying standards, but I also know that there is discrimination, and I believe that is what happened in our case.



That was in regards to the mention of extenuating circumstances, not irresponsible use. Read again.

Ok gotcha. Yeah, it just doesn't stretch as far as people think it should.

 

[luvsJack]

No, not at all. As stated earlier, my family only qualified for $320/month to feed a family of 8, when our only source of income was unemployment (which is just a fraction of the regular salary). No, we did not have other assets either that made us receive a lower amount. So I know first hand that government food aid doesn't always last the month. I also know that families half our size received more than twice as much. I know there are qualifying standards, but I also know that there is discrimination, and I believe that is what happened in our case.



That was in regards to the mention of extenuating circumstances, not irresponsible use. Read again.

Ok gotcha.

 

[usd2bmd]

I tend to agree. But what if the family blows their money on expensive food half way through month (probably somewhat rare) then what to do? If one supports giving them more money then there needs to be restrictions on what they buy. If one supports telling them "no more" then let them buy what they want.

If you are collecting food stamps you get a certain amount each month, you don't get more when it's gone. If they choose to buy steak and seafood then so be it. either way they get the same amount.

 

[usd2bmd]

I would be much more concerned with people abusing the tax system. let's spend some money finding the people that send their money to Switzerland and the Caymans to avoid taxes. That might actually make you some money. Nope instead let's shame the poor. That's obviously easier to swallow for the majority.

 

[Kbee]

I just LOVE the stories of some EBT recipients selling their food for cash, baby formula being pulled out of dumpsters, food stamp users drinking beer, smoking, driving cars. Yep, love those stories the same way I love the tales of " Italians are..., blacks are....., Hispanics are ....... gays are...... Enough already. I am learning much about people I have seen here for years, both good and bad.

I'm not sure what you are implying here but just because you don't believe that these stories are real doesn't mean they aren't.
I have witnessed abuse of the food stamp program. And when I say witnessed I mean I watched a woman I worked with sell her food stamps to another woman every month for cash. She did work part time, so maybe she really didn't need the food stamps for food but then she shouldn't have applied for them.
Granted this was before the EBT cards, when it was actual stamps but I'm not naive enough to think that this doesn't go on in other ways now, and something really should be done about it.
Sure the majority of food stamp recipients don't abuse the system, but the ones that do, ruin for everyone, including the honest recipients and the tax-payers. We should all be up in arms over any abuse instead of not believing the stories we hear because we choose not to believe it really happens.

 

[luvsJack]

The poster paints herself as an expert in all threads pertaining to education, based upon her experiences in Mississippi. Any college experience is somehow odd or tainted if not done the way things are at the cc she is employed at. This is why many of her posts appear to be end it all's, not open for discussion. So I find it funny that there are so many needy students at the cc and rather than help them, she continues to push agenda here. Just my opinion and something that I have seen here over the years I have been a poster here.

Thanks for worrying about my time use, I don't have to worry about how I'm spending mine. Perhaps we could all devote more time to charitable activities and bring an end to the need for the food programs that are the hot button issue on this thread.

Since your word choice is "dead beats," I'm not so sure that you fully have empathy for those receiving benefits. The harsh reality is that improving one's lot in life requires hard work, sacrifice, and discipline. There are far too many receiving benefits who need a swift kick in the rear end to get motivated. Our government still hasn't learned that just throwing money at a problem doesn't solve or eliminate the problem.

As to my question about work, you must have a lot of idle time in your job at the community college that you reference so often. I asked about it because you reference it often on all threads about education.

I am not an expert anything. I work in a comm college and have worked in several different departments and done several different jobs. We are a small campus so we all pitch in. I do know financial aid and I do know how our classes work and how they transfer. I also know how our programs work as I have worked closely with 4 of them. I also do admissions at times. And with all that yes we have idle time quite a bit during certain parts of the semester.

As for my experience in the subject of this thread, its my experience, if it is different from your wife's I can't really apologize for that. And if I said her's was wrong, or implyed so, it wasn't my intention. I don't even remember what you said her experience was. I just know that everything is not as cut and dried as some who haven't had any experience with it want to think it is.

As for the term deadbeats, someone else made that refrence, I was referring to that in my post.

And I think you said something about me helping students. FYI, I do every day.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I'm not sure what you are implying here but just because you don't believe that these stories are real doesn't mean they aren't.
I have witnessed abuse of the food stamp program. And when I say witnessed I mean I watched a woman I worked with sell her food stamps to another woman every month for cash. She did work part time, so maybe she really didn't need the food stamps for food but then she shouldn't have applied for them.
Granted this was before the EBT cards, when it was actual stamps but I'm not naive enough to think that this doesn't go on in other ways now, and something really should be done about it.
Sure the majority of food stamp recipients don't abuse the system, but the ones that do, ruin for everyone, including the honest recipients and the tax-payers. We should all be up in arms over any abuse instead of not believing the stories we hear because we choose not to believe it really happens.

Not implying anything, just think the stories grow and grow, everybody witnessed something, knows someone, etc. until it's more urban legend than fact.

Amazing how I can go through life not noticing any of these shady doings. I shop all the time, you're in front of me I may smile and ask you to pass the divider. I notice nothing in your cart and I sure don't pay attention to how you pay.

I think more people need to mind their own business and not jump to conclusions about anything.

Oh yeah one more thing to the Dis

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I would be much more concerned with people abusing the tax system. let's spend some money finding the people that send their money to Switzerland and the Caymans to avoid taxes. That might actually make you some money. Nope instead let's shame the poor. That's obviously easier to swallow for the majority.

Exactly this! The subsidies given to the wealthiest fraction of the wealthiest sliver of money managers through the carried interest tax break alone is in excess of $13 billion per year, or nearly 20% of the total amount spent on SNAP each year. This $13,000,000,000+ is shared amongst the wealthiest 0.0001% of the population; literally the 1% of the 1%. This tax break is the true crime, in my opinion, but some people would rather kick, shame, degrade, dehumanize, and accuse the poor of fraud for trying to put food on the table.

The lack of empathy and just plain mean-spiritedness of some people, both overt and thinly veiled, blows my mind. I've been incredibly lucky in my life and I have no idea what it must be like to worry where my next meal or my children's next meal will come from, but I do know that there but for the grace of God go I.

 

[Kbee]

You can choose where you shop, I don't know anyone who can choose to not have taxe

Not implying anything, just think the stories grow and grow, everybody witnessed something, knows someone, etc. until it's more urban legend than fact.

Amazing how I can go through life not noticing any of these shady doings. I shop all the time, you're in front of me I may smile and ask you to pass the divider. I notice nothing in your cart and I sure don't pay attention to how you pay.

I think more people need to mind their own business and not jump to conclusions about anything.

Oh yeah one more thing to the Dis

It sounds like you are implying that those stories aren't true, in other words calling people liars.

In my case I knew the woman, worked with her for years, I was friends with her so it wasn't just a case of I saw someone in line do XYZ.

 

[mnrose]

Exactly this! The subsidies given to the wealthiest fraction of the wealthiest sliver of money managers through the carried interest tax break alone is in excess of $13 billion per year, or nearly 20% of the total amount spent on SNAP each year. This $13,000,000,000+ is shared amongst the wealthiest 0.0001% of the population; literally the 1% of the 1%. This tax break is the true crime, in my opinion, but some people would rather kick, shame, degrade, dehumanize, and accuse the poor of fraud for trying to put food on the table.

The lack of empathy and just plain mean-spiritedness of some people, both overt and thinly veiled, blows my mind. I've been incredibly lucky in my life and I have no idea what it must be like to worry where my next meal or my children's next meal will come from, but I do know that there but for the grace of God go I.

My hero.

Excellent point.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/woman-a-leading-authority-on-what-shouldnt-be-in-p,35922/

 

[Luvchefmic]

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/woman-a-leading-authority-on-what-shouldnt-be-in-p,35922/

You forgot one that goes hand in hand with it.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-law-requires-welfare-recipients-to-submit-swea,36626/