Things that make you shake your head!

[brunette8706]

Reread what the OP wrote. She said they may have had other food in the basket but she didn't look. So she really doesn't know what this person spent on candy. She assumed. I'll assume she also had groceries, that may have accounted for a lot of that money. Oh, but what fun is there in that LOL? Also, she did not say in the OP that the party was for adults..she mentioned that way later when some of us made suggestions of why she might have a lot of candy. Again..did she assume or just forget to tell us that from the begining?

Actually, we don't know what kind of people we were talking about, since all the judging from the OP and others took place because of a few minutes of a conversation. I thought we were talking about the person the OP talked about and I don't know that person's circumstances. Sure, there is welfare and foodstamp fraud going on..but when we start judging from a persons grocery cart without knowing the circumstances that's plain, well, judging.
You can never say never, until your life is over. I surely never thought my parents would go through all of their savings paying for medical until they finally were able to get medicaid (and then lose their longtime doctor because he didn't take medicaid). I never thought my parents would qualify for foodstamps. I never thought both of my parents would die from cancer. We just never know the future.

*
OH MY GOSH! You just aren't getting it. You can assume all you want. You know what they say when you eh hem assume, right? LOL! There is alway ongoing fraud in the Welfare system. She didn't have groceries. No where did I read that the OP mentioned she had groceries. Further, someone that is going to spend $170 on CANDY couldn't care less about good healthy groceries! The mentality is just not there! Then the OP mentioned that the woman in question asked her friend if she will have enough money left over within the month to carry them through. Did you read that?????

It's so bad in NY that mayor Bloomberg is mandating that no sugary soda can be bought on foodstamps! He should make that candy too!

 

[ajh88]

As for only buying "healthy" food.... there is no way to determine what is "healthy" and what is not. Food with less nutritional value is often way cheaper than "healthy" food. You can buy a gallon of orange "drink" for 99 cents. A gallon of orange juice is $5.99. Fresh fruits and vegetables are very expensive, especially here in the north east in the winter. You can buy a box of instant mac $ cheese for 99 cents, the ingredients to make the real thing are much more expensive. So, truly, if you want the most for your dollar, it is often cheaper to go with pre-packaged convenience foods, which are, incidentally, the foods that most often have coupons associated with them. Like a PP said you are d*amned if you do, and d*mned if you don't. If you buy "healthy" things like fish, chicken breasts, and lean beef, you are horrible for spending tax dollars on "luxuries." If you buy cheap processed things you are horrible for spending tax dollars on "junk." It would really be better if people would just count their blessings and mind their own business.

I am not proud to admit that we have received food benefits from our state since the end of August. We have probably technically qualified for longer, but it wasn't until I was scrounging for a few dollars for bread and milk (literally) that I decided I had to take a drastic step. Our current income is $720 a month for a family of 3 and we receive $396 per month in food assistance. If anyone thinks I live high on the hog with my assistance, they are sadly mistaken.

I have a job, but am working only minimal hours because I'm spending 40+ hours a week on my education - I go to work every morning but I don't get paid for it. DH also works full time and the vast majority of our income is his. I don't know why I feel the need to justify this, but alas I do. Our current income places us well below the current federal poverty level (about $1500 a month for a family of 3).

I struggled with even posting this - I am ASAHMED to be receiving these benefits, but I would rather swallow my pride and have food in my refrigerator than have my pride and a bare cupboard. I try to hide my card when I make purchases because I feel like EVERYONE is analyzing what I have in my cart and whether or not I'm using THEIR money wisely. I remind myself that this is only temporary - at the latest I'll be more gainfully employed in May and hopefully in March - and that I paid my fair share of taxes during the 10 years I worked between college and my return to school. But, it doesn't make me feel any better about it. As I told DH the day I got our approval letter - I'm not happy but I am thankful. I still budget and shop sales and I use coupons just as I would if this were "my" money - but I also buy a package of cookies (I take 4 a day in my lunch) every other week and a couple of bags of chips, among a few frozen items as well. But, I can honestly say I've NEVER purchased something with my assistance that I would not have purchased with my own funds.

And I just have to vent about the "restrictions" so many people seem to believe are necessary. If we are banning sugary junk food, then we should not let people buy cereal (at least a lot of different cereals). We shouldn't let people purchase coffee either - it has entirely too much caffeine. And canned vegetables - no way - too much salt. Sodium is just as bad (and IMHO, worse) as sugar for your health, but I don't hear anyone calling for a ban on lunch meat (even deli ham or turkey is loaded with sodium). And no frozen stuff - those are just convenience foods - only fresh vegetables if you want them. If you really want a technicality, fresh fruit is loaded with sugar (and I'll admit I'm being a bit of a devil's advocate with that one since there are other healthful benefits to fresh fruit, but they are sugary nonetheless). And people should only be allowed to buy skim milk, definitely not 2% or higher, because that is not healthy at all! OK, I'm sure my point is made (or not) - I digress.

And before I created a dogpile based on my signature, yes, I'm planning a Disney trip for next year...AFTER our financial house is in proper order. If things don't go according to plan, neither will the trip.

FWIW, we make too much money to qualify for cash assistance (the cut-off in our state is $400/month income) - so I agree with many of the PP's - I'm just thankful for what we have and I'm looking forward to the day that I won't have to rely on help to feed my family.

 

[brunette8706]

I am not proud to admit that we have received food benefits from our state since the end of August. We have probably technically qualified for longer, but it wasn't until I was scrounging for a few dollars for bread and milk (literally) that I decided I had to take a drastic step. Our current income is $720 a month for a family of 3 and we receive $396 per month in food assistance. If anyone thinks I live high on the hog with my assistance, they are sadly mistaken.

I have a job, but am working only minimal hours because I'm spending 40+ hours a week on my education - I go to work every morning but I don't get paid for it. DH also works full time and the vast majority of our income is his. I don't know why I feel the need to justify this, but alas I do. Our current income places us well below the current federal poverty level (about $1500 a month for a family of 3).

I struggled with even posting this - I am ASAHMED to be receiving these benefits, but I would rather swallow my pride and have food in my refrigerator than have my pride and a bare cupboard. I try to hide my card when I make purchases because I feel like EVERYONE is analyzing what I have in my cart and whether or not I'm using THEIR money wisely. I remind myself that this is only temporary - at the latest I'll be more gainfully employed in May and hopefully in March - and that I paid my fair share of taxes during the 10 years I worked between college and my return to school. But, it doesn't make me feel any better about it. As I told DH the day I got our approval letter - I'm not happy but I am thankful. I still budget and shop sales and I use coupons just as I would if this were "my" money - but I also buy a package of cookies (I take 4 a day in my lunch) every other week and a couple of bags of chips, among a few frozen items as well. But, I can honestly say I've NEVER purchased something with my assistance that I would not have purchased with my own funds.

And I just have to vent about the "restrictions" so many people seem to believe are necessary. If we are banning sugary junk food, then we should not let people buy cereal (at least a lot of different cereals). We shouldn't let people purchase coffee either - it has entirely too much caffeine. And canned vegetables - no way - too much salt. Sodium is just as bad (and IMHO, worse) as sugar for your health, but I don't hear anyone calling for a ban on lunch meat (even deli ham or turkey is loaded with sodium). And no frozen stuff - those are just convenience foods - only fresh vegetables if you want them. If you really want a technicality, fresh fruit is loaded with sugar (and I'll admit I'm being a bit of a devil's advocate with that one since there are other healthful benefits to fresh fruit, but they are sugary nonetheless). And people should only be allowed to buy skim milk, definitely not 2% or higher, because that is not healthy at all! OK, I'm sure my point is made (or not) - I digress.

And before I created a dogpile based on my signature, yes, I'm planning a Disney trip for next year...AFTER our financial house is in proper order. If things don't go according to plan, neither will the trip.

FWIW, we make too much money to qualify for cash assistance (the cut-off in our state is $400/month income) - so I agree with many of the PP's - I'm just thankful for what we have and I'm looking forward to the day that I won't have to rely on help to feed my family.

*
Hi! Please don't be ashamed. It looks like you are trying to better yourself, for a lack of a better word. Your going to college, you are working, you are trying to make ends meet. It looks like once you get in the right direction you will be off government assistance. That's a good thing. People like you and your family, I don't have a problem with at all. Remember, your doing the right thing which in it self is a lot. Schooling, working, caring for your family. Please DON"T FEEL ASHAMED.....I hope you have a wonderful trip to WDW.

 

[2bearsmom]

ajh88, don't feel ashamed....you are doing what you need to do to put food on your table for your family. If we needed assistance one day we would take it and I would continue to make the healthy meals I make now for my family, and I'd be grateful I could do that. There is nothing wrong with taking assistance until you get back on your feet again.

However, these people that abuse the system live off of it for years or generations, they are way too comfortable. And what was Pennsylvania thinking when they decided to give them a free cell phone with different plans to choose from with free monthly minutes? Maybe if you need a cell phone that bad you can withdrawl your cash to pay for that instead of booze and cigarettes. Why would anyone ever want to grow up and live in the real world? You can live the high life and get paid for not going to work everyday, and you get to teach your kids the same life lessons so that they can strive for the same life for themselves one day. Everyone knows this is how alot of these people choose to live their lives, they are just too afraid to say it. Why did the program go from being called food stamps to SNAP?

 

[hambirg]

I am not proud to admit that we have received food benefits from our state since the end of August. We have probably technically qualified for longer, but it wasn't until I was scrounging for a few dollars for bread and milk (literally) that I decided I had to take a drastic step. Our current income is $720 a month for a family of 3 and we receive $396 per month in food assistance. If anyone thinks I live high on the hog with my assistance, they are sadly mistaken.

I have a job, but am working only minimal hours because I'm spending 40+ hours a week on my education - I go to work every morning but I don't get paid for it. DH also works full time and the vast majority of our income is his. I don't know why I feel the need to justify this, but alas I do. Our current income places us well below the current federal poverty level (about $1500 a month for a family of 3).

I struggled with even posting this - I am ASAHMED to be receiving these benefits, but I would rather swallow my pride and have food in my refrigerator than have my pride and a bare cupboard. I try to hide my card when I make purchases because I feel like EVERYONE is analyzing what I have in my cart and whether or not I'm using THEIR money wisely. I remind myself that this is only temporary - at the latest I'll be more gainfully employed in May and hopefully in March - and that I paid my fair share of taxes during the 10 years I worked between college and my return to school. But, it doesn't make me feel any better about it. As I told DH the day I got our approval letter - I'm not happy but I am thankful. I still budget and shop sales and I use coupons just as I would if this were "my" money - but I also buy a package of cookies (I take 4 a day in my lunch) every other week and a couple of bags of chips, among a few frozen items as well. But, I can honestly say I've NEVER purchased something with my assistance that I would not have purchased with my own funds.

And I just have to vent about the "restrictions" so many people seem to believe are necessary. If we are banning sugary junk food, then we should not let people buy cereal (at least a lot of different cereals). We shouldn't let people purchase coffee either - it has entirely too much caffeine. And canned vegetables - no way - too much salt. Sodium is just as bad (and IMHO, worse) as sugar for your health, but I don't hear anyone calling for a ban on lunch meat (even deli ham or turkey is loaded with sodium). And no frozen stuff - those are just convenience foods - only fresh vegetables if you want them. If you really want a technicality, fresh fruit is loaded with sugar (and I'll admit I'm being a bit of a devil's advocate with that one since there are other healthful benefits to fresh fruit, but they are sugary nonetheless). And people should only be allowed to buy skim milk, definitely not 2% or higher, because that is not healthy at all! OK, I'm sure my point is made (or not) - I digress.

And before I created a dogpile based on my signature, yes, I'm planning a Disney trip for next year...AFTER our financial house is in proper order. If things don't go according to plan, neither will the trip.

FWIW, we make too much money to qualify for cash assistance (the cut-off in our state is $400/month income) - so I agree with many of the PP's - I'm just thankful for what we have and I'm looking forward to the day that I won't have to rely on help to feed my family.

Don't feel ashamed. Like you said, that is money you have paid into the system. Wouldn't you rather be getting it back to use for your family during this time than to have it go to bail out for profit corporations that made BAD, risky decisions and failed or to pay Pelosi's $100,000+ in flight bar tab? I know I would!

Threads like this always make me shake my head. People would rather sit in their glass houses and pick on the little guy than to focus their outrage on the real thievery going on. Do I think that buying all that candy was a bad choice? Yeppers! But it pales in comparison to the corporate welfare in this country. $4+ TRILLION to Wall Street alone and we are worried about this woman's candy!?

 

[here757]

woah... talk about heated!!.. this is almost as good as a thread on taking my kids out of school.."

bottom line is there is always gonna be folks that abuse the system.
people will always find a work around.
education in theory is a good idea,. but people are teaching their children how to work it!! we still have folks having more kids to get more money!
whatever happened to the welfare reform.. folks were supposed to get like 3 years then be cut off??

i remember back in the day.. they would give you the big paint can full of peanut butter.. now they cant.. why?? allergies!!

 

[DMRick]

She wasn't the least bit ashamed either! I didn't see any real food but, I wasn't looking that hard.

hmm..I guess you didn't read everything the OP wrote. Here is where she said she didn't see any real food, but wasn't looking that hard. So, to me, this is saying, she didn't see it, not that it wasn't there.

*

OH MY GOSH! You just aren't getting it. You can assume all you want. You know what they say when you eh hem assume, right?

I certainly do know what they say about those that assume. I've thought of it over and over and over as so very many on this thread were assuming what we don't know. You did read this was a few minute conversation with someone she didn't know, right?

Then the OP mentioned that the woman in question asked her friend if she will have enough money left over within the month to carry them through. Did you read that?????

No, actually I read what the op actually wrote. Not sure what you read. She wrote:

She did ask the guy with her if he thought they would have enough for the rest of the month!

'
Guess you 'assumed she meant money. I wasn't there..maybe she meant would they have enough candy to last the til the end of the month. Or maybe she meant aspirin. Or maybe she meant, would we have enough of whatever else might have been in their cart. Or maybe he said, sure, we have plenty..the OP didn't share what he answered. It was a private conversation, how would any of us know what they were talking about.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I also had no idea you could buy candy with food stamps, I found out differently a few years ago. When DS9 was in kindergarten I was one of the Class Parents for his class and we wanted to do a pinata for the halloween party(tradition in our school for the younger grades). Anyway, we sent a letter home to all of the parents asking for help filling the pinata, the letter asked if each parent could send in 1 bag of individually wrapped candy. A few days later one of the mothers gave a large grocery bag filled with bags of candy to the other class parent in kindergarten. When the class mother looked in the bag she saw it was filled with bags of snack size snicker, milky ways, 3 muskteers etc. The class parent thought that the mother misunderstood what we were asking for and explained that we were only asking for 1 bag of candy not a shopping bag of candy. The mother then said "oh, it's no big deal, I have to use the food stamps for something"! the class parent was stunned and speechless.

I have no problem with people needing food stamps or any other assistance, no one should go hungry. Believe me I understand because growing up we did without ALOT! I also think that food stamps should cover personal care items like, soap, shampoo. toothpaste, toiletpaper, feminine products etc. I find it very upsetting that people abuse the system while others make just above the amount to qualify for help but, not enough to survive.

 

[DMRick]

I try to hide my card when I make purchases because I feel like EVERYONE is analyzing what I have in my cart and whether or not I'm using THEIR money wisely.

I am sorry you are having to feel ashamed. I know just how you feel. I also know it does no good for me to tell you not to feel that way, because you are correct...your cart is being analyzed, without those strangers knowing your story. It's really too bad they can't just mind their own business.

I hope that this help gets you over the hump.

 

[badblackpug]

Just a thought...and it is still abusing the system...but...

My brother used to own a bar. A lot of people that received food stamps sold them for 50 cents on the dollar so that they would have cash for alcohol. Sometimes the people you see using the stamps are not the actual recipients of them.

 

[mjbaby]

The thing I don't get about the Judgy McJudgerson discussions about what "they" buy with foodstamps is that for every post or thread on buying junk there is a flip side discussion of the food being "too nice". I'm 100% positive that it wouldn't take too much digging here on DIS (or elsewhere) to find posts wherein someone saw a grocery cart full of fresh fruits and veggies, supplies for homemade baking and lean meats and got all indignant upon happening to notice how the buyer paid because "ZOMG! "They" get better groceries than I do and I pay taxes!"

So, which is it? Do foodstamp recipients - as a group, remember, since it seems too much trouble to regard these encounters as involving actual individuals or families with unique and unknowable circumstances - buy food that is too junky or too good? What threshold of "being responsible" allows one the right of setting menus of others in our community to make sure they're neither above nor below the mean in terms of cost and content?

 

[luvsJack]

If people are living off of what taxpayers contribute, then they have no right to whine about people being judgmental and they should be grateful for any and all help they get. Most(not all) pride themselves on how much they can get from the system. I have a relative on welfare and she brags all the time about this stuff.. She also keeps popping out kids. IMO , they should not give her another check until she gets her tubes tied. Yes, that will be expensive too(she's also on Medicaid) but in the long run it would less of a drain on society.

Obviously, there are some that need help..but, the abuse of the system is rampant. A PP is right, I will not read an article attempting tp excuse the abuse of food stamps. You can call me callous, go ahead. I am callous. I'm that way because I see people who are able bodied and intelligent enough to work brag that all they have to do is have another kid, and the gravy train will keep rolling in. I'm tired and I think many other people are too.

We used to have this thing called "shame" -shame is not always a bad thing. It can motivate a person to get up and do something.

You, obviously, have no clue what you are talking about. Have you ever had to live on food stamsp and welfare?? Its not a party, let me tell you.

I am fortuante in that I was able to work my way out of that, but when I was a newly divorsed, single mom it was HARD. I had government assistance and believe me, it is no way to live.

A very lovely lady died this week. She left behind two children that she adopted when it was obvious her son and his ex would not/could not take care of them. Those two children will now go to live with their aunt who has three children of her own. Two of her children are disabled, one will be in a wheelchair before she is 20. Yes, this beautiful young lady with a heart as big as Texas, gets food stamps and other governement assistance. She hasnt' gotten an education, she doesn't work (her husband does). She has taken care of her ill mother for 12 years and her own disabled children. I hope to talk to her about getting an education now, if only to do it for herself; but that is beside the point. You can be rest assured she would much prefer to be on this web site planning a trip to Disney or bragging about how many trips she has made. She would LOVE to take her kids to Disney or even to the beach. It may never happen. She feeds them and clothes them the best she can and YES she does it with food stamps and other assitance. She is a special person but there are hundreds of others on food stamps that are just like her. Grandmothers raising their grandchildren. Young mothers whose husbands skipped out on them. People that are in the situation through no fault of their own.

So you go right ahead and sit there with your judgemental outlook on others but just remember, you have a long way to fall from that high horse you are sitting on.

And I say again, "there but for the grace of God, go I". Thank the good Lord, that I am not in a position to need food stamps and thank the good Lord that I am not so judgmental that I only see the bad in people.

 

[nunzia]

I agree.. Who here wants to play God and put restrictions on the types of foods that others can purchase?

Our tax dollars and health insurance premiums are also going through the roof due to the exhorbitant costs associated with obesity.. Is anyone here willing to allow the government to accompany you to the grocery store and deem what is "healthy" and what isn't? What you can purchase and what you can't?

And how about the many, many parents here on the DIS who often say, "My child can only eat "XYZ" due to "sensory" issues - otherwise they will vomit, choke, etc.?" What if the foods that your child can eat aren't deemed "healthy" by the food police?

What do we know about this "candy story" other than a wisp of a conversation that was overheard by another shopper? Was this for a neighborhood party? A party at a shelter? Places where someone else was also going to bring other food items that might be deemed appropriate?

Do we really want to go down this road where the government restricts the actions of everyone?? Be careful what you wish for.. There may come a day when someone in your family requires the assistance of food stamps and due to health issues (chemotherapy comes to mind) may only be able to tolerate foods that you have encouraged the government to not allow because they're "sugary" - items many chemo patients need in order to gain and/or maintain their weight..

We all pay taxes.. There are abuses in every form of government.. There always will be..

I don't care to play God with other peoples lives - and I'm sure not going to give myself a stroke worrying about what someone else has in their grocery cart, why they have it, what they're going to do with it, and how they're paying for it..

If you want to worry about something, worry about our men and women being killed in wars - funded by your tax dollars.. There's a lot more of your money being spent there - than on "candy" or "non-healthy" foods that food stamp recipients may or may not be buying..

This and many other posts go down that slippery slope thing. Is it my business? Y E S! if it concerns using tax dollars (on anything, including wars and horrible countries overseas and overpaid congressmen and senators) it is my and everyones business. Sadly our country is broke..yes broke..living on credit. Do I begrudge helping those who are truly in need? NO! but once you start expecting the government to take care of you you will be judged by the govenrment to see if you are 'worthy', so saying we shouldn't judge is just passing that buck to the government. WAY back when we were on food stamps when they were those paper things that everyone could stare at and you felt embarrassed to use. Now you pull out a debit card and off you go. Where I work we see many of the habitual users of the system. They sell their food stamp credits for cash for drugs or alcohol (all you need is that magic pin number to use them) and then when they decide they really need money for food, or utilities or whatever, here they come, month after month asking for more and getting indignent when WE can't help anymore, or their food vouchers can't be used for gasoline.
I do not see what is wrong with not allowing the CLEARLY not necessary items from food stamp use..soda, candy, cookies, chips. You can bet it's lobbyists (aka officially santioned bribers) who are pushing this not to happen.
I don't care what people do as long as they aren't asking me to pay for it..but when you put yourself in the hands of the government to take you of you..which means when you ask your fellow citizens to take care of you, then you are giving them Mommy and Daddy interests in you and they have a right to have a say in how the money we are all giving is used. Back in our poor days our big treat was getting $1.00 hamburgers out and then stopping by a grocery store for an off brand soda vending machine for 25 cent sodas. We struggled and that 6 months of food stamps was needed and used carefully, and was indeed for a rough patch, not a way of life.
OK..all done

 

[DMRick]

But we weren't talking about this type of person. At least, I should say, we have no idea if this type of person is what we were talking about. We were talking about someone in a market, who may or may not have spent a lot of money on candy with foodstamps, since the OP didn't really look in her cart to see what else she may have had to cost $174.
It's the judging of what we don't know that is troublesome IMO.

I think I am reading that when you were on food stamps it was OK because everyone could tell..you had paper food stamps. But now that the government has tried to give people a little pride and give them a card, that looks much like other people's charge card it's less likely people will comment on what is being bought, and you feel that is wrong? That it is being abused more now, since people can't always tell who is using food stamps? So maybe they will get to buy certain items and not feel the distain of those around them?

I think you are saying that because it's our tax dollars, we have the right to watch and judge what is being bought?

Will you as the taxpayer also get to decide for those who are on medicaid, which medical treatments they are worthy of? Maybe just the necessities, like vaccines, but not the expensive chemo?

And the schools we pay taxes on, should those who are poor not be allowed to take the extra classes, like music, or should they just be allowed to take reading writing and arithmatic. Because if they aren't paying into the tax system, why should they be allowed the extra's?

Sure starts to sound like a different country to me.

Sure, my tax dollars are being spent in ways that may not benefit me, but really, in spite of what many people here are saying, there are a lot of people this system is helping, that is short term (we are certainly seeing that here, just by those posting they were or are on food stamps). Watching what people put in their cart in a supermarket and commenting to them or the person next to you to try to embarrasse them will never help the situation and may hurt those like the people on this board who need some help, that are trying to hold it together.

This and many other posts go down that slippery slope thing. Is it my business? Y E S! if it concerns using tax dollars (on anything, including wars and horrible countries overseas and overpaid congressmen and senators) it is my and everyones business. Sadly our country is broke..yes broke..living on credit. Do I begrudge helping those who are truly in need? NO! but once you start expecting the government to take care of you you will be judged by the govenrment to see if you are 'worthy', so saying we shouldn't judge is just passing that buck to the government. WAY back when we were on food stamps when they were those paper things that everyone could stare at and you felt embarrassed to use. Now you pull out a debit card and off you go. Where I work we see many of the habitual users of the system. They sell their food stamp credits for cash for drugs or alcohol (all you need is that magic pin number to use them) and then when they decide they really need money for food, or utilities or whatever, here they come, month after month asking for more and getting indignent when WE can't help anymore, or their food vouchers can't be used for gasoline.
I do not see what is wrong with not allowing the CLEARLY not necessary items from food stamp use..soda, candy, cookies, chips. You can bet it's lobbyists (aka officially santioned bribers) who are pushing this not to happen.
I don't care what people do as long as they aren't asking me to pay for it..but when you put yourself in the hands of the government to take you of you..which means when you ask your fellow citizens to take care of you, then you are giving them Mommy and Daddy interests in you and they have a right to have a say in how the money we are all giving is used. Back in our poor days our big treat was getting $1.00 hamburgers out and then stopping by a grocery store for an off brand soda vending machine for 25 cent sodas. We struggled and that 6 months of food stamps was needed and used carefully, and was indeed for a rough patch, not a way of life.
OK..all done

 

[tlbwriter]

And I just have to vent about the "restrictions" so many people seem to believe are necessary. If we are banning sugary junk food, then we should not let people buy cereal (at least a lot of different cereals). We shouldn't let people purchase coffee either - it has entirely too much caffeine. And canned vegetables - no way - too much salt. Sodium is just as bad (and IMHO, worse) as sugar for your health, but I don't hear anyone calling for a ban on lunch meat (even deli ham or turkey is loaded with sodium). And no frozen stuff - those are just convenience foods - only fresh vegetables if you want them. If you really want a technicality, fresh fruit is loaded with sugar (and I'll admit I'm being a bit of a devil's advocate with that one since there are other healthful benefits to fresh fruit, but they are sugary nonetheless). And people should only be allowed to buy skim milk, definitely not 2% or higher, because that is not healthy at all! OK, I'm sure my point is made (or not) - I digress.

Do you disagree with the restrictions for WIC?

 

[tinkarooni]

I think you are saying that because it's our tax dollars, we have the right to watch and judge what is being bought?

Will you as the taxpayer also get to decide for those who are on medicaid, which medical treatments they are worthy of? Maybe just the necessities, like vaccines, but not the expensive chemo?


Sure, my tax dollars are being spent in ways that may not benefit me, but really, in spite of what many people here are saying, there are a lot of people this system is helping, that is short term (we are certainly seeing that here, just by those posting they were or are on food stamps). Watching what people put in their cart in a supermarket and commenting to them or the person next to you to try to embarrasse them will never help the situation and may hurt those like the people on this board who need some help, that are trying to hold it together.

Hello, I have read the entire thread....as it irritates me when people jump in with only half of the story. While we don't know the back story of what OP witnessed I think that we can all agree that there is rampant abuse of the system in this country. I for one have no problem helping those who truly need help...and I pray to god that I am never one of those people, but this is life and who knows. However, I do think that if the system is left alone on it's own without some type of oversight it will continue to be abused.

Your comment about people who are on medicaid was interesting to me and how "we" should not have the right to tell them what treatments they are entitled to. Well I agree maybe not you and me, but perhaps someone with the appropriate knowledge should.....just like my very expensive healthcare that I pay for does to me. It's not being mean or callous, it's just a fact that there are treatments and medicines that are not covered by insurance and there is a faceless, nameless person somewhere who has decided this for me, why is it that medicaid should be any different, or is it that private insurers should be different?

I do think that this is one of the reasons our country is where it is. The feelings of entitlement so many people have. Again, my heart aches for those people who truly need the help...especially children who are in a situtaion that is not of their doing, but let's look at people whose families have been in assistance for not months but years and years, perhaps their parents were and so on and on. Women who continue to have child after child when I can only really afford the two I have, even though I would love another.

Without someone to oversee the system in some way the system continues to go astray. I worked at a grocery store when I was in college. Yes, I saw firsthand people actually buying the live lobsters out of the tank with their food stamps. Many may say well perhaps it was their birthday or they were celebrating surviving cancer etc etc, however if you or I couldn't afford it we simply couldn't afford it.

 

[Planogirl]

I thank God that my family doesn't qualify for food stamps. It means my DH has a job, our bills get paid, and we get to (hopefully) afford to go to WDW soon. My brother gets food stamps for his family; he's been out of work for over a year. He sure would prefer NOT to be receiving them.

I like this. I don't think that it's a good idea to buy a mountain of candy with food stamps but I'm glad that I'm not in a position to even get food stamps.

Another thing, I don't really mind food stamp recipients buying dog food. Someone has to feed that dog.

 

[DMRick]

You are correct, it shouldn't be any different. That was actually the point I was trying to make. Just because we are the taxpayers, why should we get to pick and choose where our tax dollars are going and what's best for people. That's why we have people who dod that. We should leave that to those who are better equipped to do that. And decisions on what can be bought with food stamps have been made by those equipped to make them...they should not be made by a quick look in a cart, not having any background info.

Your comment about people who are on medicaid was interesting to me and how "we" should not have the right to tell them what treatments they are entitled to. Well I agree maybe not you and me, but perhaps someone with the appropriate knowledge should.....just like my very expensive healthcare that I pay for does to me. It's not being mean or callous, it's just a fact that there are treatments and medicines that are not covered by insurance and there is a faceless, nameless person somewhere who has decided this for me, why is it that medicaid should be any different, or is it that private insurers should be different?

 

[snoopyluvsdis]

It really none of my business

It is your business if you pay taxes.

 

[ccgirl]

Lets all remember that those collecting good stamps are not usually jobless. They pay taxes too, or their working husband does. Afterall, they are usually SAHM's so they work too. Do I love that someone paid $175 in candy, no. I like the comparison a PP stated that is the cart was full of fresh fruits and veggies people would complain that the person on food stamps ate better. Do I love the fact that I don't qualify for food stamps and don't have other people make me feel shameful that I needed assistance; ABSOLUTELY! Is the system abused, absolutely. I was not put on this earth to judge others though.