Food Stamps - Take The Challenge

I am disheartened that you think that my post was not quite so good, and "blamed" smokers. I am a smoker myself. I can afford it though. If you do not understand the concept of sacrificing for ones own benefit, vs sacrificing under another’s auspices... I would ask that you personally explore this.

I asked a simple question. How many people on food stamps do you believe "cannot afford food" but CAN afford luxuries, such as cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs?

I believe it is a relevant question which speaks to the heart of the matter. ESPECIALLY to the benefit OF recipients of that money. There is only so much we can afford to give everyone. The more who make the CHOICE to use public assistance rather than cut back on their own luxuries... the less is available for those who are actually in need, and the more those who work must pay.


I do not see why this notion should be scoffed at or dismissed. You did not even attempt a rational argument which would render mine irrational.

 

lol

Stupid American idiots. Go to a third-world ghetto and tell them about this "challenge". They will laugh in your arrogant face.

 

^This.

Divorce from the workplace is becoming like marital divorce. The government "owes" you free money to sustain the life you have become accustomed to. And to a degree that is true. That degree lowers exponentially once you compare our poor to actual poor. Their rich are our poor, and their poor get to eat from THEIR scraps. Our poor get to eat behind socialites because they are not above finishing a fine meal.

Now... how many smokers habits do you think your tax dollars are supporting, and is that "right"? Is that for "the greater good"?

I don't want you living like a 3rd world poor person. I am comfortable making you a third world tribal warlord, with a lower incidence of politically motivated assassination.

I don't want to sacrifice, so they don't have to. This is a far cry from the welfare queen. This is "I smoke, I drink, I do drugs, and I need assistance." All I asked you for was an arbitrary percent based on your perception, with as little or much research as you cared to do. You do not have to be afraid of an arbitrary number based on your perception... there is nothing accountable about it.

I am suggesting that, there are a lot of people drinking, drugging, and smoking, on public assistance. I know this because I used to drink, drug, and still smoke. I am familiar with the circle of folk. I grew up in poor neighborhoods, and I went to college in the Phish years, when I wasn't casually following them.

Anecdotal as it may be... sell that (*)(*)(*)(*) somewhere else. I grew up in assistance... just not on it.

 

Food stamps were never meant to completely cover all your food costs just like housing assistance doesn't cover all of your rent. I grew up amongst the welfare folk and I saw the numerous people who were more than capable of working but didn't show up for work on time or consistently and wondered why they got fired all the time.

I also worked as a cashier and saw the steaks and high end items that people with EBT cards had no business purchasing. If you are on a budget then you get the ground chuck or the chicken/pork instead of the steaks. EBT abuse is rampant and anyone that has worked in the grocery retail business or who hangs out with or grew up with those losers will tell you that.

 

$140 per month on food for one adult is plenty for a good diet. But the person would need the skills to cook from basic supplies. They would need a freezer and refrigerator. They would need good long term dry food storage. $4.60 per day Is enough to live well. If you think it is not enough, GET A JOB

 

Just an observation from someone who has gone to:
(1) A church that has a food pantry.
(2) A grocery store that accepts SNAP.

People never left the church in an Escalade, or a Beamer, but it was pretty common at the grocery.

You may not like it, but the church does a way better job at actually helping people than the government. When people talk about separation of church and state, why are those the same people that want the government to take over charity?

 

A bowl of cereal with milk won't suffice as a breakfast?

 

Reread what I wrote

 

I did. I think my question is still valid. When they are talking "meals", they are talking about three meals a day. One being breakfast. A typical menu we had when I was spending about that much or less---

Breakfast-1 cup milk, 1 cup cereal
Lunch-Hot Dogs on bread, cheese slices, canned carrots, apple slices (little kid type menu)
Supper-Speghetti and meat balls, bread toasted with garlic butter. Apple.

Speghetti was enough for at least two meals.

If I still misread something---I'm sorry.

 

1 cup milk/1 cup cheerios is about 220 calories. That is not a sufficient meal for breakfast especially if you are not eating til lunch. That is a snack. And this isn't even for fat people, just any regular person.

 

ridiculous. In the real world, people that budget, work (meaning no time to make breakfast)---eat cereal and milk.

People on welfare will do fine!!! I think perhaps you should fight for the working people who pay for food with their paycheck---where anything more then cereal and milk for breakfast is a luxury.

 

I do not buy that private charities or churches can accommodate all Americans in need of assistance.

Having grown up in poor neighborhoods I will agree and attest to the lack of integrity among some of those that receive government benefits. That said .....

I have also encountered people who receive benefits that appropriately utilize them to either get themselves on track or to break the cycle of poverty by propping up their children into a position to become independent and contributing citizens. It takes a certain type of person to be born into a "user" family and break the cycle just by nature. That is the beast or burden to be broken by society in the welfare abuser, and as much as I want people who are in need to take our tax dollars, my tax dollars, and help themselves there is a balance to be had between accepting that help and retaining the guilt and stigma of receiving such.

I think a reformation of how benefits are received would be beneficial. I think the biggest hurdle in eliminating the welfare abusers is figuring out how to break the vicious cycle some families fall into of being users and having no personal accountability. That said .....

I do not believe that the majority of welfare recipients are abusers, nor do I attribute a negative attitude towards all of those on assistance. I will never buy into a me vs them (people less unfortunate than myself) mentality, I will continue to strive to take each person I encounter as an individual that is to be judged by their own unique life experiences.



As a side note Crtl ... not sure where you are from and although I though I haven't smoked cigarettes in over (2) years $3.00 for cigarettes is just crazy I don't think even NC or indian reservations sell that cheap. About a year ago although I had already quit I bought I pack of cigarettes on a drunken whim in nyc, it cost me close to $12.00. If you can get cigarettes that cheap you could have a lucrative business up in the NYC tristate area reselling them.

 

It's not ridiculous... it's just basic health/diet 101. I fight for all people

 

Its not reality. Do you work a full time job?

 

Ummm... yes, I do. And health/diet facts are a reality.

 

the reality is---that most people don't sit down to a high calorie breakfast meal. People on welfare need to get with the rest of society---not be treated better then those who work.

And---I hate to mention this---but many people on food stamps are over-weight........I'm not sure why that is---but a light breakfast won't hurt them. AND the kids get free breakfast and lunch at school. So for many food stamp recipients, they need less meals to be paid for then most of society.

 

Why do you care about welfare recipients so much? I spend 3 times the amount they get for food on Red Bull and probably 5 times as much at the bars or restaurants. There is no reason why with the wealth this country has, we should not be able to feed the needy. Do you have no soul?

 

While I agree with everything the woman said in her blog ... where does one find meat for less than two bucks a pound?

 

That's ridiculous. If you can argue it's fine because it's'not that much money' when it's. $71,000,000,000 then you can say almost any program is not that much'.

I think everything should be considered, including food stamps, but we should probanly just make the requirements to get them stricter.

 

I've been on welfare. I KNOW what it does to you. Our goal should be to help people become independent. Its the people who don't care about that, who have no soul.

If you want welfare people to get off welfare and live the life you are living---they need to have the motivation to get off.

 

But also the calories. Getting off welfare takes energy.

 

Oh please...I hope you are joking.

 

Not everyone has parents that basically set their life up. I have more than I need in my life, I don't see any reason why with the abundance we have in this country that we can not feed the needy. I don't believe in starving someone as motivation. There is almost 8% unemployment, so there are people with motivation looking for work that can't find it. Why in the world would you not want people to eat? It makes no sense. And don't play the why don't you give your money away card... I pay my taxes, donate food and clothing during the winter times, donate money to United Way, etc... and do my part to help those in need. I'll just never understand how people can actively want to take the ability to eat from another human being.

 

Sorry, I still do not think $71 billion in a $3.8 trillion budget and over $6 trillion in overall spending is that much to feed people who are hungry. And comparing eating food to other programs is just something that I don't find equivalent.

 

True.

You need a fridge and stove, but not a freezer (though it definitely makes things easier). In places where vermin are a problem, you need secure dry storage.