Thread: Should people be allowed to buy beer and cigarettes with Welfare?

Originally Posted by CoolWalker

Interesting question...on the way in to work today there was a story on about a 65 year old clerk at a convenience store that was fired because she refused to sell a young man 2 packs of cigarettes on his food card, or whatever it's called. Anyway, the clerk said she didn't want other people paying for his habit, which is exactly what it would have been, but the management sided with the youths step-mother who came into complain about the clerk.

How revolting.

I think the idea that we taxpayers have to pay for someone's optional vices is revolting, but I can understand the business owner not refusing to accept those cash cards for purchases like that. Income is income.

Full Disclosure: I generally support welfare, but only for necessary items like food, medicine, clothing(within reason, there is no need for $50 tee-shirts if you are on welfare), housing, and necessary household supplies. Booze, cigarettes, going to the bar, to the movies, all that stuff that is not required to survive, I do not agree with. If you are on welfare, I don't care if you live in a one room house with no furniture and no entertainment, as long as you can eat, be warm, have medicine, clothing, and access to job training and other services that would increase your chance of finding a job to support yourself and your family with.

Desperate to get back to slavery, aren't you? Make the exploited pay for being exploited by rich thieves - that's the American way!

Originally Posted by CoolWalker

Interesting question...on the way in to work today there was a story on about a 65 year old clerk at a convenience store that was fired because she refused to sell a young man 2 packs of cigarettes on his food card, or whatever it's called. Anyway, the clerk said she didn't want other people paying for his habit, which is exactly what it would have been, but the management sided with the youths step-mother who came into complain about the clerk.

How revolting.

That was the story the OP was referring to as well. The issue I see with your position is that you're effectively saying that individual shop workers should be making personal moral judgements on whether customers are permitted to buy what they've asked for. Those calls are up to the business owner (within the scope of relevant laws) and if an employee is unwilling (or unable) to follow the policies, there is no alternative other than them leaving the job (incidentally, the details are inconsistent but the suggestion is that she resigned rather than - or maybe before - being sacked).

Originally Posted by Iolo

Desperate to get back to slavery, aren't you? Make the exploited pay for being exploited by rich thieves - that's the American way!

Making you pay for your own vices is only rational. Don't see why you can't understand that.

Be weary of what you wish for those of you who drink or smoke, as you never know what the future may hold for you. Most people on SSI, SSD, or some State Welfare Program never set out to be on those programs. Illness or accidents can forever change our lives leaving us relying on the very system you look down on. When you loose almost everything due to an force outside your control like an illness or accident... you may be one of those people who use a vice to help you cope with the stress of being disabled, sick all the time, and having to deal with a social stigma that you did not ask for.

Originally Posted by robini123

Be weary of what you wish for those of you who drink or smoke, as you never know what the future may hold for you. Most people on SSI, SSD, or some State Welfare Program never set out to be on those programs. Illness or accidents can forever change our lives leaving us relying on the very system you look down on. When you loose almost everything due to an force outside your control like an illness or accident... you may be one of those people who use a vice to help you cope with the stress of being disabled, sick all the time, and having to deal with a social stigma that you did not ask for.

This is where you deviate from what is being discussed. Needing assistance is much different then allowing people to buy what appeals to their vices with taxpayer money. If you are disabled it is often due to medical reasons and succumbing to vices only makes the situation worse.

The same people that defend this, defend government bans on smoking and big gulp drinks.

Originally Posted by Hoosier8

This is where you deviate from what is being discussed. Needing assistance is much different then allowing people to buy what appeals to their vices with taxpayer money. If you are disabled it is often due to medical reasons and succumbing to vices only makes the situation worse.

The same people that defend this, defend government bans on smoking and big gulp drinks.

Its a free country and it is very hard to legislate morality. I am on SSD and once a month I go out and buy a 6 pack of the best beer that I can afford... like a good Polish Porter at $12 a 6 pack. You are telling me I should not be allowed to do this? I am not an alcoholic, I drink very little, and once a month I get to partake of something that I really enjoy. You know what. When I am drinking a fine Porter, sitting in my EZ chair watching the news, for a short time I almost feel normal again... like before I became disabled.

Lets slide this slippery slope... make it so I cannot buy anything but health food... which I would actually be for except that health food costs way to much and all I can afford are much less healthy alternatives. Heck, while we are at it lets take all sugar away from children of welfare families!

Please don't tell me that you are a compassionate Christian conservative... or do because I could use a good laugh about now.

Originally Posted by robini123

Its a free country and it is very hard to legislate morality. I am on SSD and once a month I go out and buy a 6 pack of the best beer that I can afford... like a good Polish Porter at $12 a 6 pack. You are telling me I should not be allowed to do this? I am not an alcoholic, I drink very little, and once a month I get to partake of something that I really enjoy. You know what. When I am drinking a fine Porter, sitting in my EZ chair watching the news, for a short time I almost feel normal again... like before I became disabled.

Lets slide this slippery slope... make it so I cannot buy anything but health food... which I would actually be for except that health food costs way to much and all I can afford are much less healthy alternatives. Heck, while we are at it lets take all sugar away from children of welfare families!

Please don't tell me that you are a compassionate Christian conservative... or do because I could use a good laugh about now.

I don't buy 12 dollar 6 packs because I am not spending someone elses money.

Originally Posted by Hoosier8

I don't buy 12 dollar 6 packs because I am not spending someone elses money.

If you don't like that I buy beer then take action to change existing laws or create new laws. FYI, I paid into the system for many years, thus the reason I am on SSD and not SSI. So it is my money to.

Originally Posted by Hoosier8

I don't buy 12 dollar 6 packs because I am not spending someone elses money.

Technically, unless they've never paid taxes in their life, they are spending their money, considering their taxes fund the programs.