Your opinion on food stamps and those who use/abuse them?

[bankside]

If a person is struggling to stand on their own two feet and genuinely needs help, a phone call once a year to ask if they've been looking for a job seems more like a cruel taunt than anything. If someone is in that kind of mess and all they need is a quick phone call? Well they wouldnt be in my program or they wouldn't qualify for it.

 

[LilBit]

In NC, certain food items in supermarkets are listed as "WIC Approved" (WIC being our food stamp program). Generally the foods that are approved are not particularly high-end items, but it's not only generic stuff either. The really fancy stuff is generally not WIC-approved. I guess the state where the incident in the OP took place has more lenient rules for food stamps.

 

[yeahright1991]

I've seen people use IL LINK for cigarettes and liquor. And while I don't agree 100% I'm not shading anyone getting their occasional drink or smoke on. But I saw someone buy a carton of (Newports - the most overcharged for cigarette ever) and A few bottles of Tanqueray, Smirnoff etc.....Really boo, a carton of cigarettes in cook county is about 90 dollars. And Tanqueray...WITH CHICAGO TAXES? Don't ask.

I'm with huntneo....the system does good for those who need it. But there are a LOT of loopholes. Especially when the merchant makes it look like you aren't buying unapproved items. All you need is a Liquor store that happens to carry a few shelves of food.

 

[G-Lexington]

Colorado has a list of "approved items" that you can use the assistance cards or "food stamps" on, and it's not very lengthy. I haven't seen the list in a while, but back then, it was things like pasta, milk, cheese, ground beef, chicken, fruits and vegetables. The idea that somebody could buy snow crab and Mountain Dew with them is a bit sketchy...unless that store intentionally sells them things that they're not supposed to.

Lex

 

[bankside]

It is interesting that Socialist Canuckistan determines if you qualify for aid and then just sends the money to your account via direct deposit, while Capitalist Free Market Libertarian Don't Tread On Me Small Government United States not only assesses eligibility but has bureaucrats setting up elaborate systems to make lists of what you can and cannot buy with a big-brother-style shopping card.

 

[backagain]

In NC, certain food items in supermarkets are listed as "WIC Approved" (WIC being our food stamp program). Generally the foods that are approved are not particularly high-end items, but it's not only generic stuff either. The really fancy stuff is generally not WIC-approved. I guess the state where the incident in the OP took place has more lenient rules for food stamps.

Just to clarify, WIC is different than food stamps. They are vouchers for certain things. Generally, juice, baby food, milk.. etc.
It is a list of items that a supermarket can sell with that voucher. There are price points on that voucher. If the supermarket makes a mistake with the wrong item or price point, then they are denied payment.

 

[Telstra]

Food stamps sounds awful.
Why not give money to the ones who needs it? There should be checks and balances of course.

 

[miaedu]

WIC

WIC

 

[Telstra]

consider the food stamps program the "check and balance" on just handing out cash

Over here, government give out money to the unemployed, disabled, old age ... etc but it is quite strict.
No one get free money easily and if you get caught you have to pay back or you'll be in debt forever.

I mean they transfer money into your bank account.

 

[Telstra]

there are multiple social services programs... not everyone qualifies for all of them and they vary from state to state, but generally there's housing assistance, food stamps, medical assistance (medicaid for poor people, medicare for senior citizens), and unemployment (which is the closest we have to giving away money, but it's time-limited and is usually a percentage of whatever the last salary you made was)

I can see the loophole for abuse there.
Over here, there is no "vary from state to state". Everywhere is the same.
They can check you anywhere in Australia with afew clicks on a computer.

 

[LilBit]

Just to clarify, WIC is different than food stamps. They are vouchers for certain things. Generally, juice, baby food, milk.. etc.
It is a list of items that a supermarket can sell with that voucher. There are price points on that voucher. If the supermarket makes a mistake with the wrong item or price point, then they are denied payment.

WIC

WIC

Ah. Thanks for the correction, guys. Someone had told me once that WIC was our state food stamp program, and it didn't occur to me to verify that.

 

[frankfrank]

It always "fries me" how much yammering there is about "welfare cheats" and food stamps for people who "don't really need them," yet hardly anybody ever talks about the massive welfare to corporations, such as some of the largest U.S.-based multinationals not only paying no taxes, but paying NEGATIVE taxes (i.e. getting checks for billions of dollars from the U. S,. government).

The total of "welfare fraud" is negligible compared to these corporations getting subsidies - not to mention OPIC, which nobody EVER talks about, which is a U. S. Government agency created for the sole purpose of advising and helping corporations move factories, etc. to wherever in the world is most advantageous to the resources they want, the slave labor they want, and the types of poisons they want to spew. This government department should be abolished IMMEDIATELY.

OPIC is pure unadulterated corporate welfare, with every last micro-cent being used to help corporations destroy U. S. jobs, exploit workers, and poison the planet.

OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. It mobilizes private capital to help solve critical world challenges and in doing so, helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets, catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. learn more

And a link, to prove that I CAN'T make this shit up. It is at least fifteen years since I have heard or seen this mentioned in ANY media, ANYWHERE, though it should be a huge "progressive" talking point.

OPIC : Overseas Private Investment Corporation

I won't forget to mention that the lower tax rate on CAPITAL GAINS is an example of rampant welfare for those who are affluent. They should pay the same rate as "we" do, at least - in fact, perhaps a HIGHER rate than taxes on Earned Income, because they are producing absolutely nothing. Even worse, some of these "casino high-rollers" are putting the entire global economy, and perhaps even the long term survival of humanity, at risk. Or, at the very least, the "profits" (gains) made on nonproductive financial instruments and such, which are nothing but moving money around and making/producing nothing, should be taxed higher.

And yet people are going to keep harping on the "welfare queen" somewhere who dared to go and buy full premium Cable TV when she was "ripping off the system" for a couple hundred $$ more per month than she was entitled to.

 

[Telstra]

This is a great topic and I love reading everyone's opinion's on it I too have worked in retail and used to see this all the time. I like the point made by yeahright about I may not know there who situation I do often wonder and want to bluntly ask them about it. I had a co-worker once who was telling me about her family needing assistance. Her mother who was also employed by the same grocery chain but a different location was told by the government for that her to quality for food assistance she would have to quit her job because she made too much. WTF I mean she is already struggling to get by on minimum wage and told quit her job to get help. How is that teaching anyone to be productive in life. I heard from this co-worker this was a common theme to tell people to quit their jobs because they made too much. So messed up. I truly believe most people just want a hand up when they are struggling, not just hand out.

Unfortunately I think the only way to really remedy to problem would be to investigate each case and learn about the individuals receiving food stamps. The US government is not big on efficiency, they just love bloated top heavy bureaucracies.

Thats where people can abuse it and get rich.

 

[bankside]

It always "fries me" how much yammering there is about "welfare cheats" and food stamps for people who "don't really need them," yet hardly anybody ever talks about the massive welfare to corporations, such as some of the largest U.S.-based multinationals not only paying no taxes, but paying NEGATIVE taxes (i.e. getting checks for billions of dollars from the U. S,. government).

The total of "welfare fraud" is negligible compared to these corporations getting subsidies - not to mention OPIC, which nobody EVER talks about, which is a U. S. Government agency created for the sole purpose of advising and helping corporations move factories, etc. to wherever in the world is most advantageous to the resources they want, the slave labor they want, and the types of poisons they want to spew. This government department should be abolished IMMEDIATELY.

I think that is why progressive-types and liberal-types and people who believe in humanitarian regard for their fellow man really need to take a hard line against abuse of social programs, double-dipping, laziness and so on. It may be vanishingly rare, but saying "Well corporations do it too" is not an argument that builds credibility for responsible social programs, and it makes it impossible to go on to tackle corporate greed.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

Want to go out on a high note I take it? Retired Champion of the Debate of Idiots™ I'm not sure I'd be too proud of that. LOL.

Seriously though, how is targeting corruption and abuse the same thing as targeting those in need. Subtle differences matter.

What you guys are doing is just spreading rumours and innuendo about the people who use food stamps. Yes there are people abuse the system. Who the fuck cares as long as some the money goes to people who need it. The system is not perfect and I understand that.

No one here has any proof of misuse other then what they heard happened. aka "He said and she said they bought a steak on food stamps" Who the fuck cares just because someone is poor does not mean they can't indulge in something once in a while.

and yes this is a debate of idiots because no one has any facts other then gossip that the program is misused.

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

I've been called worse.

You seem a little bothered? lol

Several of the posts in here speak for themselves. Again, spare me the proof/facts/stats crap. As if the government is going to post regular statistics about how they fuck up and LET PEOPLE SCAM THEM OUT OF MONEY!? LOL right.

no thanks. we'll let my (and other posters') experiences support this thread.

I don't know why you're trying so hard to downplay it, but I find it amusing.

I'm not bothered some people call me a socialist and that's fine with me.

But what do they call someone who wants to deny people the basic things in life like food and shelter just because they might be abusing the system.

I'm still waiting for the stats but I know that's not going to happen. Have fun in your glass house.

 

[MisterMajestic]

Some of you are CLEARLY stereotyping people that use Food stamps. And if you follow them to their car that is STALKING...

Gay men don't want to be discriminated against and stereotyped but some of you are the FIRST ones to stereotype people on Race, physical appearance and their Living conditions...STOP watching peoples wallets and purses while you're standing in line and worry about your own Shit...

 

[PreTTy PeTe]

They're sure not. And you can keep reading over the posts in this thread and pretending you don't see them.

Ignoring people's experiences isn't going to change what people have seen and heard first-hand.

Stop getting so upset. You're acting as if you're being personally attacked. Fall back a bit. really.

And I'm seriously wondering if you're even reading the posts? I (and some of the members who agree with me) am not wanting to deny anyone of anything. Less emotion...more reading, please.

You bore me now and I thought you had more intelligence.

 

[TickTockMan]

Yeah...I know a girl with 6 kids who gets over $1000 a month here in AL. She sells about half of 'em though.

So what did the food stamp people do when you turned her in?

 

[Telstra]

And for anyone else who may be a bit confused:

Please understand that I AM NOT ATTACKING POOR/UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY NEED STAMPS AND CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY YOUR THEIR OWN FOOD!

He meant people should concentrate on the big fish white collar crimes like the bankers, arms profiteering in the 2 wars ... etc