Food Stamps

[o2bnocn]

I already know it's a huge debate. Are there things you think should not be covered versus covered? I know there are always different stories, debates, opinions. I know anything edible is covered. I do believe that we shouldn't judge because we are not in their shoes. However, I also know and have seen it gone way too far.

[DwanaMR]

In October of 2010, I was at Dollar General, standing in line behind a woman buying big bags of Halloween candy.  So far, so good.  Then I saw her bring out that SNAP card to pay for them.  I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming.  Food stamps are supposed to be for FOOD!  The "N" in SNAP stands for nutrition.  There's nothing nutritious about candy!  I was so angry, and still am.  As a taxpayer, I pay for those cards.  They're supposed to help poor people feed themselves and their kids.  They're for food, not fun.  Or so I thought.  Nobody wants to "judge" others without knowing all the facts, but I've known of people on food stamps who mysteriously had enough cash to regularly buy cigarettes, get their nails done, or pay for smartphones.  Those people give a bad name to everyone on the program.  I suggest skipping food stamps and starting a garden, if possible; plus stop bad habits like smoking and use that cash to buy very inexpensive food at dollar stores to supplement your garden.  That, not depending on Uncle Sam, is real empowerment.  Just my two cents.

[bremer51]

I'm opposed to using food stamps for cigarettes and booze.  But I want poor kids to have Halloween candy too.

"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity, nothing exceeds the criticisms made of the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed." - Herman Melville.

[jkhanson]

I agree with bremer51 and DwanaMR. 

I don't think Food stamps should be allowed to be used for booze and cigarettes.  Kids do deserve holiday fun too (ie:  Halloween or Easter Candy); but I know it happens where VAST quantities of candy is purchased with the food stamps with little or no food purchased at all.

Trying not to judge, but that isn't feeding the kids or treating them with a little holiday spirit either.
That doesn't make for nutrition.

And like DwanaMR mentioned, I see people with no job, no money with smartphones, free medical care, food stamps, etc.

Often these people are receiving better health care than people working one and two jobs who have to pay for their own health insurance---big premiums AND big deductibles; so high that the people will delay or just not go to see a doctor because they cannot afford to pay the deductible.

 

[DwanaMR]

"...but I know it happens where VAST quantities of candy is purchased with the food stamps with little or no food purchased at all."

That's the situation I was describing, jkhanson.  The woman I saw had bags and bags of candy and no food.  That's not what food stamps are for!

And bremer51, with all due respect to Mr. Melville, it's perfectly right to criticize "the habits of the poor" when the poor are doing stupid or dishonest things, especially at the taxpayers' expense.  The purpose of programs like food stamps is to provide for NEEDS, not fun.  If a relative, family friend, or a charity wants to bring some holiday fun to some low-income kids, great.  But it's not the government's job to make anybody feel good.

[nannycoe1]

If you have never had to ask for help or go without treats for your kids you don't know what it is like. Also it is not as easy to get ffod stamps as some people think, at least not here in NC.

[vg7405]

The amount of abuse that occurs with respect to food stamps is so utterly disgusting. I understand that there are those that legitimately require it. However, because the abuse so widespread and extensive, I believe we should do away with entirely and help these individuals find employment or some other alternative. I am tired of having to pay for other people's laziness.

[paints]

Food stamps can't be used to buy booze or cigarettes. Or bath tissue or laundry detergent, or shampoo or any other non-food item.
Food stamps buy food. Period.

Why is it anyones business what kind of food a person buys?
We have become a nation of nosy Nellies.

A smart phone can be picked up on craigslist for 20 dollars. 

Most of the people who benefit from food stamps are children and elderly people.
Should we tell Gramma to get a job?

[hawkeye3210]

The funds for the food stamp programs all come from public funds raised by tax payer dollars. When the government gives away money it is going to be a concern to the public. Not to mention the burden of healthcare costs have been shifted with the ACA, now those unhealthy habits will likely hit the pockets of the taxpayers again.

[DwanaMR]

If you have never had to ask for help or go without treats for your kids you don't know what it is like. Also it is not as easy to get ffod stamps as some people think, at least not here in NC.

Nannycoe, going without treats is not the same thing as going without food.  If you're in a certain financial situation, whether you're on gov't aid or not, you have to have your priorities straight.  Food first, treats, if there's money for them, second.  Yes, kids may feel embarrassed or sad if they don't have the same goodies and gadgets their friends have, but gov't assistance is NOT meant to remedy that.  Instead, gov't help is to provide for needs.  Family, friends, and/or charities can supply treats, but no one should expect the gov't to secure their wants.

Oh, and when I was going through my cancer treatment a charity paid for my $200-per-pill anti-nausea medicine.  So yes, I know what it's like to ask for help.

[DwanaMR]

Paints, if someone buys groceries with his own money then it's no one's busy what he gets.  But if he's on the gov't dole then what food he buys IS my business because I'm paying for it.  And I have a perfect right to be upset if someone's buying junk like Halloween candy with funds intended for nutritious food.

[neptunenicole]

If we start to pass judgement on what types of food people on Food Stamps are purchasing, can't it stand to reason that we could ask for medical records of people on Medicare/Medicaid to make sure our tax dollars are being spent on things we approve of? That's a scary slippery slope to me.

I do think that a overhaul needs to be done though, with processed foods generally being cheaper than healthier foods, it's hard to make the monthly allowance last. And some other 'non-food' essential items I think should be added to the list, no one should ever have to be without toilet paper.

[hawkeye3210]

If we start to pass judgement on what types of food people on Food Stamps are purchasing, can't it stand to reason that we could ask for medical records of people on Medicare/Medicaid to make sure our tax dollars are being spent on things we approve of? That's a scary slippery slope to me.

Whether it's medicare or some private agency, when you submit a medical claim it has to be approved. That's nothing new. Not every medical cost is covered by every health insurance plan.

[o2bnocn]

Everyone has their own opinions about this debate. I agree that it needs to be food only. However, when we start saying what type of food, I think we go a little too far. Just my two cents.

[paints]

Paints, if someone buys groceries with his own money then it's no one's busy what he gets.  But if he's on the gov't dole then what food he buys IS my business because I'm paying for it.  And I have a perfect right to be upset if someone's buying junk like Halloween candy with funds intended for nutritious food.

Dwana, I understand what you're saying.
The thing that bothers me about it is that someone who gets food stamps is already having a hard time.  Why make it harder?

One of my neighbors has an autistic son.  He will only eat certain foods.  Right now, the only thing he will eat is french fries.  Not the easy kind that you can make yourself.  It has to be Ore-Ida thin fries, the ones that look like McDonalds fries.  She buys huge bags of them every month, because that's all he will eat.
Not at all nutritious, but he won't starve.

She buys these huge bags of french fries with food stamps.  She has endured nasty comments and dirty looks from strangers who know neither her nor her son.  Or how much anguish she has gone through to find something to feed her child that he will accept.

That's my reasoning for not judging what someone buys with food stamps.  You can't know what struggles they have.