Expensive meats and food stamps

[twoanickel]

How many times have you noticed food stamps being used to purchase expensive cuts of meat that you, as a taxpayer, cannot normally afford?

Grocers should keep a record of what percentage of luxury items are purchased with food stamps. I don't use what should be called "thieves" stamps, and although I don't anticipate having to make such a choice, I will eat from a dumpster before I eat from another man's pocketbook..

[Apeman81]

People exchange the value of foodstamps, the food purchased, for drugs and alcohol.

Compared to that end, if they feed the steaks to their families, I'll settle for that.

Foodstamps are simply another tool used by the government to keep certain people under control. Some advance the idea that such tools are designed to help ensure their re-elections, but that thought, while it has merit, is belied by the poor voting habits of the recipients.

No, it really about keeping the masses in their place.

[Mia]

Would you feel better if they bought junk food? On the amount given, you can be sure that they are not eating expensive meats often, and/or they are running out of food at the end of the month because of it.

I saw lots of homeless people and such in Phoenix. One guy who had been eating out of food pantries and such got his food stamps and immediately got good meat because he hadn't for months been able to have it. I didn't see anything wrong with that.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: Mia Would you feel better if they bought junk food? On the amount given, you can be sure that they are not eating expensive meats often, and/or they are running out of food at the end of the month because of it. I saw lots of homeless people and such in Phoenix. One guy who had been eating out of food pantries and such got his food stamps and immediately got good meat because he hadn't for months been able to have it. I didn't see anything wrong with that.

I think it's ok for them to eat whatever they want.

Sometimes people do need help, especially the children, so if they have an opportunity to eat a good cut of meat so be it. They may never get to eat in a fancy restaurant or have other niceties, so a little luxury isn't important to me or that it comes from my pocket. I expect to have to help some with my tax dollars, it's part of living in this great country.

I never see that many people using food stamps, and I grocery shop 2 to 3 times a week.

[Mia]

Well, it's a card now. It's swiped like a credit card and the food portion is taken off the balance, then cash ust be given for the rest. Some people get cash assistance too, and that gets put on their card as well, so they may be able to pay for everything with it.

Also you may live in a nice area so people around there don't have them.

When I was in Phoenix, even the convenience stores accepted DBT cards. Maybe they do here too and I just haven't noticed.

Finally, you won't see as many in nicer, more expensive grocery stores. Most people are careful with the small amount on the card and shop smart (I think, I hope!)

If they've been qualified to receive them, I don't see why it matters what kind of food they buy, as long as they are not trading it for money for drugs.

[nm420]

Why even bother giving them the stamps (or card) if you're going to dictate exactly what kinds of food they can get with it? If you want to debate the worthiness of food stamps in general, have a blast, but I don't see any point in ranting about the choices people make with them. Food is food, and we all have our own particular tastes and priorities when it comes to eating.

[greeneyedgirl]

When I was in college, I worked as a cashier at a grocery store in a poor neighborhood. From what I could see 75% of the people who paid with food stamps bought the most expensive of everything: Perrier water, Haagan Daaz ice cream, NY strip steaks, etc. I remember how they'd come up with 2 or 3 cartloads of food, most of it frozen and I used to get so angry because here I was, working 2 jobs and going to school full time and all I could afford was ramen noodles, boxed macaroni and cheese, and the 99 cent value menu at Wendy's. Another thing that made me mad was that these people very seldom bought fruits, vegetables, or things that actually required any effort to cook (except for the expensive meat.) I never understood that because these people work little (if at all) thus they have all the time in the world to cook.

[twoanickel]

Quote by: Apeman81 People exchange the value of foodstamps, the food purchased, for drugs and alcohol. Compared to that end, if they feed the steaks to their families, I'll settle for that. Foodstamps are simply another tool used by the government to keep certain people under control. Some advance the idea that such tools are designed to help ensure their re-elections, but that thought, while it has merit, is belied by the poor voting habits of the recipients. No, it really about keeping the masses in their place.

What you are actually saying is that the government has enslaved taxpayers so the slavers will have their drugs and alcohol.

And you will settle for decent wage earners being enslaved to feed other people (slavers) expensive meats rather than use the money they have EARNED to buy food for their own children? And you will settle for that? Thanks a lot, slaver.

Food stamps in truth are simply a tool to keep honest people enslaved to those who don't have the personal integrity to be responsible for themselves. And after having demanded to be feed by others, they want us to pay THEM reparations? How twisted can you get??

And if you think it is about keeping the masses in their place, you are saying in effect that they still prefer to live on the plantation. Especially if they don't have to work on it and can still eat their master's food.

[twoanickel]

Quote by: Mia Would you feel better if they bought junk food? On the amount given, you can be sure that they are not eating expensive meats often, and/or they are running out of food at the end of the month because of it. I saw lots of homeless people and such in Phoenix. One guy who had been eating out of food pantries and such got his food stamps and immediately got good meat because he hadn't for months been able to have it. I didn't see anything wrong with that.

My, how your heart bleeds for those who refuse to work and pay their own way, but where is your sympathy for those enslaved by the government on behalf of those who refuse to be responsible for themselves? And you don't see anything wrong with it.

I notice that you think the alternative to food stamps is those who are irresponsible eating junk food. Why didn't it occur to you that the alternative in the minds of decent people is for them to get a job and take care of themselves rather than live off the wages of others?

[twoanickel]

Quote by: greeneyedgirl When I was in college, I worked as a cashier at a grocery store in a poor neighborhood. From what I could see 75% of the people who paid with food stamps bought the most expensive of everything: Perrier water, Haagan Daaz ice cream, NY strip steaks, etc. I remember how they'd come up with 2 or 3 cartloads of food, most of it frozen and I used to get so angry because here I was, working 2 jobs and going to school full time and all I could afford was ramen noodles, boxed macaroni and cheese, and the 99 cent value menu at Wendy's. Another thing that made me mad was that these people very seldom bought fruits, vegetables, or things that actually required any effort to cook (except for the expensive meat.) I never understood that because these people work little (if at all) thus they have all the time in the world to cook.

Be careful now. You don't want to upset the bleeding heart liberals, the indolent, and the slavers. Many decent people never buy expensive waters, half gallons of Haagan Daaz, or NY strip steaks. But what the heck! Tough luck for the children of honest people. Their daddies have to buy goodies for the worthless

[Mia]

Is the argument about what food stamps are used for, or whether we are going to have them at all?

Twoanickel, you are right the alternative to good meat is not junk food. People could buy lesser quality meat, and get more of it, plus fruits and veggies, etc.

But you can't dictate the decisions they are going to make. Like I said, they are going to run out if they buy expensive meats, so they have to weigh that out and make their choice.

Not enough is given to completely feed a person anyway (can you grocery shop on $38/week?). I just don't see how it makes a difference to the taxpayer.

There are rules against prepared food, anything made at the deli, and I don't remember what else.

Anything designated as non-taxable is the rule, I believe, which makes for some strange allowances and disallowances, but there has to be some type of simple guideline. We can't completely police it.

[Mia]

Quote by: twoanickel Be careful now. You don't want to upset the bleeding heart liberals, the indolent, and the slavers. Many decent people never buy expensive waters, half gallons of Haagan Daaz, or NY strip steaks. But what the heck! Tough luck for the children of honest people. Their daddies have to buy goodies for the worthless

I hope you nevr find yourself disabled and in need of help! I'm sure there are a lot of people who get food stamps that don't deserve them, but there a lot of people who cannot work or who do work but stay at the poverty level due to kids to care for.

I'm glad they have this program, and I wish we did drug-screening so the addicts' only choice for assistance is rehab.

[greeneyedgirl]

Quote by: twoanickel My, how your heart bleeds for those who refuse to work and pay their own way, but where is your sympathy for those enslaved by the government on behalf of those who refuse to be responsible for themselves? And you don't see anything wrong with it. I notice that you think the alternative to food stamps is those who are irresponsible eating junk food. Why didn't it occur to you that the alternative in the minds of decent people is for them to get a job and take care of themselves rather than live off the wages of others?

Exactly. I don't feel sorry at all for people whose idea of "working" for a paycheck is squeezing out a litter of illegitimate childen, especially when 1/4 of my paycheck is going to subsidize them. For all the bleeding hearts on here, does it please you that the first day and a half of your work week is spent working so that some welfare queen can cover her fat ass in a pair of designer jeans that you probably can't even afford??? These people are leeches on society. Instead of handing them foodstamps every month to fritter away on expensive food, the government should make people on welfare take agriculture & food preservation/canning classes, hand them some seeds, and tell them to go plant their own food and tend to their crops. At least that way they would be working for their food.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: twoanickel How many times have you noticed food stamps being used to purchase expensive cuts of meat that you, as a taxpayer, cannot normally afford? Grocers should keep a record of what percentage of luxury items are purchased with food stamps. I don't use what should be called "thieves" stamps, and although I don't anticipate having to make such a choice, I will eat from a dumpster before I eat from another man's pocketbook..

I worked at a meat cutting school in the inner city ( ghetto ) setting, and not many can attest to this fact more than I. ( We sold perfectly good meat that was cut by students practicing to become butchers. )


As pointed out by another poster, this is but the least offensive of the transgressions commited with foodstamps as the currency of choice, but it is still enough to stir my blood. ( I'm staunchly against socialist policies existing in the U.S., and this is a prime example why. ) When the recipients of "welfare" are eating better than the largest ( Middle Class America ) contributors, it's time to revisit the policy. ( ..., and not the "enforcement policies" which will make their way into mainstream financial transactions, such as the National Identification Card, and stricter record keeping for all transactions where monies change hands. )

[Mia]

the government should make people on welfare take agriculture & food preservation/canning classes, hand them some seeds, and tell them to go plant their own food and tend to their crops. At least that way they would be working for their food.

LOL - where are they supposed to plant?

[greeneyedgirl]

Quote by: Mia the government should make people on welfare take agriculture & food preservation/canning classes, hand them some seeds, and tell them to go plant their own food and tend to their crops. At least that way they would be working for their food. LOL - where are they supposed to plant?

Not every person who is on welfare lives in inner city housing projects. There are plenty of welfare recipients in rural areas who have acres and acres of land which could be put to better use as gardens as opposed to resting places for their junk cars. Many city dwelling welfare recipients own houses with back yards, and many who do not own houses rent houses for dirt cheap under section 8. Many of these houses also have back yards, which although they may be small, could be utilized to plant a few vegetables or something.

I'm not saying the idea is perfectly thought out - obviously welfare reform takes a lot more thought and planning then a 5 minute post. However, I do think these people should have to shoulder some of the financial burden in feeding and clothing themselves and their offspring.

[greeneyedgirl]

And furthermore justifications like this

Quote by: Mia but there a lot of people who cannot work or who do work but stay at the poverty level due to kids to care for.

make no sense. If you are poor, why have more children? How does that make sense? "Oh, honey, I know we only have a stale loaf of bread and a can of Spam to last us for the week, but I was thinking, maybe it's time we bring another little bundle of joy into the world." Please.... :rolleyes: A lot of these people have kids just so they can recieve more welfare benefits. In many cases, their "poverty" is of their own making.

[twoanickel]

Quote by: Mia Is the argument about what food stamps are used for, or whether we are going to have them at all? Twoanickel, you are right the alternative to good meat is not junk food. People could buy lesser quality meat, and get more of it, plus fruits and veggies, etc. But you can't dictate the decisions they are going to make. Like I said, they are going to run out if they buy expensive meats, so they have to weigh that out and make their choice. Not enough is given to completely feed a person anyway (can you grocery shop on $38/week?). I just don't see how it makes a difference to the taxpayer. There are rules against prepared food, anything made at the deli, and I don't remember what else. Anything designated as non-taxable is the rule, I believe, which makes for some strange allowances and disallowances, but there has to be some type of simple guideline. We can't completely police it.

"...if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat." 2 Thess. 3:10

[Mia]

I didn't say they should have more children. Part of the problem here is that there are different reasons people get food stamps/welfare. One person may be thinking on a junkie and another may be thinking about a widow with 5 kids.

Food Stamps are the easiest to qualify. A single adult with no kids can get them. The thinking seems to be that everyone deserves to at least eat.

However, an able bodied adult is required to work to receive benefits.

I highle doubt that many people have kids for the welfare benefits, since they don't get nearly enough to pay the way of the child.

[twoanickel]

Quote by: Mia LOL - where are they supposed to plant?

convert city parks, athletic fields, highway medians and right of ways into arable land and assign welfare recipients the responsibility of caring for it. If they don't care for the land, dress them in striped clothing and send them back with an armed guard to try again under those conditions.

The idea is to introduce them to the strange idea that others are not responsible to take care of them, but that they themselves have a responsibility to at least carry their own weight, and that no matter how much they love lazing around, they have no right to be a drag on other people.

Their laziness gives foreigners the excuse to invade the land because they refuse to work. And the government tends to them, treating them like house pets.