Food Stamps

[maat55]

I just left Wal-Mart and was in line behind a women who paid with an food stamps card. The whole time I was behind her I was thinking how well off she must be to be buying so many luxury items. I did not see one generic item and she was carrying a nice cell phone, as well.

The card she had allowed her to buy 200.00 dollars worth of food, tax free. As she was nearing the end of her purchases, her and the attendant where beginning to head figure how much less the tax would lower her bill.

What really bothers me is what she was buying and that she was not subject to the taxes like I am. IMO, this is absurd. I would expect to see those given food for free only allowed to be buying very basic necessities. This is just another reason I am so against federal government cookie-cutter social programs.

[disneysteve]

You and I care about the cost of what we are buying because we are paying for our purchases. Folks who aren't paying (at least not with their own money) have no reason to care. Why buy generic when you can get brand? Neither one costs you anything. And why buy healthy food when junk food is available and covered by the card?

[snafu]

If that lady bought 'real' food or basic food, she would have to know/learn how to cook.

[maat55]

If that lady bought 'real' food or basic food, she would have to know/learn how to cook.

She looked like she was feeding an army with snack foods.

[catatonico]

I have seen that before also. Its really pretty stupid, though, at least in my experience. My family was on food stamps a couple of years ago. We were alotted $600/month for groceries for a family of 3. Its like a check card... the money is not taken away at the end of the month (or at the end of your eligibility), its just added to. We were only eligible for food stamps for about 3 months (total of $1800 went on the card). By buying generic and being thrifty, I made 3 months worth of food stamps last approximately 8 months (which was a big help!).

I will admit, though, that we kinda went a little nuts the first week we received benefits. Then we buckled down to make it all last.

[Ima saver]

When i was much younger, I worked near a meat shop. The owner told me that most of the high quality steaks that he sold, were to people using food stamps.

[tifnglen]

First off, since she is on food stamps that money comes from the govt. Why would the govt charge taxes to itself and pay itself back? That makes no since.

What are luxury items? Basic necessities? Just because this woman is on FS does that mean her kids cant have ANY snacks? A 30 cent bag of chips wont make or break the ecomony IMO...

Hopefully you never need help...

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Are there thirty cents bags of chips somewhere?

[ActYourWage]

First off, since she is on food stamps that money comes from the govt. Why would the govt charge taxes to itself and pay itself back? That makes no since.

What are luxury items? Basic necessities? Just because this woman is on FS does that mean her kids cant have ANY snacks? A 30 cent bag of chips wont make or break the ecomony IMO...

Hopefully you never need help...

My wife works for the State (as an eligibility counselor, thus deals directly with FS) and if you saw what is being wasted on people that should not be on FS and what benefits didn't go to the people that needed them, you may have a different view on such a matter.

The issue is not about needing help, it is abusing to the system. A system that works IF those people that abuse it would get off them and allow the people in need to get them. That is why people have a bad view on programs such as these that our Government tries to regulate to no avail.

[disneysteve]

My family was on food stamps a couple of years ago. We were alotted $600/month for groceries for a family of 3.

My wife works for the State (as an eligibility counselor, thus deals directly with FS) and if you saw what is being wasted on people that should not be on FS and what benefits didn't go to the people that needed them, you may have a different view on such a matter.

The issue is not about needing help, it is abusing to the system.

Part of the problem is the system invites abuse. A family of 3 with an income low enough to qualify for food stamps certainly doesn't need $600/month to meet basic food needs. Make the payment more reasonable and recipients will be forced to be more selective in their shopping choices. Plus that would allow the available funding for the program to help a lot more people or last a lot longer. Also, tighten the standards on what the food stamps pay for. Why does taxpayer money need to pay for potato chips, cookies, soda, candy, etc?

[cptacek]

Also, tighten the standards on what the food stamps pay for. Why does taxpayer money need to pay for potato chips, cookies, soda, candy, etc?

I agree with this. If you are on WIC you have certain things that you can buy and certain things it doesn't cover. I don't know why food stamps can't be the same way.

[maat55]

IMO, the federal government should not be in the business of personal needs. If you have ever noticed, charities feed the poor around the world with basic sustinence. It would be rediculous to see a charity give out the things you can buy here on food stamps.

Government assistance should be very basic. Slop for food, community housing with shared baths, and donated clothing. It should be just enough to sustain life, which would encourage the recipient to want and do more for themselves. I would bet the farm that those who truly need help, would get plenty from their own community.

[dczech09]

The government needs to get out of the welfare business and let it be privatized. There are too many holes in the system that allow people to take advantage. To make matters worse, it is us who are working that are financing this; there are still too many people who do not realize that government money is really OUR money.

Now I am not against helping people who honestly need help, but there are too many people that use the system and do not need it. There should be stricter qualifications, lower amounts of financing, and restrictions on what can be bought (especially tax-free).

[elessar78]

Cynical me says they can close this loop hole pretty quickly but isn't it just another way to siphon money from the government to businesses?

[cptacek]

First off, since she is on food stamps that money comes from the govt. Why would the govt charge taxes to itself and pay itself back? That makes no since.

This comment would make "since" if we were talking federal sales taxes, but because sales tax collected on food goes to state and local governments, I think they should have to pay it.