Why do EBT card holders get to eat better than me?

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phionposted 11 years ago
As my wife and I struggle to put enough money away to buy a home and plan for having a child, I'm left wondering why others don't have to be responsible for their own lives.

I was at Sam's Club the other day, and was in line behind two full shopping carts full of racks of ribs, tenderloins, pork chops, soda, a ton of junk food, ribeyes, and a tons of other stuff totaling out to over $800. As she paid with her EBT card, I couldn’t help but wonder what it feels like to be able to buy as much top dollar food as you want with redistributed money of others, or if that would even cross the mind.

Does our current system give people any reason to stop taking advantage, stop having kids they can’t pay for, to be thankful for what they are given, or encourage them to get off the system to support their own existence? Like Romney I’m talking about the leaches, not the vets, retirees, or handicapped, so keep that in mind.

Save the BS, I don’t feel like arguing about how heartless I am or people who are critical of our failed systems are. I don’t need to hear sad stories, I’ve experienced my own. I just want to know what you think about our welfare system, and its contribution to our entitlement society and the debt.
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  paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  As to your Sam's Club story, I have not a clue.
  
  However, you might find this of interest:
  
  "Earlier this week, I spilled half of a glass of milk. It wasn't a lot, but I was disappointed, knowing that I couldn't just pour another glass to make up for what I had lost. I am currently on day five of the food stamp challenge, which asks participants to live for one week on the nation's average food stamp benefit of $21 - that's $3 per day, $1 per meal. I have carefully allotted my milk for the week and more just wasn't an option if I planned to have any for Saturday."
  
  Full article at: http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/
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  GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  What is your point?
  
  Geez... maybe a little background research would be helpful - especially when you are discussing numbers quoted by politicians.
  
  The actual per person allotment, based on maximums, is more like $30 than $21. So, that's a measly $4.30+/- per day. Gee, you can't eat out on that - but intelligent grocery shopping will make it stretch - easily.
  
  I suppose if the program gave you enough to eat out you would have a problem with that...
  
  GA
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  What is your point, exactly? If the program gave enough to eat it might serve it's purpose...Ya know, to feed those who are struggling to make ends meet. Duh!
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  prettydarkhorseposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  
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  GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Duh....? assistance or total support? Which are you advocating for?
  
  safety net programs are supposed to help survival- not sustain a lifestyle
  
  GA
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Duh, if you do have have adequate food to sustain you, you may not survive. I'm advocating for enough food for people to survive on. And no, that does not equate to flat screen tv's or holidays in the Bahamas, opponents of welfare seem to have massive problems separating the two.
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  psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Having lived on that level of income I would not say "easily". And not everyone is within public transport access of good fresh primary ingredients.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  21? Where?
  
  http://www.statehealthfacts.org/compare … amp;ind=26
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  retief2000posted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Well he isn't cheating enough.
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  Zelkiiroposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  And how, pray tell, does one "cheat" better?
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  knight4444posted 8 years agoin reply to this
  LMFAO really?? you're actuate jealous of someone on food stamps??!! heres a suggestion, worry about making better financial and career moves! if you're jealous of some lady, you know NOTHING about spending 800 dollars on groceries, especially when you don't know $HIT about her family situation, makes you look petty and small!! Let me assume something, you're a caucasian conservative, RIGHT?? or you're a libertarian
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  American Viewposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Great story yet we are told there is not fraud in the system evertime the Republicans want to address reforms. This will not be the last sory we will hear about this
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  Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Good to see ya’round, AV.
  
  Golly, my friend, what part of that story indicates fraud? The assumptions you make are even wilder than the OP’s. Phion already imagines this woman is taking advantage, had kids she can’t pay for, is ungrateful for what she may have been given, and more. He has no idea how many mouths she had to feed and for how long but he is convinced she is undeserving. The fact is he does not really know her circumstances. Neither do you. Neither do I.
  
  Okay, let’s let our imaginations run wild. This woman is actually a foster parent running a home full of orphans. No, actually, she is the cook at a tax-supported shelter for abused and run-a-way teens. Don’t like those? How about, she is eligible for financial assistance and SNAP and chooses to combine those benefits to buy a month’s supply of food at one time.
  
  Perhaps you believe your assumptions are more valid than mine. Maybe they are, maybe they are not.
  
  Peace, Bro.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Quill~
  I guess the word “leeches” wasn’t located far enough in another paragraph from the story about the women. I’ll just refer you to some other comments in the larger part of the tread.
  There are no assumptions, only a question of what you think about the Current welfare system, and whether or not you think it contributes negatively to society and our debt?
  
  keep it real dude:)
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  Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Hi phion. I hope all is well where you are.
  
  Feel free to deny what you wrote. We all read your words and heard your message. You assumed plenty and the inferences were clear.
  
  In your own words, “I was at Sam's Club the other day, and was in line behind two full shopping carts full of racks of ribs, tenderloins, pork chops, soda, a ton of junk food, ribeyes, and a tons of other stuff totaling out to over $800. As she paid with her EBT card, I couldn’t help but wonder what it feels like to be able to buy as much top dollar food as you want with redistributed money of others, or if that would even cross the mind.”
  
  This tale of the lady in Sam’s is sandwiched between two rather revealing statements. You wrote, “I'm left wondering why others don't have to be responsible for their own lives.” You then followed with “Does our current system give people any reason to stop taking advantage, stop having kids they can’t pay for, to be thankful for what they are given, or encourage them to get off the system to support their own existence?” If these sentiments where not meant to apply to the lady in the story then why bother to tell us about the incident. Your intent seems quite clear to me. {1}
  
  I can understand why some people believe there is fraud in the welfare system but I can not understand why they imagine it is widespread. Nor is it logical to imply people paying their bill with an EBT card are not in need of assistance. So, phion, since you assume fraud is so pervasive, where are the facts? What is the extent? What are your sources? So far, I have heard only anecdotes. CWanamaker is quick to assume “Fraud is rampant in the Welfare system.” Has he any facts? No. Just a story about someone he knows who crosses the state line to get food stamps. You have your lady in Sam’s. People hold strong opinions and do not seem the least bit uncomfortable with the lack of verifiable data. It does not seem like logical thinking to me.
  
  Here are some facts I’ve dug up:
  
  “Welfare” in the US is more than just handouts to poor mothers. It also gives handouts to all income levels especially corporations. Welfare includes tax breaks for some citizens, subsidies to multi-national agribusinesses, and incentives for farmers. In addition to cash assistance, food stamps, and childcare vouchers, it provides bailouts to Wall Street firms “to big to fail” as well as HEAP aid with heating costs in the winter. {2} In 2008, the government mailed nearly every taxpayer a stimulus check. Did you send your's back to the IRS because it made you feel like a leach?
  
  I am glad you asked about the affect of welfare on the national debt. The $3.7T federal budget for 2012 calls for $553B in spending for defense, {3, p.59}. It includes a total of $79.9B in spending for the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) {3, p.79} from which only $16.2B covers all programs for children and families including those providing financial assistance and food stamps. Programs for the needy are less than 3-% of the Defense budget and less than 0.5% of all federal spending. Social programs for the needy ARE NOT contributing to the national debt and I would be very skeptical of anyone who tries to claim otherwise. Furthermore, the Federal budget calls for $13B in “bank welfare” spending under the TARP program and that will also have no impact on the national debt.
  
  So, phion, when I sort through the hysteria and examine the real facts, I discover that the folks you call “leaches” at the low end of the income spectrum are fewer in number and far less damaging to our society than the “leaches” on the high end.
  
  Finally, phion, you may wish to know that I am not a dude. My friends call me Quill and I hope you will too. Otherwise, Mr. Quilligrapher will be fine.
  
  {1} http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/103729#post2207181
  {2} http://www.junkland.net/2012/01/8-myths … unked.html
  {3} http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default … budget.pdf
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  +1
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  EmpressFelicityposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I seem to remember that the US budget has a discretionary portion and and a mandatory portion - you need to add both portions together to work out what fraction each category is of the $3.7 trillion whole.
  
  That $80 billion or so of spending that you quote for your department of health is the discretionary bit - there's also a mandatory bit, which is almost $800 billion. (See Wikipedia link, given below.)
  
  But yeah, there's also bank bailouts and agricultural subsidies. Not to mention a total defence budget of almost $700 billion (yikes).
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Unit … d_spending
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  Melissasanchez21posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I was searching thought google trying to find a forum that will support my views over this whole EBT situation, now I am a college student making my way through life, I live at home with my mom and sister and we've been working hard to earn what we have, I am currently a cashier trying to get money to pay off my school and it makes me angry when I see people buying brand items filling up 5-6 buggies with JUNK.. Let me tell you what I see on a daily basis: people come in buying over $800 worth of groceries, and then I see them paying 4-5 boxes of beer and tobacco with their cash money?? That's telling me these people are willing to pay their own desires but not their kids needs.. I see people every single day asking other shoppers paying with cash if they can pay their groceries with their ebt so they could get that money in cash.. A woman just a few days ago did this and then went straight to the alcohol section and bought herself 2 big boxes of beer with the ebt money she turned into cash money. I can see phion's point.. I don't get into numbers and politics; I just see the real situation as it is. So I really feel like you can't back something up unless you've been a witness of the situation.. Now there's some families that really do need the help, I believe that single moms, sick and elderly should be able to apply for welfare... The single mom can't handle more than 2 jobs, the sick and elderly are unable to work, they truly need the help.
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  Quilligrapherposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Greetings, Ms. Sanchez. Welcome to Hubpages. I am pleased that my post has attracted your attention. I applaud your determination to carve a stable and secure future for your self.
  
  Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Your viewpoints are welcomed and informative. Not all of us like to get into the numbers, I know, but getting into the numbers is the ONLY way you can assure yourself that you have a reliable perspective on any issue. On the other hand, assumptions are probable the most risky path to a valid conclusion.
  
  Unless you know the individual circumstances of the people “paying [for] 4-5 boxes of beer and tobacco with their cash money,” you must be assuming, perhaps wrongly, that they do not have other cash they intend to use to meet their kids needs. When the Census Bureau counted 108 million recipients of means-tested assistance in 2011, it found 79 million (73%) of them lived in households with at least one person working. {1}
  
  You certainly are not alone when you value your own observations more than broader and more dependable research. This is not, however, a common practice among those who strive for an accurate world view. For example, one of the most common logical fallacies among observers is called “Hasty Generalizations.” You will find an interesting discussion on this topic at the Nizkor web site. {2}
  
  Thank you again, Ms. Sanchez, for visiting this thread and for addressing your thoughts to me.
  
  {1} http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter … eople-wel/
  {2}http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/hasty-generalization.html
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  S Leretsehposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Melissasanchez21 is using a form of reasoning known as ' inductive reasoning.' It is not an acceptable method to form a conclusion i.e. draw a conclusion from too small sample size or insufficient information. Have to agree with Quilligrapher.
  
  I'm no fan of big gov't -- the DEMS socialist agenda. But the fact is...the DEMS have WON! They now have their socialist tentacles forced, squeezed, rammed and crammed into every aspect of our everyday lives. The only thing missing in their take-over agenda is a 100% martial tax rate on those who have the temerity to earn more than 50k a year.
  
  Our macro tax base no longer even comes close to covering the DEMS obligations - record tax collection projected 2014 for the federal gov't , yet our federal gov't is still projecting $1.2 trillion deficit for 2014. This THING is going to break down eventually.
  Melissasanchez21, you' likely won't outlive the collapse of America. I think Quilligrapher will.
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  Zelkiiroposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Thing is, we've got the money we need to finance these programs and we could totally rein in our spending, but two things are stopping that:
  
  1. The absurd military spending. It was something like $800 billion a few years ago and has only increased since then--if we were in a major conflict, it would still be excessive, but I could see the need, but considering our only current war is a low-intensity war of attrition against a few splinter groups...yeah. Our current military spending is at least 10x more than it ever should be.
  
  1a. The war on drugs. Just...just stop. It's not working. Stop it.
  
  2. Good old-fashioned inefficiency. Veterans' documentation is still done on paper, most government jobs are extremely simplistic and redundant and super-easy (wish I could land one, that'd be a dream come true for me), and the average workweek of a congressman is hilariously short due to all the days off they take and pay raises they sign for themselves. I would like those cushy government jobs to always be available for me to snag, but the truth is they're among those bureaucratic screw-ups that desperately need to be addressed and fixed, because a small hemorrhage here and there is still a hemorrhage.
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  Reecey DeRouenposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  As a single mother not by choice on food stamps I hear how people are mad cause we buy name brand items or even meet for our children or snacks, these are for our children would it make u feel better if all we bought were spam and top ramen. I'm on food stamps not because I don't want to work but because I have a special needs child, I am recently disable unable to work and I can not provide healthy means of food for my child. So yes I am gonna get them meat to cook a real meal, and having a special needs child is hard and some times he only likes certain things and if he had a good day sometimes yes i will let him have a snack. I am unable to go to the grocery store every week so yes when my stamps are deposited on my card I budget for the whole month yes all 30 or 31 days. So I know my kids have food when I can't make it back. I don't want to be on food stamps forever most decent parents don't I have only been on snap for a year and a half when I lost my job and was out on bed rest. I pray for the day I can go back to work, but the fact is unforseen circumstances happen but as a parent my kids need to eat. So the question is are u more mad cause u don't get food stamps or that i do and I am purchasing healthy food for my children? Fact is not all people do the right thing with their benefits but not all people do the right thing in life day to day. but until u walk a mile in my shoes or face my problems you can never know my story. Not only do I get food stamps and not the full amount because my children's father help pay and my son is on SSI I coupon because the amount I get isn't enough to make it through the full month. So before u judge someone else's situation maybe think of why. I know how it is to work and struggle and pinch pennys I know how it is to only have enough to pay your bills cause u physically can't work and u need help but I will never say I know anyone else's situation cause it is not my own. I would rather someone have a question and ask about my situation and why I'm buying name brand or meat then fell me and my kids don't deserve it. Y'all have a blessed day
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  gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  You surely can get a part-time job as such jobs are available. Also, do you have savings. People are in the situation they are in because of the choices they make. YOU own your choices, not society nor anyone else. Make the correct choices & your life will be correct. Many people are in dire situations because of the choices they make, nothing more, nothing less. It seems that welfare is becoming quite a normative lifestyle. What happened to effort?
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  Rick Malloryposted 8 years agoin reply to this
  +1 and a much better read and backed up with concrete facts.
  Nothing like that to put a mirror I his face .. I thank you
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  Quilligrapherposted 8 years agoin reply to this
  You are welcome, Mr. Malloy.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  I love you man.........
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  Lindsay Langstaffposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  I appreciate your well-thought out response amidst a sea of slang and ignorance. While I tend to lean conservatively, I understand your logic and believe it is very valid.
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  Quilligrapherposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you, Ms. Langstaff, for your comment.
  
  It seems that we can agreed on another point as well. Logical conclusions are easier to reach when facts and the truth are considered more important than ideology.
  
  Thanks again and welcome to Hubpages.
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  GA Andersonposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  All valid points - but if they were true, and the caregiver/person were trying to get the best bang for the buck - would they be buying the most expensive stuff? ie. ribs/lobster vs. hamburger/chicken.l I think that is the point being made. Kinda like have buying a Cadillac on a Volkswagen budget. Or in this case, a subsidized budget.
  
  GA
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  All valid points - but if they were true, and the caregiver/person were trying to get the best bang for the buck - would they be buying the most expensive stuff?
  
  Well firstly, before there is any type of analysis about "getting the best bang for their buck and buying the most expensive stuff" there would need to be some evidence that this were actually the case in the first place. I haven't seen any.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Here's a question....why does it bother you that people can eat.......? Does it bother you that the people who make the most pay the least ? Or is food the ral issue here ?
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  CWanamakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Fraud is rampant in the Welfare system. I know people living in California that get food stamps from Arizona. They cross the border to get free food.... What's wrong with this picture?
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Fraud is rampant period.....how about the billionaire President who hasn't paid Federal taxes in at least 15 years and wont show his tax return ?
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  About 16% of the population cannot regularly afford food and/or shelter obviously we aren't giving too much.
  
  You may also not be aware that people who are really poor often shop differently. I saw a lot of it with mining families, often they don't own cars so once a month they borrow or rent one and buy everything they can with whatever savings and/or food stamps they may have, it looks like a lot but it may be barely enough to get by.
  
  Or perhaps you saw a genuine welfare leech, I am sure those exist though I have never met one, they are unfortunately nigh impossible to get rid of in a capitalist system.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's getting old for people in these hubs to assume that someone else must never have experienced, seen, or lived through the things they are critical of. Shall I say what is politically correct like those that hoped to avoid the gulags of communist Russia, or is it ok as an American that I speak my mind from the perspective of a one who has been there? Not a gulag but just about every other aspect of poverty that America can offer. Or maybe as a veteran that has seen the atrocities of war, and the turning of man into machine? Shall I get more personal with you my brother there is much more? I’d rather not talk about it here, but I’m sure a time and place can be found.
  Just to remind you we ARE talking about America here, not a country in South America, or anywhere else.
  Yes, there will always be leeches. Yes we, as a people take care of the needy and should do so; we are the most charitable nation in the history of the world! We have so much charity that we neglect our own people, and send trillions in aid to people who hate us and our values.
  We need to question why Obama threw out the reform Bill Clinton helped pass, and the question of what will happen when we are all dependant on government, because that’s where we are heading and what the democrats want.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Ok forget what I just said, reading about it food stamps provide an average of 21$ a week! That is very little, you have nothing to complain about if anything that should be more. $1 a meal!
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  Sophia Angeliqueposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's not possible to get $800 on ebt unless she has something like 11 or 12 children. The maximum get person can get is $200 per month, and if they all live together in the same house, it's about $150 per person. So don't feel miserable. It wasn't $800. Just your overactive information.
  
  And, yes, I'm on foodstamps, and I know the system well.
  
  But then, again, in 9 years living in America, I've never been able to find a job that pays a livable wage. An believe, me, my skills are very, very professional.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Sophia~ I'm sorry you haven't had any luck finding work; I too am struggling right now to find a good job. I work part time when I can find the work as of right now doing blue color labor. With the price of food and everything else going up every day I feel worse for my wife who has the stable job, but I am thankful that she at least has one. Guess that’s what happens when you become a nurse...you’re always needed.
  
  To the point~ She had 10 kids! Yes 10. How is that possible? While there are young struggling families out there that actually work hard, and make enough to get by, and maybe save a little extra each month in hopes of buying a house...Others can be multiplying like cancer raising children upon children in poverty and neglect, many times surrounded by drugs and they are rewarded for their irresponsible behavior! It’s wrong, and it sends the children who grow up in these sad circumstances the wrong message. They make rap songs about how to take advantage of the system for crying out loud. I know I'm probably on the younger side of the spectrum, but it’s true there are many songs that actually rap through instructions of how to take advantage of the system.
  
  I hope that you find the job you are looking for, and you become a success story. Nothing makes me feel better than to see those few stories of strong persevering people that rise above the wreck in which they find themselves. It's those stories that give us all hope, not the narrative that the government will help make it all better.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The issue then becomes that the kids don't deserve to be punished for the fact that the woman may have been irresponsible (assuming she was which seems probable) so we now have three choices, A) we give them food B) We take her kids away and raise them in a foster home or orphanage ( I grew up in one it's not something you want trust me) C) Let them starve .
  
  Given that A is the best option which is what we are doing so what are you complaining about?
  
  What do you want to do about it?
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  ptosisposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I this he just grousing - yes?
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  Cody Hodge5posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Did you ever consider that this person adopted those kids or was working for an organization that takes in troubled youths?
  
  Back in my retail days, there were groups of people who would come in with EBT cards to handle their grocery lists. They were feeding disabled people, feeding grandchildren that were dropped off by their deadbeat parents or otherwise caring for people who wouldn't be cared for any other way.
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  kathleenkatposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's honorable that they choose to care for these people...But, why should they expect EBT to pay for them? From my days in retail, I wondered how such a large percentage of people could need help; much higher than the 8% unemployment rate. I also wondered about the large percentage of people walking from their cars, into the store, and sitting on the electric shopping carts.
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  Cody Hodge5posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  There are plenty of reasons for that as well...
  
  The person using the electric cart could have a hard time walking...
  
  It could be due to a recent surgery or some other injury that forces them to ride instead of walk...
  
  It's not good to judge a book by its cover.
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  gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  +1,000,000,000,000,000,000-to reiterate, welfare needs to be DRASTICALLY reduced.
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  ptosisposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Truly really want to know - or just want to argue? Do you mean Mitten's 47% or people of SSI as opposed to people on SSDI or SS?
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  prettydarkhorseposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Some abuse it, some don't. In a capitalist system and mixed with welfare economy, this is to be expected. There are times when people don't have money for basic necessities due to various reasons. I agree that safety nets should not be abused. I can't imagine a society without safety nets though.
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  JP Morgan needs food stamp recipitants, it helps to keep their clients afloat and hide their toxic debts.
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  Moderndayslaveposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  One persons misery seems to be someone else's windfall. imagine that.
  http://www.alternet.org/story/155849/ar … ood_stamps
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  "With minimal oversight or accountability, banks such as JPMorgan Chase administer SNAP in each state, reaping big contracts that reveal little about how they turn a profit off these public benefits. You'd think the austerity-minded Congress might want to know."
  
  Who'd of thunk it? Why do citizens in the US not know that this is the case?
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's generational. We've gone from this...
  
  To this...
  
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  prettydarkhorseposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Big leeches
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  yep.
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  kathleenkatposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I saw this all the time when I worked at a grocery store. EBT card comes out of a Coach wallet, while they are texting on their iPhone.
  
  Perhaps you should stop saving money, and not plan on having children, but have them anyway . Then, have your wife apply for WIC checks. And keep having children; the number will increase your payout.
  
  All joking aside, yes, there are freeloaders and deadbeats (not sure if they encompass 47% of the population, but they exist). It happens more frequently, I think, then we are okay admitting. This includes people whose parents pay their college tuition, but they claim in on their tax returns. This includes people who do not update their state of residence for years, just to avoid different tax circumstances. We can all think of them...and if we open our eyes, we probably know a few of them personally.
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  Doodleheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I work in an arena where I see first hand fraud happening. For example, I met a married couple, where she gets foodstamps and he makes $3000 a month and she has a $1000 Social Security Check. She also gets full Medicaid. She also sells 400 enchiladas each Wednesday night to some place that buys them from her for $1.00 each. Pretty good, huh?
  
  How they do it is they tell the PTB that they are separated. I know about three other marrieds that are doing this.
  
  I am debating about telling someone about this..(anonymously) what do y'all think?
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Aren't there phone numbers to report people like that? I will still stand by the fact that the vast majority of those on assistance do not take advantage of it... most need it as a temporary stand by until they get back on their feet.
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  Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Why don't you draw the obvious conclusion that the system is unfair? Someone who works full time and makes minimum wage better have a few roommates if they want to survive. They also better not get sick.
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  gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  TELL me about it. Many times I go shopping and see people with EBT cards buying lobster, steak, cookies, sodas, and non-essential items. One person brought $400.00 worth of such items, paying little or next to nothing using the EBT card. This person was on welfare and BRAGGED about how good she was living. You are right many hard working people have to cut back or buy lesser quality food to break even socioeconomically. Are YOU outraged about this? This is indeed a travesty to the multillionth degree!
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  Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Yep, I am outraged by it. I see it every time I go to the store.
  
  On the flip side of this issue, I know of a lady who is 90+ years old. She is struggling and gets a whopping 18 dollars a month in EBT benefits; she doesn't qualify for much, because she doesn't have dependents. Something is seriously wrong with a system that rewards young people for having more children and penalizes hungry, elderly people.
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  dianelane51posted 5 years agoin reply to this
  Definitely something wrong. What about the tax refund they receive? Most Food Stamp recipients get 3+ times the amount of taxes they paid, so much for each child. So, on top of all the government money they receive, Uncle Sam gives them enough money to buy a car, new furniture, etc, while retirees live on usually less than $1.100 a month and this is social security, money they worked for, not an entitlement. They actually worked for it, every penny. Retirees should be given food stamps, no questions asked and they should not have to run through hoops to get it. But, these few and proud do not want handouts.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  I feel you...but why is it that people get outraged by the little people and gloss right over the fact that fraud is rampant at the top of the food chain.....like a billionaire not paying taxes for at least 15 years, then becoming President and not showing his tax return....Just seems to me, that would be something worth complaining about...I forgot,,,they don't have a number where you can anonymously report or complain about that....my bad
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  Ann810posted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Exactly true Darryls, seems Trump is getting some type of welfare, because he's not paying taxes for over a decade.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Indeed......
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  wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Proof, please? This ought to be good as he has not released his tax information - I assume you have broken into the IRS and hacked their computers. Suggest you sell those returns - you could probably get enough to leave the country before you're behind bars.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  lmao....... you're funny.... like he didn't say it himself on the campaign trail and blamed Hillary for his ability to be able to do it..... you probably missed that thought huh ?...... lmao..... you're funny...
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  wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  You can't prove it either, I take it, although you were happy to make the same claim.
  
  Ah well, I'm getting used to the lies of the haters...Another one among the hundreds isn't much a surprise, now is it?
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Of course I'm a liar.... and the First Lady that was forced upon us isn't a porn star either..... imagine that... you can Google FLOTUS's Vagina.... now that's classy for you and very dignified.... yep.. I'm the one who's confused about stuff....
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  YOU ARE DUMBASSposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  First, YOU ARE A LIAR or you can't add, which could explain why you struggle. Second, SHAME ON YOU, people in a shitty situation ..handicapped child at home etc..dont get CASH for the out of pocket cost,,THEY GET FOOD, which often THEY NEED THE CASH. ITS 11/19/2013 NOW and the MAXIMUM FOOD STAMPS ANYONE CAN GET A MONTH IS $347.
  
  Glad you have to struggle to buy a house. I hope if you get it it burns down. I struggled ALL MY LIFE to get a house and I got a fraud mortgage from country farm and lost ALL MY MONEY.
  
  So my handicapped baby gets to grow up in a trailer because of Aholes like you too busy whining about people worse off instead of protesting and fighting for the rights of the hundreds of thousands of people raped by the government of their lifes savings.
  
  Most people on EBT cant even rent a house let alone buy one. I hope you become disabled or sick besides your mental issues.
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  Darryls Placeposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  I feel you.....the always want to cry about the little man and gloss over the real issues.....
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  rhamsonposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Let me know if you have a good plan as to distinguish between the two and hold them accountable. Freeloader or needy that is......
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  gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  See that frequently, SICK OF IT NOW. Time to put an overhaul to the current welfare system. Welfare should only be for the severely disabled physically, mentally, and emotionally and the elderly. Everyone else MUST work or starve. There should also be a reinstitutionalization and this should be applied stringently of workfare programs. The premise is that if one eats and lives in designed housing, one should work. If one elects not to work, one should be imprisoned for noncompliance of the workfare law.
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  John Holdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  But who is going to provide the jobs? Not your capitalist masters, they don't want to and you wouldn't want them to be forced to, would you?
  
  That leaves the state as the providers of jobs and you wouldn't be happy with that, would you?
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  Education Answerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I wish I had a dollar for each time you use the term "capitalist master" in one of your posts. With this additional income, I might be able to pay my insurance premium under Obamacare.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What term would you like me to use when referring to your capitalist masters then?
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Co-workers perhaps. Yes, co-workers fits those that own the businesses we work for; they work with us to provide an income for all. A different task, of course (we can't all be ditch diggers or truck drivers), but still working to provide a job and a profitable company that can pay us a living wage. Just like we all do.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  But you've argued countless times that it is not up to employers to provide a living wage (and by implication, it is fine for tax payers to make up wages to the level where people can live off them).
  
  That doesn't fit the description of co-workers but fits the master-servant relationship rather well.
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Untrue; I've argued that YOU don't get to define what a living wage is, and then demand that all jobs are worth at least that much.
  
  All jobs in the US pay a living wage right now, if it is full time (40 hrs per week). Minimum wage WILL support the person earning it by the only definition that matters; survival of an intelligent person receiving that much.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Fortunately neither you nor I get to decide what a living wage is.
  Both our (right wing and capitalist) governments accept that many in receipt of the minimum wage (and above) cannot actually live on it and top up peoples wages to the point where they can.
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, there are always liars that say it can't be done.
  
  And then there are those that include an entire family of dependents, or massive health problems - any excuse to raise the wage to those that CAN live off of it.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What, liars like the person with an income of about £850 a week paying rent and other housing costs of around £850 a week?
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Wow - housing must be a great deal higher in the UK than the US. After all, 3 young men can rent, not a flat but a 3 bedroom house, for half that (an apartment would obviously be less), per month. Costing each of them less than $300, or about a week's work at minimum wage. Add in utilities and you have less than 1 1/2 week's labor at minimum wage here with 2 1/2 weeks earnings left for other living costs.
  
  Of course, if you try to do it in the middle of Manhattan it won't work too well. Which is where the "intelligent" part comes into play.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Who's talking about young men? All ages are working for the minimum wage in the UK!
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  OK - three singles of any age. Can't see it makes a difference, and two of them could even be a couple with each working.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  And what about the man, his wife and two teenage children?
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Kind of what I said, isn't it? Suddenly that minimum "living wage" has to support 4 people, not one. But why stop there? Why not 6? Or an even dozen? With two of then needing continual, round the clock nursing care and the worker himself missing both arms?
  
  I mean as long as you're going to make up impossible conditions, might as well go whole hog!
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Why is a family of four an impossible condition? Don't people marry and have families in the US? Don't people with seemingly successful careers find themselves unemployed and desperate for any work?
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  wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Why is a family of 12 (on minimum wage) an impossible condition? Why is a paraplegic with cancer on minimum wage an impossible condition?
  
  Why is any additional cost to a minimum condition an impossibility?
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  A family of twelve or a paraplegic with cancer are exceptional cases. An unemployed father of two is common place.
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  Education Answerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You used the term again!
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  If I keep using it you might end up with enough money to be a real capitalist!
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  Education Answerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Actually, I might be able to pay my new, higher insurance premium for lesser coverage! I love Obamacare! I pay more for less. Who could ask for better, big government? My "liberal master" believes that I need to work a second job so that other people can have reduced-cost coverage.
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  norcyposted 8 years agoin reply to this
  My husband is a veteran and I am disabled. We worked all our lives and, I'm sure paid for programs and grant money that benefited you as well as others. At around 65 dollars a month I don't believe our take from the system is out of order. Thank you for your comments. We all have had times we thought someone not as worthy as us was benefiting when we were not. Just an fyi the little dab we get when we can figure out how to even use it (at the moment it is a holiday and there is no access to activate our new card online) will help eventually. Meanwhile let us be slow to look down on others.
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  NextLevel831posted 8 years agoin reply to this
  People like you are how Donald Trump gets a following. You are obviously ignorant and greedy. You have to be at the poverty level or slightly above to qualify for food stamps, you don't get nearly $800 a month, so you're probably lying about that lady paying for it in the first place. People like you are why this country is so messed up in the first place, yea you can't get food stamps because you're not making less than $950 a month you probably make a few grand and sit here and whine about it
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  Michelle Douglasposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Because not everyone is educated or maybe they are on disability...Everyones situation is different and these little shit jobs dont pay the bills so until you know that persons situation plz dont judge..You were fortunate to be born with a smart mind and an education...
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  norcyposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Sorry for the late post. I was gone for a month while my husband had radiation treatments. Just now opened this but I feel the urge to reply.
  I am a disabled senior. We live off 1400.0 a month and still have a car payment, doctor bills, etc.,Today is the 11th and we have already run out of our allotment of fs. Thank God our town has a food bank near by and we were gone to a VA guest house so we r just now using our once every three month allotment of donated groceries.
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  Ann810posted 7 years agoin reply to this
  I think the system should give out more green dollars rather than $800 worth of foodstamps on an EBT card. People on the system hopefully will not become obese with all of those foodstamps. My point is it's better that the system put most of those funds into green money, and not so much into food. At least the recipients would be able to keep fuel in their car, pay more bills, which can help them on a jump start for seeking employment, and it will assist with paying a babysitter. The gas tokens that they give them is not enough for one month of job-seeking.
  
  Next time you're in line at the store and see someone spend money on their EBT card, ask them if you could come over for dinner or backyard barbeque. This question is still relevant, because people are still bothered by others spending lots of money on EBT. It doesn't bother me because I rather see that, than a family starving and homeless on the street, Dahh!
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  gmwilliamsposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  There are many welfare cheats who live off our dime. It is amazing what EBT cards can buy. I see it when I shop at Foodtown but don't see it shopping at Whole Foods. At Foodtown, one sees choice ribs, steaks, & fish plus tons of junk food, cakes, & sodas paid for by EBT cards. I find this infuriating-don't use tax monies by hard-working people to pay for these freeloaders. The rule is-don't work, don't eat or don't work, get aid, eat the minimum........This is TOO MUCH!!!!
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  Patricia Michaelsposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Amen, you said it best!
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  Mandi Mahoneyposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  Currently on EBT, not my favorite thing but, it feeds my son. I have one child, by choice. His father passed away and I can not buy groceries without help. I do believe what you saw was fraud. People like that should be turned in. Next time you see something like that, get their name...and then call the DHS office in your area. People like that have no business taking from those who actually need the help.
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  gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this
  It happens all the time in generic supermarkets like Foodtown, FineFare, Target, & Costco. However, it NEVER happens at Whole Foods where I mostly shop. Totally concur with Phion. It is high time to reduce welfare between 85%-90%. I am tired of tax dollars supporting such people. If you want to eat good food, then EARN it through work.
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  dianelane51posted 5 years agoin reply to this
  I work for Sam's Club and see food stamp fraud everyday and mostly from the associates. People and associates buy large quantities of food with EBT, then bring it back for a refund, with no receipt, of course, They do no want you to know how they paid. They then ask for cash back or a gift card which can be used on any purchase, not only food. This activity goes on every day. Some, especially associates, will use someone else's membership card so you cannot find it on their membership. Usually, a frustrated employee will just give them the cash or a gift card. My opinion is, if they do not have a receipt for food, no matter how purchased, should be exchange only for equal value. If they pay is EBT, it should go back to EBT. If anyone saw the dollar amount these people get in government food stamps, they would be shocked. It is more than I make a month working 30 hours a week well above the minimum wage. By the way, I am 67 and I have to still work in order to buy food. I do not qualify for Food Stamps. I will never be able to retire.
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  Ken Burgessposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  This is more the truth of the matter. Not that there are not people in need, but that a substantial portion of the people who are on benefits game the system, and many people within the system understand this and propagate it.
  
  It has been this way for decades now. I have run government funded programs that were to benefit the low income / no income, families.
  
  And yes there are people that have made a career out of gaming the system qualifying for disabilities they didn't have and benefits and housing that really weren't meant for them.
  
  When I say there are people who make a career out if it, I mean exactly that, they know the laws, the regulations, the politicians, and instead fo working for a living, they work all day to get whatever benefits they can get, and put pressure on who-ever they can to get them.
  
  It more often than not, is a very thankless and discouraging venue to work in, the abuse is rampant, at least in NY where I spent years overseeing such programs.
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  promisemposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  Even the right-wing Forbes magazine says food stamp fraud is only 0.9% of the total program.
  
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonconst … 8abb05f880
  
  That compares to 30 to 40 percent of Americans who cheat on their taxes.
  
  http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/07084/772106-28.stm
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  wildernessposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  From the link:
  In just four years, from 2012 to 2016, food stamp fraud jumped a staggering 61%, while the number of recipients fell 5%. Fraud losses are estimated at nearly $600,000,000 in 2016.
  
  While this may appear insignificant to you, I personally find both the half a Billion dollars in fraud as well as climbing 60% in just 4 years to both be significant. If it continues we will have fraud of well over a Billion dollars in 2020, while feeding 5% fewer people. And yes, it matters. Very much so.
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  promisemposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  It's still a fraud rate of only 0.9% for food stamps compared to 30-40% for tax returns.
  
  And what about defense contractor fraud, Medicare fraud by doctors, Social Security fraud and a whole lot of other, much bigger frauds against the U.S. government?
  
  So no, by comparison, a 0.9% fraud rate is chump change.
  
  https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/ … fraud.html
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  wildernessposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, I get that if you can just express it right then it dwindles to nothing. But the reality is that we're looking at a billion dollars a year in just food stamp fraud. That's a lot of money.
  
  Which one of those you listed account for nearly a billion dollars each year? All fraud, yes, and we're upset about it. But if you just say that food stamp is only 1% then it means we should ignore that billion dollar drain? I don't see it that way (wonder if the chase, trials, etc.) end up worth the time to find those tens of thousands of people committing food stamp fraud?)
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  Ken Burgessposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  First, the Forbes piece is done by a contributor, not exactly an in depth research piece.
  
  Second, it would depend on the definition of fraud. Is that only those who are caught? And caught at what in particular, lying about finances, reselling purchased items, or returning purchased items for cash?
  
  Percentages and numbers are only as good as the data you have, and what you are looking for.
  
  Americans cheat on taxes? What exactly is cheating? I would say that a system that allows billion dollar corporations to be subsidized by tax dollars while a citizen scraping by on $50k pays the maximum amount isn't exactly a fair one to begin with.
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  promisemposted 4 years agoin reply to this
  I especially agree with your last sentence.
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  dianelane51posted 5 years agoin reply to this
  I just posted a reply, but I did not mention that the people that work for Sam's have expensive hair weaves and fake nails with rhinestones. They wear the best of clothes, but cannot buy food for their family. What is wrong with this picture?
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habeeposted 11 years ago
I think we have freeloaders, and I don't like my income taxes going to them. I have no problem, however, with helping those who are truly in need through no fault of their own.
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  YOU ARE DUMBASSposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  A person making $50,000 a year pays 10 cents a day in taxes for food stamps
  
  ARE YOU ALL RETARDED???
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  wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Probably not, but I might question someone responding to a 14 month old post as if expecting a reply...
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  Michelle Douglasposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  But yet you replied lol
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  wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Yes. Two years ago I responded to a 2 year old post...that was responding to a post that, at that time, was 14 months old. And now you respond to that 2 year old post.
  
  Look at the dates before replying.
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  gmwilliamsposted 7 years agoin reply to this
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psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago
I think there is some room between "perfect" and "failed".
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Uninvited Writerposted 11 years ago
I never look at what other people are buying because it is none of my business. They get a certain amount of money and if they spend it all in one day that is their problem. It's not fraud, just poor planning.
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  Sophia Angeliqueposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well said, UW. Probably is poor planning, but then who knows, they may have a freezer and there might be 11 kids in the house. You never know.
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  ptosisposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  @ $800 dollars - that sounds unrealistic & unless she just got on it with having had a few months back foodstamps given all at once - I think this is total B.S. story - unless he was standing behind McGhee sextuplets by sheer coincidence.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  .When you are a target acquisitions specialist standing within a couple of body lengths from another person for 7 min as they unload their groceries, your darn right you’re going to scope them out, along with every other person in eye sight. I never suggested that anything was my business; I just told you what I witnessed. I’ve not named or described anything about this person that will bring any judgment upon her, unless you plan to find her or judge the next lady you see with 9 kids or more. UW, I’ll tell you a secret about this lady if you ask me in a week. The issue here is the system, not the woman herself, I guess I didn’t make myself clear about that.
  
  If you are a single woman that doesn’t want to work, all you have to do, to have everything paid for in your life is a few simple things. I’m not going through the list here, but one check mark involves having multiple kids out of wedlock. A special needs child, because you didn’t give a crap while you were prego is a major one, and I’m not going to say more, because I doesn’t matter. What matters is the children who are born to ferment in the slums of society, under the systems that are untouchable and immune to critics. There is an army to fight the criticisms of guys like me. All hypnotized to follow the leader.
  
  Your right UW, poor planning is everything to blame for the mess we are in. Wait! Reality check, did anyone care that we just got downgraded again, and the President said we don’t need to worry about our debt…It’s a long term problem. Ya let’s just let our children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren worry about that, we need to worry about Romney’s 47%, and appeasing the Muslim’s with Public Broadcasting commercials, and apologies. Fail to seek substance, and you shan’t find the truth.
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  Billy Hicksposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Wow... just... wow. There's really only one response for that:
  
  "What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
  
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Cute..Would you actually like to address anything, or just ignore and dismiss the actual problems? If the problem is my simply posing the question, then say so, or maybe contribute an idea that may help others see your view.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The thing is you have no solutions, yup kids grow up in terrible conditions and that is horrible but what do we do to prevent it? The kids aren't responsible, they have to be fed, do we forcibly remove them from their parents, do we sterilize the poor or punish them for having kids? The alternatives are always worse, nothing is perfect and complaining is easy but if you have nothing but complaints there is no point doing it at all, solutions are required and at the moment we are doing the best we can given the difficult situation which is why those plans stay in place, that won't change until there are alternatives, nor should it.
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  MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Wow... Just to be clear... special needs children are only born to single mothers who didn't give a crap during their pregnancy?
  
  Having just given birth to my third special needs child (Aiden is deaf) I gotta say that I'm pretty sure that I was married when I became pregnant with all of my children. I also gotta say that I'm fairly certain that I did everything possible to make sure that my kids were healthy while I was pregnant. But if you have some inside info on what causes heart defects (special needs kids 1) autism (special needs kid 2) or deafness (special needs kid 3) please let me know.
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  livelongerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Congratulations on your new baby! Love the name Aiden.
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  MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you Hubby picked the name.
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maxoxam41posted 11 years ago
Buying a house at their level is a privilege. If you envy them that much, why don't you stop working and live your life their way? Selfish question.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Max~ I had to take a 7 a seven day vacation after your last ridiculous divisive and hate breading topic. It was probably for the best since the news for last week would be too much for the anarchists, commies, socialists, and soccer moms to handle with anyone actually challenging their Obama boat rowing party. The spin people try to put on the events taking place from the FED to Indonesia stand as a clear reminder of the sheer number of people who don’t care about our future, and in fact ignore it. Speaking of Obama, you don’t support him do you?
  
  You almost made me grin like Guy Fawkes when you said that I posed a selfish question. Typical tactics I assume though, coming from the guy who asked and posed a question on September 11 that enraged nearly everyone that read it. You couldn’t have picked the other 51 weeks of the year? Selfish, your funny.
  
  No I don’t envy them at all, I feel sorry that many of them don’t see that they must strive to get out from the oppression they don’t even know they are in many times. Buying a house is a privilege at any level! Guess what? People on the American welfare system own homes, I don’t know where you live, but they do. I hope that doesn’t come as a surprise to you.
  While we are in the spirit of judging as usual, can we play a game? Do you really wear a mask? What is the last thing you protested? let me take a stab and say you seem like the little rich kid type that started to listen to certain types of “bad” music, and then went to college, and totally bought the crap shoveled your way, never finished school, Now you’re a conspiracy theorist, who hates American Exceptionalism, thinks he can relate to those suffering around the world under oppressive governments, has never served in the military, or even thought about it, and thinks the whole thing just needs to be burned to the ground and rebuilt by you and those like you? Ok that was fun, how’d I do? Please don’t be too offended, just tell me how I was wrong, I know there is has to be a couple ways.
  I’m almost scared to post this, the war people have on our first amendment is alive and well here in the Politics and Social Issues forum. I’ve never cared enough what thoughts from the web come to my screen to want to get someone suspended; then again I’m not an extremist.
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Mighty Momposted 11 years ago
Youd don't know how many people are being fed or for how long off those groceries.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Also true.
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habeeposted 11 years ago
How do you guys feel about this? Instead of getting food stamps, the needy pick up their food from a distribution center that provides the basics: flour, cereal, eggs, vegetables, fruits, milk, juices, meats, etc. In addition, they also get a reduced amount of stamps to use at supermarkets for items of their choice. Local farmers could provide much of the food in the distribution centers, where applicable.
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  gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Habee, you always have sensible solutions to the problem at hand. I totally agree. There should be food stamps for those who cannot afford food. There are deserving poor in this country. There are people who work very hard but they do not have a living wage to purchase enough food to feed their families. They should not starve for that would be totally inhumane. That is what food stamps are for. Yes, there may be people who use food stamps fraudulently but there are others who need them to feed themselves and their families.
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peeplesposted 11 years ago
In my state the only EBT holders who can use their cards at places like Sams club are foster parents, group homes, and other assisted living type facilities. For all you know this could have been the case there. That may have been a foster parent collecting food.
If you wanted to eat great you and your wife could do so for less than $50 a week. Can you seriously not afford $50 a week? If not maybe you need to go apply for some EBT yourself.
Do I agree with the system as is? No. We need to teach people who collect EBT to coupon, organize their finances, teach to garden, and shop smarter. We need to drug test to elliminate those who are doing things they shouldn't. We need to get rid of them being able to buy soda and candy as these aren't needed. However outside of that we should show a little compassion and understanding.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Man wouldn't that be hilarious if the woman being insulted as a leech and irresponsible was in fact purchasing food to care for children not her own she is looking after so they have somewhere to stay. Some people just assume the worst I guess.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Josak~
  If you read again, I don’t think anyone said that the woman in the story is a leech or irresponsible. The people that take advantage of the system are the leeches. With Obama doing away with a big part of the work requirement do you think there will be more or less people taking advantage? The sharp rise in enrollments in the welfare systems since his policy change should speak for itself.
  You and others seem to think that people, who want reform, just assume we toss all the hungry children to the curb. Have you lived in low income area’s here in America? Have you seen the things you can buy with an EBT card, not to mention getting cash from ATM’s?
  I didn’t just wake up a few days ago, and suddenly feel so passionate about things. After growing up in poverty and making it out, I feel strongly about government programs that seem to be failing to do their job. I hope for the best, but don’t ignore the worst.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Peeples~
  All great points and I agree on all of them. That being said do you think the current President would ever go for such changes? His actions point to the opposite. Everyone is narrowly looking at the story told, and not the problem that was raised. Whether or not this woman was mother Teresa or not, doesn’t change the fact there is fraud, waste and abuse rampant in the welfare system. The drug testing I think would be a great measure, but it would have to be mandatory, not voluntary like the trial run in Florida.
  Oh, yes I can survive on $50 a week or less if I had to.
  Just a note, recently I applied for unemployment, but because I chose not to lie, I informed them that I was also going to school; they said that I wasn’t eligible, because, I wasn’t dedicated to finding work since I was enrolled in college. All I had to do was omit that I was in school, and I would have received $275 a week for around $9k. A lady called me, and all but walked me through ways around the system. Needless to say I’m not receiving unemployment.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  This is the usual problem, no solutions, should everyone have a private eye examine their life when applying? The cost is prohibitive, people do abuse the system, often they get caught, of then they don't. The cost of checking has to be balanced against the cost of not checking and that is exactly what is done.
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  wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Cost of checking vs not checking - unfortunately it doesn't seem to work that way. Someone (habee I think) mentioned in another thread a friend that had a job doing just that - looking for welfare fraud. Saved the state 50,000 her first month, as I recall, but then funding dried up and she lost the job.
  
  Problem, as I see it, is that if the state cuts welfare fraud then it is also cutting the federal $$ that come into the state. This causes unhappy welfare cheaters, unhappy business owners that profit from those federal monies, unhappy voters and difficulty in re-election. Just bad all the way around for the locals; far better all the way around that people somewhere provide the money.
  
  The area I live in (Idaho) recently bragged about an enormous increase in the food stamp program - they are actually happy about getting more and more people on WBT. Now I'm sure they found a handful of people that weren't on it but should have been, but mostly it's about bringing more money into the state. More important to have people out there promoting the giveaways than to have people out there stopping fraud. Fraud is good for the state as long as the feds are picking up the cost.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Wilderness~
  Great points about the vendors drooling over the spending federal money in their stores, and the facilitating that happens on local levels. This is why you see sharpie drawn card board signs taped on doors that say "EBT accepted here". The abuse and acceptance of the vast welfare system is remarkably sad. It adds just one more failed and burdensome load to America’s back, and it will continue to wear America to the breaking point, a point in which many seem to be ok with.
  The slant in which people see the facts must be fixed, it’s almost impossible to get the whole story from any form of media these days.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  That's a very good point actually. Of course the problem is still, how do we fix that? It might be an idea to insentivise state poverty reduction through federal funding and/or fine poverty increases outside the norm.
  
  The point being the program is still necessary and the cost of fixing the problems has to be balanced.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  JOsak~
  Agreed, so now we must look to those that will be able to utilize their powers to accomplish more than just clocking in, collecting a check, and making sure their buddies back home are taken care of.
  OUT with the incumbents. Who do you think is the best choice for our economy?
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  wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It would go a long way to require any EBT recipients to work for their card. Sweep the streets or sidewalks, do community work, pick up trash along roadways. Lots of things they could be doing, and anyone not on disability can either work or starve.
  
  Demeaning? Probably, to those that don't want to work. Those that actually want to support themselves rather than be beggars should be happy to trade their labor for food, just as the rest of us do.
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  There's another side to that suggestion though, Wilderness. In the Uk we now have workfare, and those who are actively looking for work are also working for their benefits. The problem, is that while they're working they are not allowed to have their mobile phones or reply to any potential employers who are asking them to attend interviews. Also, there is one very large (possibly the largest) recruitment company in the country, who also runs a sister company where many workfare clients are now working. When a workfare client tries to register with the recruitment agency, and even when they have registered prior to commencing workfare, they are told by the recruitment agency that they cannot register because they are working for the sister company. So, legitimate paid employment is also being denied to workfare clients!
  
  There have also been incidences where companies are making redundancies because they can replace paid employees with workfare clients, obviously at no cost to them.
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  wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  All that sounds really dumb, and very much politically motivated with greed being a high factor.
  
  Is workfare being used rather than regular employment, to perform tasks/jobs that would otherwise go to privately employed people? I was thinking along the lines of stuff that would be nice to have done by the state, but that the state can't afford. Such as keeping the streets clean and trash free.
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, they are largely being employed by really large companies. It's not that I'm opposed to people doing voluntary work or anything like that. But, in the main, we have community service programmes (for offenders) where they are doing that king of work (cleaning the streets, etc) I just think workfare would be far more beneficial if we looked to small businesses.
  
  There are many small businesses that desperately need help but can't afford it. It would be so much more productive to match them up with a workfare client who could help out, and in return the small enterprise could offer some on the job training and practical skills for the workfare client which could later be used to find and secure employment. Many of our workfare clients are just kids, they need to obtain training and skills to compete in the labour market. Yet, in this country it seems that they are being treated like offenders.
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  peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Oh I agree with you. We recently had an issue with our daughter and were turned down for her medicaid. Why? Because we are a working family. Working doesn't mean someone is well off it means their actually trying to provide for themselves instead of depending on others. Working people can't get any assistance hardly. I also agree our current president is NOT going to fix the problem. I don't however think that Romney will fix it any more than Obama.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It’s sad, and I’m sorry that you are one of the families that have fell victim to the failed system. Your family seems to be doing what any reasonable family would. It’s sad that the children of people that don’t work at all can get assistance easier than those that do. I hope grace is bringing you through your trails, and that your daughter is ok.
  I think one thing we can count on with Romney, is him being better for our economy. I’m willing to bet the farm, that if we elect him you will have much higher job rates, and higher median household income. Money isn’t everything, but if we are all working, then we can worry about everything else. Without work we can’t support ourselves, or anyone else.
  I just wish the politicians would do their damn job for a change. They have one thing to do, and that’s represent US, you and me. I think people actually think one is better than the other None of them are working in our best interest, but you have to pick the one that will be best for you at the time. If you think your healthcare is the most important thing going on in your life, then I would suggest you have someone who really understands the enormous Affordable Healthcare Act explain it to you. If you want a job, and want America to be a well greased engine of prosperity and growth again, then you should look into what you don’t hear the media saying of Romney. Why if you are the most powerful person in the world (aka Obama), would you give Americans nothing but excuses? The blame game isn’t and shouldn’t be a luxury the White House can afford to play.
  I’m not sure, but when is the last time you had an administration and party blame so much, yet hold themselves responsible for so little? Their failures seem to be coming to a head just in time for people to start realizing that Obama isn’t the change or unity that we needed. To me that doesn’t mean vote him back in, I made that mistake the first time. I started paying a lot more attention since then, and will never vote ignorant again.
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  Shivapriyaposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  I know this is an old topic, but I just came across it today. I receive SNAP benefits. I do work, very hard, but I don't currently make enough to support my family. Here in Florida, the pay is horrible! It took a lot for me to even apply, much less use foodstamps.
  
  Okay, I can't just jump in on a discussion that is so old without adding something. You can't use coupons with EBT. Very crappy indeed! I wish we could, but we cannot, they are not allowed.
  
  I buy all healthy foods. I don't eat processed foods. I am vegetarian. I eat fresh fruits, veggies, rice, beans, and nuts. Oh, and a small bit of dairy.
  
  I agree, it sounds as if this person is buying for a group home or other type of such set up, since in most states, these are the only people allowed to shop at those types of stores, such as Sam's, etc.
  
  The OP keeps claiming he didn't call the woman a leech, but it is evident to everybody else he did. He assumed a lot. I'm sorry, but he was very judgemental. You cannot judge from outside appearances. You don't know a person's situation.
  
  I like your ideas. I really want to grow my own food. We can buy seeds with foodstamps, but that's just about it. Here in Florida, we can't just plant those seeds in the ground and water them. The soil is not really soil, it's sand, so I'd have to buy a lot of soil to lay down. I really want to do it, but I don't drive, so even getting to the soil to my home is a difficult feat. I also worry that I may not live in this same house for a long time, then I have to leave my garden. I pray that I can move someplace where I know I will stay and can have my own garden. It would be good if DCF could teach us how to garden, permaculture, etc. I would so LOVE to grow my own food, for many reasons. Goes to that old saying about teaching a man to fish.
  
  Maybe I should write to Michelle Obama about your idea. She seems to care about healthful eating and living, perhaps she would help spark off a good program for the low income and high risk communities.
  
  They say unemployment is down, but is it really? Just because those who were collecting unemployment are no longer eligible because their benefits were exhausted means not that they found work. Some of us are working and make very litte.
  
  Okay, I know I'm rambling, so I'm stopping right here. I'm in pain, from breaking my elbow and the pain meds have me a little loopy. I'm not used to taking drugs. I don't even take OTCs. This stuff is yuck!
  
  Peace out!
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Sheabyposted 11 years ago
Reading some of these comments, I must say I'm a little more than shocked that more people don't agree that there is plenty of welfare fraud. I live in an area where I see a LOT of it. I am fortunate to reside in an area with plenty of job opportunities, yet there are people who still suck the life out of the system. A job I used to have involved frozen food delivery, and the company accepted EBT cards. For the most part, the EBT recipients I delivered to drove expensive cars and had the latest technological equipment (60" flat panel TV hung on the wall, the new iphone, ipads and tablets), wore designer clothes - yet none of them worked. Most of them had several children, and they sat at home doing nothing but watching talk shows and reality tv while living off of society. I'm not saying that I didn't have customers that genuinely needed it - because I did. I'm not saying that there aren't people out there in general that don't need assistance at times. I just fully support the idea of random drug tests for welfare (if I have to get one to put my money INTO welfare, recipients should have to get one to get the money), and I also support putting a 90 day cap on welfare assistance unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as a disability). There are definitely those that take full advantage of the system, and it's not ok. I've worked very hard for my lifestyle, and while I have suffered, I've never believed that a job is beneath me. I've been lucky enough to not have needed assistance - but because I am not married and do not have children, I wouldn't be able to get it anyways. That's a serious flaw in our system as well.
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  phionposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Sheaby~
  It's good to see someone calling it how it is. The bleeding hearts like to say what if, but, and you don't know the story, and totally ignore those that have been living on the system since birth, and sometimes it's generational. I bet the majority of them don’t donate anything to charity, thus the government does it for them, and they fell better.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You really should stop making sweeping statements.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me. I agree that there are plenty of people who need and deserve assistance because of the job market; but those who abuse the system are more plentiful. The young working couple on wic, buying formula or milk, eggs and cheese is one thing. The single mom with 5 kids, never worked, an buying lobster tails is different. I've personally witnessed, and been offered, food stamps being offered for cash in a Walmart parking lot. It's disgusting to see this happening, because I know these people aren't working, or are selling drugs, or are just plain abusing the system. A system that, by working and earning my paycheck, I am helping pay for. I've heard stories of people on welfare who turn down job offers because they would make more on welfare. That in itself should be illegal. I know it is a requirement to search for jobs while getting assistance, but who follows up on the job offers? If there was a department to do something like that, it would create jobs and have a policy that if a job offer was turned down then assistance would cease. I bet unemployment numbers would drop. Recently, I also talked with someone who gets assistance and works under the table. She gets paid cash, lives in brand new government housing (nicer than my own home), gets her ebt card filled monthly, goes to school for free, and doesn't have to pay taxes. Yet here I am, paying 30% of my income to taxes, trying to figure out a way to pay so I can go back to school while still being able to put food on the table. Yes, our system is seriously flawed!!!
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  Quilligrapherposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Hello, Sheaby. I don’t think we’ve had the opportunity to exchange views before.
  
  Your statement above strikes me as being rather odd. Do you have data to support the claim “those who abuse the system are more plentiful” then those who deserve assistance? You must have some facts, beyond your own limited personal experiences, to share with us. No logical person would make such a statement without having some verifiable supporting data.
  
  BTW, a discussion about illogical conclusions based on hasty generalizations can be found here: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacie … ation.html
  
  Thank you for your input, Sheaby. I am looking forward to your stats.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  If factual data existed, proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the system was flawed and that there are more people taking advantage of the system rather than using it as a helpful tool between steps, do you think the system would still be in the state that it is in? I do not feel as though my personal experiences are limited, as I worked in an industry that allowed me to have a more in depth look. Which is less logical; the fact that you insinuate that I am not logical for stating something I know to be true or the fact that you think there would be supporting data readily available proving that the system is failing?
  But, for your own amusement, take a look at these:
  http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x19235 … is-no-myth
  http://watchdog.org/43198/ebt-fraud-and … our-state/
  http://southend.patch.com/articles/alle … use-debate
  http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/r … fare-abuse
  http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-a … 92020.html
  And those are just a few. There are plenty of supporting articles and documentation from around the country. Are you really telling me, after reading these, that it is ok to use the EBT card to get bailed out of jail? Or is it ok to go to strip clubs, buy cigarettes and beer, or to turn down job offers to stay on welfare? It is ridiculous to think that any logical person would be ok with that.
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junkoposted 11 years ago
"MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE" But if, you are willing to give up the dignity and the dream of owning a home, for you and your family you can know how it feels to eat well. If you vote with hate you may have to go down as head of house to get food for your family. Since you said you are trying to save for that first home you, won't qualify for corporate welfare or bank, farm welfare, or corporate tax breaks. Your only safety net is social welfare. Don't cut of your nose to spite your face or nobody else face for that matter. Americanism is full of socialism.
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Mighty Momposted 11 years ago
Those with such obvious contempt for women who -- real, imagined or exaggerated -- are scamming the welfare and WIC program by having all these kids.
I ask you this simple question:
How can you NOT support wholeheartedly sex education and widespread access to birth control and pregnancy termination?
Seems you'd actually rather something tangible to look down upon and judge without having a clue (since you've not walked in her shoes) what her life or her children's lives are actually like?
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  First of all, it's not just women. The only contempt is for those abusing the system - not those who are actually using it to provide actual needs and staples for their family. I do not agree in providing hormonal birth control to everyone though. As someone who has dealt with severe fertility issues as a direct result of hormonal birth control, I am actually for the banning of hormonal birth control. What we should have is a better sex education program that actually teaches instead of just saying to abstain or protect yourself, you might get pregnant. But that's a whole different conversation. No one here who is angered by those abusing the system is saying that there aren't people out there that DO need assistance. It should be temporary though. There are always plenty of jobs out there, too many people feel a job is beneath them, or that they will make more on welfare. If there aren't jobs where you live, move or commute. There are employment relocation assistance programs out there. If you don't have a job, you have nothing keeping you where you are, especially if moving can better you for your family. The sad truth is people are lazy and don't care enough about their families to better themselves. Instead, they teach their children that taking a handout for extended periods of time is perfectly ok, therefore raising a new generation of societal life suckers.
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evalue4uposted 11 years ago
From tax write-offs for gambling losses, vacation homes, and luxury yachts to subsidies for their ranches and estates, the government is subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Multimillionaires are even receiving government checks for not working. This welfare for the well-off – costing billions of dollars a year – is being paid for with the taxes of the less fortunate, many who are working two jobs just to make ends meet, and IOUs to be paid off by future generations.

http://justanothercoverup.com/politics/ … -analysis/
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pstraubie48posted 11 years ago
The welfare system is in need of some restructuring for sure.
Weed out those who have abused it. I definitely believe that.

You said you want no sad stories. So my question is this then, for those who got to be poor because they have lost their jobs and are unable to find work that will help them to provide food and shelter, never mind clothes, for their families.
What about them?? Is it not part of our problem as a nation to help those who are in need?

Should they starve? Be homeless? And what of the children?

The solution to this is not an easy one. It will take a long hard look at what has happened to get us into the welfare quagmire we are in today.
The ones who will be hurt the most are the children. The children did not ask to be born into families that are poor. They deserve a chance to live a life with bellies that are not screaming out to them for food.
I have worked in schools where children came to class hungry every day. You see their parents were three or four dollars above the poverty line so they did not qualify for assistance. No EBT, no medicaid, nothing. These children came to school to eat breakfast and lunch because they were two solid meals for them a day. They ate everything on their trays.
I understand your wish for the American dream. I understand the frustration you feel as you see others buying things you would like to have. Many of us have had to scrimp and save and do without to have the house, the car, the whatever. It is frustrating and causes anger even when we see others who are being allowed to take advantage of a system that clearly needs to be revamped.

You asked what we think about the system...I think it is a mess. I think it is unfairly distributed. I think there is abuse. But, I think there is a place for a welfare system There are those who cannot survived without it. One reason is that no one can support a family well on a job that pays minimium wage. I know there are those who have worked two and three jobs to try to survive and have gone to an early grave doing so.
Our present system does need to be revamped though to address the current abuses. I think perhaps that it is not monitored well enough. I certainly do not have all of the answers.
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  ptosisposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The homeless shelters give priority to families first before singles. Food banks are not geared for diabetics and tend to have a lot of sugary baked goods & bread. Houseless people have to live incognito because of the stigma and the only thing cities want is to remove "VISIBLE" homelessness - because god forbid that a country such as ours that is so rich would ever tolerate people living on the streets - the feeling is that "they must all be drug addicts or drunks." (not).
  
  In New York, I was on Wall Street after 5pm and the streets were deserted except for the homeless.
  
  In Honolulu, every once in a while a group of 30 people living underneath the mesquite brambles are removed by police so that the camp garbage is removed due to a outbreak of 3rd world diseases.
  
  What's crazy is the intense disdain for those living underneath a bridge, removed and covered by a local TV show host who described the 'horrible stink' of the homeless, yet that camp was right next to the garbage incinerator where the stink came from.
  
  In Reno, if just look like you have no money, can get arrested (not ticketed) for "blocking the sidewalk", even though just standing there or walking. It was about 9pm and I was driving behind a black van with a man dressed all in black hanging on the back of the van like a firemen. An old man pushing a shopping cart was tackled down in front of my car when the van swerved and the man in the back took him down.
  
  And then there are homeless that are so stinky nasty that other homeless drive them off from the public bathrooms. Those are the ones that burn an image in people's minds and then stereotypes all folks without housing.
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
This thread is just a variation of every other thread about how someone is "taking" something from harder working citizens. You know what kind of scares me is that anyone would know how the people in line paid for their groceries anyway, and why are you looking at them that closely? I know this should go without saying, but if you are so hard working and can provide for yourself, then take pride in that and stop checking out what your neighbors are doing. By the way, I do not think someone buying a ton of sweats, soda, and red meat is eating all that well anyway. I would not be envious of someone piling their shopping cart sky high with junk food, as I would rather eat a bit more on the healthy side.
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Backwater Sageposted 11 years ago
Sorry, I'm too busy scraping by to worry about what the others might be getting away with. Maybe it was a Grandma who got stuck with a bunch of kids. You never know the story from a glance.
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
I was the victim of identity theft a few years back with some girl who signed me up for a cell phone. It is a well known fact some people look at how others pay for their groceries to steal their info and credit card numbers, and to create fraudulent accounts. I am guessing that is not the case here because this thread is about those who think we live in an entitlement society full of "moochers," but there have been cases where this happened. I once had a man behind me in line get really close to me when I went to pay for my groceries, that I literally had to tell him to back up. Thus, I would be a little wary of anyone looking at how others pay for their groceries.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I think it's wrong to automatically assume that someone is trying to steal you identity, that poor guy was probably just your average, everyday sex offender.
  
  Open minds people....
  
  [ /sarcasm]
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tammybarnetteposted 11 years ago
First about your Sam Club story....If the lady was spending $800 then she probably has about 5 children and was buying for the entire month(wonder how many ribs each will get)...Second, I do believe however that strict regulations should be applied to entitlement programs as well as large corporations. I believe their should be drug testing, and that the recipients that do not have jobs be required to volunteer to some community service...I believe community gardens are a great idea, growing food to feed the hungry. Lastly, when 15% of the population lives in poverty it should be clear as to why 15% of the population receives food stamps to supplement their household.Starving the children is not the way to care for our country, even if you disagree with how many children the "poor," have the audacity to have
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  Shivapriyaposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Here in Florida, they did the drug testing for a while, but it was a waste of money, it didn't make any difference in the amount of people receiving assistance and they did not find a bunch of people receiving assistance as testing positive for drugs. Also, if a person is not working, they are only eligible to receive SNAP for 3 months. There are guidelines. A person has to put in a certain amount of time each week to work or work-related activities. The criteria is all dependent on their individual situation, such as those with children under 5 have to work less hours than those with children older than 5 or with no kids at all. I know every state is different, but there are a lot more rules than most realize. Sure, there are people who commit fraud, but there are many more who genuinely need the assistance to get by. There are people that commit fraud everywhere, not just with the social services systems.
  
  Due to the stigma and seeing the "welfare families" from my old 'hood where I grew up, it took a lot for me to break down and get the assistance, but I truly needed it to feed my kids. The economy is very, very bad, especially here in Florida. I work hard to make ends meet and if I didn't get SNAP, I don't know how I would survive. I'm on a very strict diet and I wouldn't be able to eat any of the food given out at the foodbanks, I would get so sick if I did.
  
  I would love to have a community garden or even my own. I think we should have a program to teach families to grow their own food.
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Backwater Sageposted 11 years ago
Drug testing is fascist and un-American. You want to judge someone as substandard and unworthy because they smoke weed? Man, I need a drink!
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  Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You should probably point that out to the 'un-American' places of employment that drug test every employment before they even give them a job, let alone consider paying them for it.
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  Backwater Sageposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Sorry, you lost me, I must be too stoned.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Drugs are illegal, yes that is such a fascist thought,lol, If people are spending money on "weed," then they should pay for their own "munchies"
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  Backwater Sageposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's fascist that drugs are illegal. Only weird insidious, prescription drugs and alcohol are legal. They don't give you the munchies. Hey! I buy my own food.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  If you are for drug legalization then I understand your opinion, however, as it stands some are illegal, and I agree that prescription drugs are creating many problems in today's society, but that is a seperate issue from the food stamp program.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's easy to be in favor of drug testing when it does not include yourself.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Why do you think it does not include myself? My husband has random drug testing where he works
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  Backwater Sageposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Say again? If someone tests positive for pot they deserve to starve?
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  huh? if a person can by weed they can buy food, I do not wish for anyone to starve.
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  peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  No they just deserve to do without there pot since they obviously can't afford food. I've been a poor pot head, I gave up smoking to eat. It's common sense, if you have money for pot you have money for food, you're just choosing not to apply common sense. If you choose to waste your money on drugs instead of food, no one should step in to give you food.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Bravo:)
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Yep, and let their children starve just because of the bad choices of their parents.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Where are all of these starving kids?
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well, if you take away the parent's benefits the children will be the ones to suffer.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  No they wont, they will be fed. Again, where are these starving children you libs talk about?
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Try and stay with the argument.
  
  I forgot...everyone in the US lives on milk and honey and no one ever goes hungry at night and the streets are paved with gold.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Hell of an argument, where are all of these poor starving children?
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Look sparky...If you take away benefits the people who will suffer the most will be the children. It's not rocket science. I did not say literally that there were starving children... but I do know some children are lucky to get 2 meals a day.
  
  Are you being deliberately obtuse or is that just the way you think?
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Sparky? I'm not being obtuse I'm pointing out liberal hysterics. If even half of what you and your cohorts said was true the United States would be a wasteland and we would all be killing each other for food. Fortunately for us that world simply doesn't exist here.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Yet
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Ended it with a smiley face. How could I ever be upset with you.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Because you take everything that anyone says too literally and then ignore any attempt to make it clear to you.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I point out blatant lies, sorry.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I did not lie... I did not say there were starving children. I was facetiously pointing out that if you take away benefits the children will be the first to suffer. And as I said, which you ignored, some children are lucky to get 2 meals a day.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The children WONT suffer at all, they will be cared for.
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  peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The department of social services has a way of excluding one person off of benefits. Easy enough, exclude the drug using parent from benefits and still allow a food allowance for the children. Then if the parent chooses not to use the money the right way it is their own fault.
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
I do not drink or do drugs, but I have to agree that drug testing welfare recipients would be a waste of money and create more bureaucracy. Drug testing at companies can also be a hot potato, and a waste of money. There was one company that does random drug testing of their employees, and one of the ladies required to get one that day was pregnant. She had to sit through the humiliation at the doctors office of hearing the nurses talk about what a bad mother she was because her employer thought she was doing drugs, when in reality she was just the random one for the drug test. Of course she was negative, but was it worth her going through all this humiliation?

When we are at it, the war on drugs is also a waste of money. Ron Paul has made a good point about how he does not drink or do drugs, but why should he care if some guy wants to mess himself up doing so. Cracking down on drugs is what lead to violence in Mexico the last few years, and why a lot of people have fled.
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  Backwater Sageposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  For one thing, it is invasive to make someone pee in a cup to see what they have been up to when you weren't around. For another thing, the best drug tests are not always accurate, and many people's job hopes and reputations have been ruined by false positives. It is just plain weird to stigmatize someone for herb.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I actually agree with your points. Drug testing creates more bureaucracy and wasted money. A lot of prescription drugs people talk about taking every day are much more lethal and toxic anyway. These are drugs people openly talk about getting prescriptions for, in public where everyone can hear.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  A comment up to your usual standards
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Gave it what it deserved, quit being so hateful and attacking me,
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Highlighting your apparent inability to develop a rational argument does not equate to hate speech or a personal attack. You appear to be a little oversensitive, are you ok?
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Who is overly sensitive, who had who banned? Run along now.
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  What are you talking about ? Who had who banned? Run along? If this is your new way of developing a rational argument, I'm afraid you may have missed out some vital information that may offer some clue as to what you are referring to. Or, are you addressing someone else?
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I know, you have no clue about what I'm talking about . Have a lovely day.
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  Hollie Thomasposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You have a lovely day, too. Is this your new strategy for dealing with posters whom you feel you cannot logically answer? Never mind, clearly it is or you've been drinking.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You make good points here. However, what if the person smoking weed is driving the school bus? If drugs were legalized however, they could be regulated and taxed and be a huge source of revenue (as tobacco), and would put the drug lords out of business...interesting thought
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  As a teetotaler I just do not have an interest in drugs or drink, but over the years I have changed my ideas about how we should regulate this. The same scenario often happens with a driver spiking their drinks with liquor anyway, which is perfectly legal. I just think at this point if you want to talk about waste, well yeah the war on drugs is creating a lot of economic waste. More than food stamps even. Wars are a bigger culprit.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Good points SweetiePie:)
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  Backwater Sageposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The war on drugs is a war on people. Drugs should be a mental health/spiritual issue, not a criminal one. Our prisons are full of the casualties of the war on drugs, and innocent children have had their families taken from them. It is not a sound tactic, but real community care and support is!
  
  Let's face it. We do not get personally involved. We elect and hire others to do it for us.
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  tammybarnetteposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Good point, more education and less imprisonment would do a world of good for this country.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  How exactly are criminals a casualty of the war on drugs? If you don't like laws then maybe we should do away with all of them. Murderers are now a casualty of the war on homicide, rapists are now a casualty of the war on sexual assault.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So, smoking pot is akin to murder and rape now?
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Gee, there are lot more drugs than just pot, didntcha know?
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
I think most people know what the true money wasters are. It was not some guy with the EBT card buying junk food. Not even sure why people are jealous of some guy buying junk food anyway. Are you jealous of his diabetes?
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Sheabyposted 11 years ago
How did this turn into a conversation about drugs and whatnot? It's about people abusing the welfare system. This conversation turn a wrong turn into left field!! Granted, yes, drug testing for welfare should be mandated. If I have to be drug tested to buy your food, you should be drug tested to eat it. If I can't smoke pot whenever I want to, why should you? If you would rather smoke pot than work, you don't deserve government assistance. Trust me, I would rather smoke pot than drink alcohol any day, but because I have my priorities in order, and I have to make a living to help care for myself and my household, I won't be smoking pot again until it becomes legal. If it's not something people are willing to give up, it's their own fault and general society shouldn't have to pay for their personal selfishness. Why allow people like that to continue to be a drain on society and abuse the welfare system? Get back on track people!
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
Discussions are about examining all facets of the issue. No one can dictate how to navigate discourse. By the way I want higher taxes on Mitt Romney and corporations that outsource, which has been the true drain on the US economy. Oh yes, and all those who support war manufacturers and those who make a pretty profit off that. Of course corporate and military welfare is very cool, and corporations are people now.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  How has taxes on Mitt Romney effected the economy? Isn't it that un-american himself that is our "great" president that is running the show right now? He is the one who is driving this economy and country into the ground. I don't know who you think is making too much profit off the war, but as someone who fully supports our Military and our service men and women, you seem to have a seriously twisted idea about this country.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Our economy was run into the ground during the Bush years with wars, and supporting every country we think we need to be involved in. Obama has tried to repair some with the stimulus program, but that was actually thwarted when the Republicans took over Congress in 2010. By the way our president is American, and I am not sure when it became popular to call a political rival unAmerican. I might not like Mitt Romney, but I really have more respect for him than that. If you look at the record of Bain, what he did was make money by buying various small companies, and outsourcing manufacturing to China. Mitt Romney did not even create something like at least Steve Jobs did, he was just known for making a larger profit for those who were in charge of Bain. His track record did not create more American jobs, but he most certainly created a lot more jobs overseas. I want the tax rate on corporations back to the Clinton years, and to give incentives to companies that can manufacture things in North America.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Who said anything about it being popular to call him un-American? And who said it was because of a political rivalry? He should never been allowed to lead our country, and I can only hope that my active-duty boyfriend gets transferred overseas as his last set of orders so we can live elsewhere. He is the first president in history to not visit the D-Day memorial. He has never been able to prove factually where he was born, his own mother was silenced for goodness sake! He is turning this country into a socialist society and if re-elected into office, we all are going to go bankrupt. He's tripled the deficit, introduced Obamacare (which is the BIGGEST joke in history), and allowed this welfare crap like no other "leader" has before. Did you watch the debate? He was shot down and put in his place like he deserved. Didn't have one intelligent answer whatsoever. Sounds like pretty much all of his supporters.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well, a lot of us watched the debate though Mitt Romney interrupted a lot, and Obama looked more tired than usual. I was not swayed my Mitt Romney's talking points or flip flopping. Look I think it is great your boyfriend is in the military, but you have to know a lot of Americans are tired of the amount of money our country spends on wars overseas. There is a group of people who supported Ron Paul for this reason because we are tired of playing world empire, and involving ourselves in the politics of every other country. The reality is we need to stop giving economic aid to Egypt, Israel, and Pakistan, and allow other countries to make military decisions for themselves. Playing the world police is draining our economy, and as much as you see welfare recipients as a drain, there is something called military welfare. Actually, Obama has donated lots of money to veteran families, so you might want to do more research on that.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It gets tiring blaming others for your mistakes.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I guess you are best buddies forever GOP. Glad you are making their argument for them. What have they done for you anyway? Is Mitt Romney going to invite you on vacay?
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  As opposed to Obama taking a vacay on the country's dime??
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  All presidents have gone on vacations. I do see a lot of people falling for Romney propaganda, and the reality is he loves it. He flip flops and changes his position like there is no tomorrow. Go do the research, but I know those who want to stick up for the GOP will continue to buy his rhetoric. Thank goodness not all of us do. He will not win anyway.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Yet Romney pays for his own vacations out of pocket and Obama uses government funding. You're ok with that?? Unreal. Obama is the worst thing to happen to this country in decades. Let Obamacare go into effect, and then tell me how wonderful your beloved leader is.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The fact you use such verbiage makes me not take you seriously. I think Obama is to moderate, and I am more of a supporter of Jill Stein who supports clean energy, and less foreign intervention. I am voting for Obama again, but pretty much decided only because I see he works hard to create common ground. No president has been more criticized than him, and shown more ridiculous disrespect in names and verbiage thrown his way. There are shades of grey in issues. It is not always rhetoric and propaganda.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  What did I say that makes you not take me seriously? Facts: Obama has tripled the deficite and spent more than any president in history, more people than ever are on welfare since he's been in office, the unemployment numbers are higher than they've ever been. There are no shades of gray in the facts. We need foreign intervention, unless you want to get attacked more often. Have you done ANY research about any of this?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The fact you think he is not born in the US, and called him the beloved leader. You would be surprised that liberals have criticized him, but not for the faux propaganda reasons some conservatives do.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  He's not US born. Research it. I called him beloved leader because you defend him so much, yet know none of the facts.
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Awww look how cute, its a birther. The fact that you can be a birther and call others uninformed is more hilarious than you will ever realize.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  How I feel when someone brings up the "birther" argument
  
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It makes everything they say null and void
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  Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well how about not taking you seriously because of what you just posted
  
  Obama has added one third to the deficit not tripled it.
  
  Unemployment has been higher several times in US history.
  
  ... how can you even be so uninformed?
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  True, he added 1/3 in four years, how long did it take for the rest?
  
  True again, and Reagan brought it under control within his first term, sucks to be Obama.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The GOP has made it easier historically to be in business for myself. The democrats put obstacles in my way. I don't expect Romney to even acknowledge my existence, that's the difference between liberals and Conservatives, we live in the real world.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The way you address people is pretty outlandish, for someone who is so logical.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Romney only interrupted when Obama tried to lie about what Romney's intentions are. He wanted to get his point across and not be misunderstood, and I'm all about that. He didn't flip flop at ALL, if anything it was Obama who avoided questions and talked around answers so he didn't sound like a complete tool. Talk to our service men and women, and find ONE that agrees with you. I haven't met a single service member that wants Obama re-elected. He has cut our active duty pay about 30%, so you may want to check your facts. I'm all about supporting Gary Johnson, but it won't happen and that's something that you are going to have to realize. No electoral college is going to vote in a libertarian. Our society is a 2 party society and will be for many more years. That's the reality. Also,that is the one thing I disagree with in the libertarian movement - we HAVE to have a presence in other countries. There's no way around that. Saying we need to stop is the same as saying our children don't need education. We are not, by any means, in every country worldwide. Not having a presence in other countries would create a complete imbalance and we would be attacked far more than we have ever been.
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dabeytaprattposted 11 years ago
I think you are correct they should not get to eat better then you or your wife. on the other hand you will get to live far better then them. Since you have to be very low to no income in order to recieve these benefits. While they are eating the better food you will have a home and a great kids to look forward to. If I could go back in time and choose the responsible way instead of the EBT card I would take it. So yes I do eat better then you but, I would take a nice home and car over a rack of ribs any day.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I think you may be missing the point of this topic. It's about people who abuse the system, not people who need it. At the same time, abuse isn't just lying about low income or making cash under the table, it's also about refusing work to stay on welfare. I personally know people who live in nice houses and drive expensive cars, have iphones and macbooks, flat panel tvs, and designer clothes and purses - yet buy food from the store with food stamps. Are you condoning THAT behavior?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Do you actually know people who need public assistance? It is not some swanky thing people want to brag about. Most of the people reduced to it are not buying iphones, or even have an Internet connection. A lot of them rely on public libraries to do job searches, and do not have the luxury to hang out on Hubpages.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Needing and abusing are 2 very different things. Something I believe I have pointed out multiple times throughout this thread. I also stated in my 4th sentence above that, yes, I do know people personally on public assistance. I firmly believe that unless you have a permanent disabilty preventing you from working, or a child with a severe disability preventing you from working, that there should be a 90 day cap on any type of assistance unless you ARE working. Our current system is SERIOUSLY flawed and needs a new plan immediately.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well if you know legitimate cases where you think someone is abusing public assistance, it was pointed out earlier in this thread there are 800 numbers for reporting that. I have met some people who are embarrassed they had to go on welfare, and would love to have a job. The reality is most welfare recipients are not living at the Ritz, and most of us logically know this.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I have reported it. I'm sure logical people don't make assumptions on a subject they don't have the correct information on. If they would love to have a job, they should go get one. Wal-mart and McDonalds are always hiring, and there are PLENTY of jobs out there. Check out places like yahoojobs, monster, indeed, simply hired, or the classifieds. Problem is, most people feel they are too good to do a job they feel is beneath them. Pride is a horrible thing. I'm in the process of switching jobs and I have 3 job offers on the table. It's not that hard to get a job. If someone doesn't feel like they qualify, then go back to school. The government offers plenty of grants for furthering education, and I'm all about helping someone become a contributing member of society. There is nothing wrong with working at wal-mart while going to school part time.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well I have plenty of information, and I think you know you are exaggerating the amount of welfare fraud. On the same token, you do agree with need to cut the military, right? I would hope someone who is involved in the military knows we spend way too much money on this. I would prefer to see our people have jobs in the US that are non-military based, and less money spent on this. A lot of military costs are based on bolstering the oil industry, which is why alternative energies are criticized. By the way this is not a critique of the military or those who serve in it, but of the fact that a lot of our money is wasted on propping up regimes in other countries.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Absolutely not! I do NOT believe we should be making cuts to our military!! That's a completely assanine statement. Our service members don't make nearly what they deserve, and we should invest MORE in our military. Why in the world would you support cutting the people who protect you and your family and give you the right to make completely ignorant statements like that?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  The amount of money the military spends is mostly on supporting countries like Saudi Arabia, which are large oil producers. We also spend a lot of money involved in the politics of countries like Egypt and Israel to keep the flow of oil open. Making Americans feel their only viable option is a career in the military is so unfair to our citizens. Before World War II would took a bit more of an isolationist approach, and I am in favor of that. Our intervention in other countries is not making things better. There are a lot of war manufacturers profiting off this. I am a bit more of the pacifist side though, and see the drawbacks to all this war overseas. It is not making the world more of a secure place at all.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You would rather the war be here then?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Oh my goodness, that is so ridiculous. If we took more of an isolationist approach, and focused on alternative energy, we would not need Middle Eastern oil. I am not one of those to think those wars keep us safe, and the research shows more of the crazy Islamic insurgence attack us because we are at war in their countries. The Saudi Arabian regime has dismal human rights to boot, but we support their ruling family. Which is hypocritical to boot. You guys an argue it out, but most logical people know the American military budget is out of control. If you want to talk about one type of spending that is bad, you have to be able to to talk about others.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So what would you suggest?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  How about we stop playing world empire, and allow other countries to make their own decisions. These wars are not making our country better. They do waste a lot of money though.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So if we decide to return to an updated version of the Monroe Doctrine, the rest of the world will play along and everything will be okay?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Actually, this has nothing to do with the Monroe doctrine. George Washington, who happened to be a founding father, said in his farewell speech we should avoid wars of foreign entanglement. That is why the US was reticent to get involved in World War I and World War II, but ultimately we had to because we were attacked in both those conflicts. Pretty much every single war since World War II could have been avoided, but we started playing world police. This has not made our country more secure, but we propped up a lot of regimes that were dictatorships, just because we thought those leaders supported us. In the scope of history nothing is perfect, but being involved in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, and every other conflict torn country is not an option anymore, especially with our economy going down the drain. How dare any politician talk about teachers being overpaid whilst we still prop up regimes.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So US involvement is what created the problems? Is there no scenario in which you support US intervention?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Very, very rarely. I prefer to go back to the pre-World War II isolationist stances. That was the only thing I really agreed with Ron Paul on. He would have done that by the way, pulled up the military bases.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So let's say, tomorrow the President makes an announcement that as of January 1st, all US Troops are being recalled to the US, and we're pulling out of all of our foreign bases. Furthermore, the US is now taking a position of nonintervention in all foreign affairs that do not directly threaten the US, pretty much "we're going to worry about us, and the rest of the world is on it's own".
  
  1. Would you agree with that decision
  
  2. What do you think the results would be?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Or we could take more of a pre-World War II position, and only go to war when necessary. None of the recent wars have been necessary, except for those who are making a fortune off these. It is not the regular people serving in our military by the way. But if you want to call welfare waste, you need to be able to cut other parts of the budget.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  So what do you think the results would be for the rest of the world if we took that stance?
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It's a hard sell to argue this point, Praetor. She's stuck in her own little fantasy world where if we just say "Stop", everyone will play nice. Those of us logical people know that that would never happen. No, we can't all just get along. Reality doesn't work like that.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  No, but you refuse to see the other side of the equation. You know a lot of European countries finally realized war was a mistake after World War II. Countries like Germany invest in their infrastructure and creating jobs, not on supporting some royal family in Saudi Arabia.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Play nice.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I'm not talking about spending at all, I was asking a question which is why the question mark was at the end of the sentence.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  If we do not have a military presence in other countries, we will get attacked moreso than ever. You can't just read stuff and believe it all the time. You have to live it, or personally know someone who has lived it who can give you the facts. I come from a very long line of service members, and proudly support each and every one of them. I don't know where you get the thought that Americans feel their only viable option is military career - most of our service members are there because they choose to fight for and defend our country. They want to bring peace to overseas, where the education isn't there for them. You keep saying "most logical people" know this or that - but you, my dear, as FAR from logical. Go live in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan and tell me if we don't need a presence over there. The ONLY reason you can have your opinions, and spew them on the internet like word vomit is BECAUSE of our military. And you want to cut the spending? Let me guess...you think our service members get paid too much, too? People that think like you make me sick. How dare you put down those that fight to defend your rights?
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junkoposted 11 years ago
Exactly my Point, dabeytapratt
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  junkoposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Sheaby: They have get in where they fit in, like the Gangs of New York in the early 20th century before the WPA and other Government Jobs gave real hope. In either case I think you would get in where you fit in also. There are less jobs for the underclass than the middleclass muchless the lowclass.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  There are jobs everywhere, people just need to stop feeling so entitled and get rid of their pride.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Actually, no there are not jobs everywhere. I live in the Inland Empire, which is one of the most populace and job depressed areas in the country. I literally know people who would love a job at Walmart or Payless, and a lot of these places are just not hiring any more. My sister went to a job interview where 500 people showed up, and never heard back. A couple of years ago the local Walmart cut their hours, and only recently did they bring their hours back. Not every part of the country is doing as well as others.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Guess your beloved leader isn't doing his job.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Last time I checked there are a lot of people besides the president who could do more for the economy. He could have done more, like create a jobs program like FDR did. I think what he did was way too moderate on job growth. Ultimately, there are just not enough jobs to go around anymore with all the outsourcing. You are heavy duty on the propaganda verbiage for someone who claims to be so logical.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You do realize that Obama is the one who is making it a federal thing and Romney wants to focus more on making it on a state level right? I think you just completely contradicted your love for Obama.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I never claimed to love Obama and if you had read anything I posted, my policy stances are way more liberal than he. When it comes to health care reform I wanted single payer health care, which you would consider far more socialistic. However, why do all people serving in the military and their families get comprehensive health care, but other Americans cannot? I choose to be patriotic about all my citizens and believe we all should have a fair shake when it comes to health care, housing, education, and the like. I am way too socialist for some of you, oh well.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Do you really think military health care is fantastic? Keep dreaming. Americans can get it, if need be, called medicaid. If you can't get that, get it through your employer. If they don't offer it, buy your own private insurance. Easy enough. If Obamacare was so great, why would he exempt himself, his family, and congress from it? We should look to Canada or England and follow some of their policies. Their economy thrives. Yes, it's under a dictatorship, but even THAT would be better than Obama. I don't believe everything should be fair for everyone. Many work harder than others. Do you really think that someone who puts in 70-80 hours a week to earn their own money, and someone who sits on their butt watching tv all week to get handed their money both deserve to live in the same type of house? Or drive the same type of car? Or go to Harvard vs. community college? No wonder you support Obama then.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Actually, Obamacare is the same as the Romney plan and the Dole plan, and not a dictatorship. It is a boon for the private insurance industry by requiring people to buy insurance. When Romney wanted everyone to do it in his state of Mass it was great, but on a federal level, it is bad. Actually, I thought that single payer health care was what we needed. Military health care might not be great, but military families get more than the average family who cannot afford insurance. I was not happy with the insurance compromise. There were some good parts to the so called Obamacare, like people can no longer be thrown off their insurance, which has been a problem. Canada and the UK are not dictatorships. I hope some hubbers living there can weigh in on this.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Have you READ the proposal? It's no where near the same, in the least bit. What we really need are regulations in place for health care costs charged by providers. A real structure in place that limits out of pocket expenses, truly cover pre-existing conditions, stop dividing who can be covered where, and actually take care of the people.
  
  And excuse me, dictatorship was not the correct word. I should have said Parliamentary Monarchy. More directed towards England than Canada, but I guess I have to break it down a little easier for everyone. Either way, compared to the US, those economies are flourishing. Didn't hear an argument about that.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Canada is a completely autonomous country. The Queen is nothing but a figurehead.
  
  Yes, our economy is doing better and we have national health care and help support our less fortunate citizens. And our taxes are no higher than in the US.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Canada is under a dictatorship? That's news to me...
  
  Currently I have a broken fibula, thankfully it was all covered by health insurance.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I can't "like" your post, so I'll just reply to tell you how much I love this
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well may you should think about moving if there aren't jobs in your area. Why would you choose to stay in an area in such poverty? Is it because you like getting a handout? How about commuting a little further to a job? Running a home based business? There ARE options. Most people choose to take the handout instead of actually put in some real work.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Why, you language is way over the top. I have a job and pay my way, thank you for not figuring this out. I pay my taxes for those who might need public assistance as well, and I probably pay a higher tax rate than you considering I do a lot of freelance writing and artwork.
  
  I was talking about people I know in the area. You seem to think anyone who feels public assistance might be needed is on welfare. Big generalization, I would not want to make these type of judgement calls.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  How is my language over the top? How do you assume you pay a higher tax rate than I do? Tax rates aren't figured out by WHAT you do, it's how much you make, where you live, and how many dependents you have. Which means I probably pay a higher tax rate than you since I make $65k a year. My last tax return was $61. I paid in over $6k throughout the year, and got $61 back in "overpayment". And that's only because I made donations, had medical expenses that my insurance didn't cover, and was able to claim some business expenses. Had I not had those, I would have ended up owing more.
  
  I never said people who felt public assistance was justified is actually on welfare. I never said public assistance isn't needed. I think its abused, I think anyone on it for more than 90 days deserves to have it stopped (unless there is truly a permanent reason for not working), and I think those that are working to provide for their family should be allowed more public assistance than the lazy leeches who sit around watching tv all day.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You made the assumption I was on public assistance because I related the circumstances of some people I know who have been, or who are looking for jobs.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I never said you personally. I guess using the word "you" as a general statement is normal where I come from.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Okay, that is fine. I think this thread is making a lot of assumption. At the end of the day people should not only be concerned with cutting one type of welfare, if they truly wanted to balance the budget. People would have to be a lot more honest about the bigger wasters like the wars and corporate welfare.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Wars are not a waste of money. Having a military presence in other countries is not a waste of money. Having a president like Obama in office is a waste of money. Him allowing the outsourcing of jobs is wasting money. HIm not doing anything about unemployment, and letting countless people sit on the couch all day collecting a paycheck, is wasting money. Bailing out major corporations that still went out of business was a waste of money.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  It was Romney who outsourced jobs. Obama did not do as much as I would have liked to have seen to stimulate the economy, but he did actually try to create a few more jobs through stimulus plans, which were put to a halt when the Republicans had won the House. If I had been Obama I would have started out with a jobs plan akin to the New Deal, then focused on single payer health care. Whereas I am voting for Obama again because I view him as open to new ideas, I see I will probably become a Green Party supporter rather than a Democrat after this election.
  
  Oh yes, and wars are a waste of money. They waste a lot of money, and cause displacement of populations. A large number of the homeless people in our areas are veterans that have psychological problems because of war, so it is sort of hard to argue that war is some glorious thing. It really is not, especially the wars that have been promoted for the last few years are not. I see Obama as wanting to be a bit too moderate in withdrawing from wars, I wish he had done more. If I was really strong on my principles, I would probably vote for Jill Stein. I might end up doing so in the end.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  And how would you have paid for that?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Oh no, I am a bit more socialist than you . How about putting our tax dollars to better work, making all political positions minimum wage, and cutting the wars. I see you are loving to be razor hard on me, so be it. I really do not care, I am not high on the hog of wanting foreign wars. Not sure why you are sticking up for the tax dollars to go to all these regimes anyway. If FDR could do it in his day, Obama could have done it today.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  FDR couldn't and didn't do it.
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Actually, FDR created New Deal programs that helped improved infrastructure, and prevented families from starving to death during the Great Depression. He was a highly successful and popular president back in a time when Americans banded together and had a sense of community. These days the Oliver Twist model seems to be what some want.
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  Praetorposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  What are you talking about?
  
  First of all, exactly how do you know how "socialist" I am?
  
  And how is asking you questions being "razor hard" on you?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Your questions are interesting. I do not agree with your stances at all, and I have to leave it at that. Oh well, I am a socialist because I do not like war and think our children might do better with community gardens. I think all cultures would do better with less war, and no this is not idealism. War is a scary business today, and engaging in it just creates more of it.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  But, as I said way up there. The vast majority of people receiving welfare are hard working people who only use it as a stop gap between jobs. Many people who need benefits are actually already working. Many are seniors, many are disabled (and some of those disabilities are invisible disabilities) I would never assume that all people are working the system, most people are honest upstanding citizens.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I sincerely hope you are joking when you say most people are honest upstanding citizens.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, I happen to believe in the goodness of most people in society. You have to think the best of people don't you think? If you only believe the worse in people it can make you a miserable person.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I do not believe in the goodness of most people in society. I am, however, an extremely happy person. I don't rely on or depend on anyone else to do anything for me. I go to work every day. I go to school to further my education. I pay my bills. I don't expect a handout. I ignore those that want other to do things for them, expect handouts, leech off of society. I think always thinking people are in the "good" makes you a target for many bad scenarios.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I feel sorry for you then...
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  You feel sorry for me that I'm a happy individual who doesn't rely on others to take care of me? Hmm..? Interesting.
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  No...that you think the worst in people.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Nothing to feel sorry for. Please don't. I don't want your pity. I don't find the worst in people, I just no longer believe people are generally good. I have been proved too many times that it is not the case/
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  Uninvited Writerposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  Well, it must be different up here in Canada. Most people I meet are good and decent and just want the best for themselves and their families.
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
Also, no one should ever be "put in their place" as it were. I thought even some of Mitt Romney and his supporters language is paternal in a, not so good retro way.
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Praetorposted 11 years ago
This is an example of the larger problem:

This is a news report from here in Tampa, it shows an example of why there is such a growing resentment of people who are on public assistance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bavou_SE … re=related

If you honestly need help (and everyone does from time to time), that's one thing; but not taking any personal responsibility, and then expecting the government to help out is just insane.
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  Repairguy47posted 11 years agoin reply to this
  When you have been raised in a system where personal responsibility has been removed because it may hurt someones feelings what can you expect.
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kathleenkatposted 11 years ago
Hmm. I know this isn't EBT, but this is the same kind of thing that I think we are discussing here:

I was in Sears the other day, filling my prescription for glasses, and there was a guy at the other counter telling the lady that "Sears should be more accommodating to veterans!" Apparently, his veteran benefits got him $150 towards a pair of glasses, however, the pair of RAY BANS he wanted were $179.99. Jeeze, I can't even afford Ray Bans
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
Guess where the US ranks on freedom of the press, health care, and life expectancy. It is a lot lower than Canada and many other European countries.
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SweetiePieposted 11 years ago
I am going to just say it, I do not think people who think they know about all the welfare fraud actually know real people who are on welfare. It is really easy to say you know this and that, when the reality is probably a bit different. It is an election year and propaganda is high.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I personally know people on welfare. I personally know people that need it. And I personally know people that abuse it. Want to rethink that?
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  SweetiePieposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  There might be a small number of people in your area. However I have met lots of people, well over hundred who never abused welfare, and used it to get by until they found a job. There are also studies that support this. Even if some dodo is abusing welfare, it is lot less waste than some corporate dodo galvanting around on his government subsidized jet.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  A small number in my area? There are over 1.7 million people in just the area that I live in. Non-working, full welfare recipients top 50k, while food stamp recipients are over the 250k mark. JUST for my area.
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  Sheabyposted 11 years agoin reply to this
  I also personally know people that really, truly need it that can't get it for one reason or another. Then there are people that don't need it, and can get it all day long. Riddle me this, batman.
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Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years ago
- the unthinkable and abhorrent have become common place. For instance, food stamps, universal health care, universal welfare. These things used to be abhorrent because they logically represented government control.
My question is why does the government want such control? Buying votes is the only answer I can think of. Unfortunately the customers are on the rise.
Some, through no fault of their own! Its all a mystery, if you ask me.
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Uninvited Writerposted 10 years ago
You should be more outraged by the welfare given to the richest among us. Stop blaming the poor for everything. But hey, I know you desperately need that $36 a year you pay for other people's food stamps.

And really, it's none of your damn business what people buy in the grocery store and how they buy it.
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  fed-up1posted 10 years agoin reply to this
  You seem to not understand ( getting free food ) is not buying. We pay for their food and they take it free of charge, and don't feel ashamed for taking advantaged of the tax payers.
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prettydarkhorseposted 10 years ago
>>>>>>>>really, it's none of your damn business what people buy in the grocery store and how they buy it.

That is the answer of the day.
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  wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  And yet society makes it their business when their money is being spent. There are strict limitations on what can be purchased - they just allow things the OP doesn't like to see bought with his money.
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fed-up1posted 10 years ago
If there was no tax money there would be no SNAP, so we have to accept that the poor will always eat better than the tax payers that pay for their food.
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Northstar207posted 10 years ago
Working father of 5, Iraq vet and taxpayer.
I have always had a good paying job till Sept. of last year. Unable to find work that payed me what I used to make or even find anything close I had to take work as a carpenter and have had to change the way I view this subject. Unable to make enough money to pay for the house and all that we have worked for and sustain my family food needs. I sucked up my pride and applied for food stamps after much begging from my wife. I cant help but to picture my wife as the woman the op was talking about and feel the need to jump to her defense. Am I using some of the money I've paid in to the system for all these years? Am I using some of my grandfathers Social Security he was never able to fully collect before he passed? Am I using some of the Social Security I nor my family will ever get after I die?
Fact is the lady in Sams may have the same situation as I. Just concerned for her family and wanting to provide them the best life she can. And having now been in her shoes I can never view someone using EBT like I used to.
I'm just happy to know I will be able to get food for my family again.... Sad I never though I'd ever have to say that. Don't worry, I will be lowering my head in shame as I swipe my card.... or should I not?
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Beatemwithsticksposted 10 years ago
I have a little experience with this system. I was denied food stamps once b4 when I was unemployed homeless and a full time student going to school on my GI bill. My cousins wife some how gets them. She gets a lot of assistance. They pay I think 15 dollars a month for the house that they rent. My cousin works full time and makes about 40,000 dollars a year living in the midwest. The system we have pisses me off. I could go on for days describing what POS people my cousin and his wife are with their 3 kids 2 of which are so screwed up in the head my family and I are certain they will end up in handcuffs for some kind of violent crime long before they reach 18. I refuse to attend any function they might be at because I want to go off on my cousin and his wife every time I see them. They are so proud of taking advantage of the system. She has once told me she feels entitled to it because she knows how to cheat the system. I think there are lots of people out there who truly need it and deserve it but there are lots of others either too lazy to get off their ass and work or so screwed up mentally that they think the only option they have is to take what they haven't earned. Its like someone flipping burgers at McDonalds wanting to raise minimum wage so they can support their family. Unless your running a restaurant or you own one its not meant to be a way to support your family. Its a job for young students and people trying to get a few extra bucks in their spare time. I realize the environment for some is a huge factor but so is our screwed up government. I'm certain about 90% of the elected officials in every community deserve to be tied to a pole so people who's lives have been affected by their poor decisions can come by and beat them with sticks.
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Education Answerposted 10 years ago
I know an old lady who is approximately 90 years old. She receives approximately eighteen dollars a month for food. Because she doesn't have dependent children, she gets very, very little assistance. Our public-assistance systems, including both EBT and welfare, are built to reward people for having young, dependent children. Welfare moms know this. I'd love to see a study on how many children the average long-term welfare recipient has. I think it would be revealing. Meanwhile, if you don't have dependents in your care, I guess you get to starve.
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  Quilligrapherposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Hi EA.
  
  We have not had the chance to exchange views in a hellava long time. It is good to see you here!
  
  I am sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, EA, but you are spitting into the wind if you believe a significantly large number of welfare moms work the public-assistance systems by consciously and intentionally having lots of kids so they can receive more benefits. While it may a handy mallet for bashing the less fortunate who get help to survive, the existing data do not support your theory.
  
  If you would “love to see a study” about the number of children in an average welfare family, many are out there waiting for you.
  
  I found one at the Bureau of Labor Statistics you would love. The data collected in 2011 focused on families with children under the age of 18 years. The analysis compares families receiving means-tested government assistance benefits to those that do not. The average number in a family receiving assistance was 3.7 persons. The average number in a family NOT receiving assistance was exactly the same: 3.7! Now, is that not revealing?
  
  In addition, when you peal back the layers of that same 3.7, you discover the average is 3.1 persons (2.1 children) in single parent families receiving assistance and 4.4 persons (2.4 children) in two-parent families.
  
  Although average family size was the same, average annual expenditures in families receiving assistance were less than half the amount spent by families not receiving assistance. {1}
  
  I am sorry, EA, to be bearer of bad news.
  
  {2} http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-2/sp … stance.htm
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  Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  It's good to hear from you too.
  
  When is it bad news to hear that something is working better than you thought? I would rather lose a debate than fabricate evidence to prove my point and win a debate. Haven't we all dealt with people who couldn't admit they were wrong? While I truly hate being wrong, I have absolutely no problem admitting when I'm wrong. Upon viewing your statistics, I researched the topic too. My conclusion is. . . I was statistically wrong.
  
  According to a recent study, I live in one of the poorest areas in America. My evidence was obviously anecdotal, what I see. I see lazy welfare moms, and dads for that matter, abuse the system all the time; I was dead wrong to assume that this anecdotal evidence could be used to characterize welfare recipients across America. The statistics don't support my claim about the average family size of welfare or EBT recipients. I'm happy that my characterization of welfare-recipient families isn't the norm,because, where I live, it's destroying so many young lives.
  
  Best wishes.
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  Quilligrapherposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  
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  Motown2Chitownposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  EA, I applaud you response to Quilligrapher...and I did read it before responding to this post. I think it's a misnomer to say that the system "rewards" mothers for having lots of dependent children. I do not argue that many, many, many abuse the system. What I do maintain is that it's fairly easy to do with children for the simple fact that the system truly exists so that children and the disabled and the elderly need not go without and suffer because able bodied parents and other able bodied adults refuse to assist in caring for them. I doubt for a second that many of us would complain about our current welfare expeditiures if they were distributed only to those truly in need of help.
  
  PART of the fault does indeed lie with those who spit out children with no forethought as to how they will care for them. The fault does NOT lie solely within the system itself. I have no problem whatsoever with helping to care for a society's weakest members unless and until they are able to care for themselves. That said, yes...I get up in arms when it looks like those on welfare live better than I do. But I also get extremely angry watching people belittle those who ask for a little bit of help because what income they do have is spent keeping a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs, and therefore isn't available for luxuries like basic health care and doctor copays and, oh, groceries. In short, I'd rather people with children be able to buy more expensive and nutritious food to feed their children while I eat a little less sumptuously than have them not able to buy food at all.
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Kristen Kitchensposted 10 years ago
So the funny thing is I was searching for a way to find some food for my children and I to eat while we wait for an undetermined amount of time for our food stamps to be approved. I applied almost a month ago and still nothing. Part of why is because the job I did have I lost because I had no way to and from in Jan when Icestorms were comming left and right and I had no car. When I lost my job I applied at other places and my fiance' happened to find one faster than I have he now works 2 jobs no days off atleast 8 hrs a day at min wage. Which will work out great to get back off the system once i finally get to start working. But here is something to think about. I have 2 children both in preschool. Almost no food can list everything (4eggs, about 3 cups of milk, 4 boxes of potatoes.) exactly in my house.
Did have plenty to do I thought for what I thought the waiting time to be. But since the job that fired me for not comming because I couldn't walk and had no way of making it to and from because of people who think oh she makes the same as me she should have a car, doesn't fill out paperwork and send it back they give a post it that says verify by calling some 1888 number. And there for I am still waiting on them to get this thru. Lucky for me the father of my children will be comming to get them for 6 days for spring break in a few days so I know they won't starve during this time. And I figure now that I have a car (required by fiance's job to even be hired) I can do a temp service while they are away and get food back into my house. So please while there are some out there that abuse the system remember there are some out there that with out the help are starving them self to make sure that their children can eat while the system takes their sweet time. Oh and since my fiance' works now can't get it rushed because we will have income in. Mind you we rent and its the last part of the month meaning his check he gets from his jobs will have to go to rent. and this one he just got had to go to power.
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Nurse Deposted 10 years ago
Figured I would chime in on this...
I am a professional care giver. 90% of my patients are elderly and on food stamps. Since they are too ill to shop themselves...I do it for them. Here I am with a basket of food, wearing scrubs, holding my coach purse with my iPhone in my hand- I use food stamps to purchase groceries. Of course I have got a lot of looks and been judged many times. But what those people don't understand is who I am buying food for. One of my patients is expected to live on $78 a month for food. Sadly, this is a person that worked his whole life. Paid taxes, helped many charities, was a great asset to a huge company...until he became to sick with cancer to work. I clip coupons on my free time to help cut his costs, and manage to keep his fridge full as much as possible. Which we all know what $78 will get you, even if your only feeding yourself. My whole point is, clearly I do not look like someone that should be on food stamps- even though whose right is it to judge by appearance or what they have? The moral of my story, is nobody knows what the situation is, why they are on it, why they are using it, and most of all why should IT MATTER?! They may be elderly and rely on caregivers (such as myself) to shop for them, their spouse may have been killed in an accident and relied on their income solely, they may have been stricken with cancer or simply lost their job and is using it for help until they get back on their feet! Whatever the reason is, it shouldn't matter because maybe one day ur high paying job may cut 100 jobs and urs might be one of them! Or u may get to the age where u are unable to work and don't want to starve! People need to stop judging. Of course there will always be people that abuse the system and it is unfortunate. But not everyone does.
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  junkoposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Nurse De, your post points out one in many reasons why those who don't have an EBT card and don't really need one shouldn't judge those who use them. The stigma of need is not desireable by those in need in a Capitalist Society. Its a fact of life. The sin of greed of those not in need is not not looked down on like the need for food for the poor and needy. Thanks for your service, Nurse De.
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  Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  I have yet to see anybody say that the poor and needy shouldn't have help. Many of us feel that this help is being abused by some. We want tighter control and accountability of our tax dollars. That's not really asking for too much.
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  junkoposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Educated Answer, as always you have an uneducated answer for a post not addressed to you. Many of us believe that the abuse of tax dollars and tax loopholes by rich people and powerful corporations is criminal, but white collar crime is not looked down on like black collar crime. The cost to tax payers that the fraud and corruption Wall Street and Banking committed before and since the 2008 Federal Housing Fraud, would it not be asking too much that you include it in your condemnation. The taxes that could have been paid on the tax dollars stolen could fund EBT for the next decade. The thief and fraud of EBT benifits is black collar crime and those found guilty should be made to starve and their children too. White collar crime and those that committ it should be reimburst if they lose money committing fraud and if found guilty of fraud, pay a small fine. Your post is just plain nonsense and you should change your handle from educated answer to, king of hogwash
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  John Holdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  +1
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  Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Junko,
  
  Thank you for your kind, professional remarks. Pardon me for entering YOUR forum without permission.
  
  I actually agree with a lot of your points. Yes, there are rich people who abuse the system too. I agree that tax loopholes are wrong. That is a separate issue but a very real point. You should start another forum about it.
  
  "The thief and fraud of EBT benifits [sic] is black collar crime and those found guilty should be made to starve and their children too."
  
  Hyperbole isn't really helpful here. NOBODY wants this. You simply used it to score points.
  
  "Your post is just plain nonsense and you should change your handle from educated answer to, king of hogwash"
  
  Is this really necessary? You should abstain from these kinds of rude remarks that violate the terms of participation here, or change your handle to "Banned from HubPages."
  
  I hope you can keep this civil next time. I hold no animosity towards you, and I'm sorry to see that my viewpoints anger you so much. Let's debate, minus the personal attacks. Best wishes.
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  junkoposted 10 years agoin reply to this
  Educated Answer, that was an educated Answer to my rude insult, You handled me like a Gentleman and a Scholar. I apologize for my rudeness and attempt to tempt you to be rude to me. We have rudely challenged each other here on hubpages in the pass Maybe you've changed. I think it could have been considered rude of you to ignore my praise for Nurse De's service just to deny seeing people saying things I never said they said. I am civil and reasonable and sorry to cause you anger. Best wishes back at you.
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brakel2posted 9 years ago
I was a food stamp supv at one time. You do find people who abuse the system. A fraud division exists to try to hold down the fraud. Then, there are the truly needy who are barely making it. You can't judge the program or people by one family at Sam's. It would be great to catch the bad guys, but that is a real undertaking.
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  John Holdenposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Some would rather focus on the few who abuse the system than focus on the many abused by the system.
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  junkoposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  John, some would rather you focus on the few who take from the bottom rather then the others that control the top and bottom. The poor and the rich has always used the federal government as a cash cow.
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  Education Answerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Why can't we focus on both?
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  junkoposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Excellent idea, Eucated answer. All those that depend on federal tax dollars in their pursuit of happiness are not poor, some are rich because of federal help. To focus on EBT will blind you when you seek the big picture. Those against the Federal Government today will change their tune if they get back in charge. Would they spend like drunken sailors, again? What you think Education Answer?
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  Education Answerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I believe that many people, both rich and poor, try to bilk the system. We should go after both sides of the spectrum and everything in between.
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  junkoposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  All we can do is vote and hope. The Creator has a Master Plan and Thy will be done. There is one truth and many lies. I'll try to speak truth to lies when and if I can and vote for my children and grandchildren's future.
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Lynnette Hummelposted 9 years ago
I created an account specifically to address this post which disturbed me on so many levels. First of all I would like to say that not everyone who is on "Food Stamps" is eating so well and not everyone on the program is some sort of leech on society. My husband and I have worked hard for many years, raised 2 wonderful young men, but still have 2 teenagers at home. My husband was laid off his job of 16 years the day before Thanksgiving. We struggled for months just to feed ourselves and our kids before I finally broke down and applied for SNAP. I never wanted to be on government assistance; a matter of pride I suppose, but we couldn't keep going that way. SNAP is saving our loves right now by feeding our family so what little we can make at odd jobs tries to play catch up with a mortgage, car payments, and utilities. So next time just consider....not everyone is a leech. We paid into these programs for years just like you. SNAP is like insurance, we paid in and now we need to take a little back. So before making generalized statements about people on these programs consider how hard it is for some of us to even ask for help.
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spirit dragonposted 8 years ago
Personally I don't think the system does enough. My daughter made the mistake of falling in love and wanting to be with someone forever. His reaction was I don't want you I only want my baby and as soon as it's born I'm going to take it from you by any means necessary. My daughter is now currently a single mom having to rely on a system that she's been paying into since she was 16 yrs old. At times she worked 3 jobs to help me when I had 2 back surgeries a year for 2 years in a row. So she should get back about 8 years worth and if you add in my contribution I can donate my 32 yrs of work and paying into the system. She is getting a total of $237/month in cash assistance, $311/month in food stamps, and baby food & formula to last a month. The food stamps values out at about $10/day to try to eat 3 meals a day so that she doesn't get sick from malnutrition (which being on medicaid is a lot more expensive to treat than the amount of food she consumes). The lowest apt in our area cost $375/month and includes some utilities which is more than the cash assistance. The government in our state claims that she is not eligible for child care assistance, transportation or schooling assistance until her child is 1 years old. They want her to be a mother to her child first then they will provide help with the other areas. If she were to get a job part time or full time at the minimum wage for this state of $7.25/hr she would only be making $2.00/hour more than what the local day care charges. She would also be disqualified from cash assistance as soon as she made more than $400 per month and they don't take into consideration the daycare expense just her gross income. If she makes less than $400 per month half of her earnings would be deducted from the amount she is entitled to receive. So tell me if anyone can give an example of how someone in this situation is suppose to be able to survive without turning the child over to social services to go into a foster home. Which by the way the foster parents and orphanages are paid almost double to take care of children in their care than they actually give the birth mothers. Ok ya she made a mistake by thinking this man (who turned out to be abusive and a drug user) was going to be a good person. But she had the courage to keep the baby whom she loves dearly and would starve to feed and die to protect instead of committing murder by having it aborted. Thankfully I am here for her and can help her until she can get back on her feet again.
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Bwiley77posted 8 years ago
So lets see according to you in one of the ones who shouldn't have any kids because I am on food stamps now.. My husband and I have worked our butts off to provide for our family. Our oldest child is disabled and I have recently become disabled myself. So right now yes we are getting food stamps to help feed our kids. Am I one of the ones taking advantage of the system?
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  gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this
  If you have become disabled, you probably were qualified for food stamps depending upon the reason & type of disability. Also you have a disabled child. Those cases are quite different from that of fully healthy people who can work but are bilking the system left & right. There are generational welfare recipients who consider welfare/government assistance a viable lifestyle. They aren't about to work for anything. They strongly contend that the world OWES them.
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  Bwiley77posted 8 years agoin reply to this
  I agree with you on that. And it's people like that that makes things difficult for people like me who need it but don't want to need it.
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Live to Learnposted 8 years ago
Best thing to do is remember the old adage 'There but by the grace of God go I.'

Be thankful you aren't in a position to need an EBT card.
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SherrieWeynandposted 7 years ago
The maximum SNAP benefit for a family of 4 is $649. That's $162.25 per person, per month. $5.40 per day to eat 3 meals. Keep in mind that's with zero income. If there is any income, those amounts will be reduced. It's not easy to feed 3 meals a day on $5.40. So the idea that they are getting an exorbitant amount of food stamps per person is nothing but a myth. There's a table in the link that breaks down total monthly benefit amounts depending on family size.
http://www.cbpp.org/research/a-quick-gu … d-benefits
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  Quilligrapherposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you, Ms. Weynand. Welcome to Hubpages.
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  SherrieWeynandposted 7 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you, kind Sir.
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retta719posted 4 years ago
Perception and truth are often two very different things.
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KC3Ladyposted 4 years ago
I'm not sure who told you EBT recepients are eating like kings and queens. Mine, which I am on due to being stalked over a period of time, never go an entire month. Even then that is nowhere nearly my usual diet. It is generally eating only tuna or other cheap, canned meats without any hamburger or chicken. I once wondered why the people coming into this country from other countries received seven years of tax-free status, money to start a business, etc.
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lambservantposted 4 years ago
I did not read all the comments for pardon me if I am repeating anything. That is an extreme amount of money so I checked the amounts allowed in my state. For 4 people the maximum is $632. If 8 people in the household the maximum is $1137 and $142 per person after that. That does not mean every family gets the maximum amount. It all depends on their income. I receive EBT benefits as I am on disability. I get about $58 and it sure doesn't feed me for a month. I can't afford steak. In fact, most of my meat I get from a ministry in a nearby church as well as other items. I am very careful about what I buy. I'm sure some of the comments speak of people who abuse the system so I won't comment except it sounds like those people may have been scammers with the type of food they were buying. If I had that many people in my household I would still see reason to be more frugal.
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Why do EBT card holders get to eat better than me?

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