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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGohmert: Cutting food stamps not evil because poor people buy king crab legs
Well, Michele Bachmann and Reagan's Welfare Queen still live on:
The Texas congressman complained that Democrats had portrayed Republicans as evil because they supported a measure to cut nearly 2 million low-income people off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which would mainly impact working families with children.
On the other hand, Gohmert said, poor people were using food stamps to buy food that other Americans could not afford. He claimed his “broken-hearted” constituents had repeatedly told him they had seen people use food stamps to buy king crab legs.
“Because he does pay income tax, he doesn’t get more back than he pays in, he is actually helping pay for king crab legs when he can’t pay for them for himself,” Gohmert explained.
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mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)Guess they're all shopping at the same store.
Warpy
(111,352 posts)on the car radio to and from the store.
The story is bullshit without proof and Gomer should know that.
He's a fucking idiot who is dangerous because a bunch of other fucking idiots handed him power.
mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)or their preacher told them he has. That is the main authority, cause he hears it from God and God sees EVERYTHING!
Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)Maybe those same folks from TX are coming up to PA to buy lobster with their food stamps! 
GoCubsGo
(32,094 posts)Somebody from Indiana called into Ed Schultz's radio show an hour ago making the same claim, only it was beer instead of seafood. There are an awful lot of liars in this country--or at least a bunch of gullible dupes, who willingly and ignorantly parrot the lies they are fed.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)Buy a cheap piece of candy with a single. You got real change. Do that a couple three times, and you had beer money.
In Detroit, Pontiac, and Inkster MI there were small grocery stores who would not bother with the food stamp dance. Whatever you wanted, if you had food stamps, and were willing to pay the vig, you got. Until they were busted for it.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/09/22/news/cops_and_courts/doc4e79fec4e6389300977669.txt
And near Seattle, employees of a company selling meat door-to-door got busted for trading EBT for cash.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Iowa-Steak-Co-responds-to-federal-probe-of-food-stamp-misue-158283995.html
It's not a widespread thing, but it DOES happen. Claiming that anyone who says it does is a liar is not helping the cause when there ARE documented cases.
GoCubsGo
(32,094 posts)"Food stamps" no longer exist. EBT cards will not allow you to ring up beer. And, trading EBT cards for cash is not "buying beer with food stamps". It's selling your EBT card. So, yes, anyone making that claim now IS a liar. I don't deny that there is occasional fraud, but it is not anywhere near the levels these critics claim it is. Not by a long shot.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)The Iowa Steak sting was real. The Country Farm Market sting was real.
SNAP benefits are extremely important to a lot of people. The overwhelming majority of use is proper and necessary for both people's health and the economy.
But saying "Liar liar pants on fire there is no such thing as SNAP benefit abuse" when there are clearly documented cases is just as bad as saying "SNAP beneficiaries are all cheats eating crab legs and drinking Kristal".
As for selling beer and smokes? No, you don't ring it up as beer. You ring it up as something that IS allowed. But it is still beer and smokes going out the door.
drm604
(16,230 posts)Is it illegal to buy meat with the benefits? I'm skeptical.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)Meat company accused of 'food stamp fraud on wheels'
SPANAWAY, Wash. -- Police and federal agents raided a business they say is behind a crime against taxpayers.
The Iowa Steak Company sells boxes of frozen meat and seafood door-to-door. But KING 5 News learned investigators have been looking into this company for months and accuse it of food stamp fraud on wheels.
Sources tell the KING 5 Investigators the door-to-door salesman have been wheeling and dealing with buyers who used their food stamp or EBT cards. The company is a licensed food stamp merchant.
Sources say in recent undercover stings, Everett police and federal agents traded food stamps for cash from Iowa Steak salemen. Sources say several Iowa Steak drivers conducted the illegal tranasctions with officers posing as food stamp customers.
~ snip ~
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/09/22/news/cops_and_courts/doc4e79fec4e6389300977669.txt
Country Farm Market in Pontiac raided
PONTIAC — A local grocer was part of multiple raids by federal agencies to bust retailers suspected of committing fraud involving food stamps.
The Country Farm Market, 701 Orchard Lake Road at Voorheis Road, Pontiac, was hit Wednesday morning by investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service and Michigan State Police.
~ snip ~
The retailers are accused of redeeming food stamps for cash or exchanging the benefits for tobacco, liquor, clothing, household appliances and other items contrary to regulations.
~ snip ~
----------------------------------------------
Do we HAVE to pretend this is not real in order to protect the legitimate use of SNAP benefits? It seems to me doing the "LA-LA-LA I can't hear you" does nothing worthwhile. But if you bring up this uncomfortable fact, people accuse you of hating poor people and saying everyone is committing fraud and wanting them to starve. I DON'T hate poor people. For a large chunk of my life, I have been at or near the poverty line. I've been on EBT. I want to see poor people have more intellectual, economic, and social opportunities. But I am not going to wander into Denialville in a misdirected effort to attack Gohmert the Pile.
drm604
(16,230 posts)Gohmert seems to be talking not about fraud, but about excess. He seems to be saying that people are getting more than they really need because they can afford crab legs.
People conflate two different things when they discuss this issue: fraud and excess. Those are two different things. If people really are able to gorge themselves on crab, lobster, booze, cigarettes and luxury cars then maybe their benefits are higher than they need to be. But they're not doing that, because it's not possible to do that on what they get each month.
If someone is doing that as a regular thing, then that person must be committing fraud. Rampant fraud would justify better enforcement efforts, but it does not justify what Gohmert advocates, cutting benefits, because that hurts innocent people but does not prevent fraud.
I've been hearing the same story about how someone's friend's aunt's neighbor saw somebody purchasing something excessive or unnecessary then driving off in a luxury car since the Reagan era if not before. The similarity of the stories points to them being urban legends or intentional right-wing smears. Your example is one of real fraud, which is a different thing from Gohmert's claims of excess.
brewens
(13,622 posts)A guy I know ended up managing a little dive, run down grocery store. He was all up in arms over that and would refuse to do it when he was running the till. This was after he'd lost two pretty good jobs for being lazy and not dealing with customers well.
So then he ended up going back to school and living off his parents in his mid 30's. He took five years to complete a two year office technologies program. His sister managed to hook him up with an interview for a great job. He failed the pre-employment drug screening.
Now he's on some kind of disability and delivers papers. A mutual friend said he last saw him out at the bar and he'd just gotten a new set of false teeth. I'm guessing his paper route didn't pay for those.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)My older brother (who is generally a POS...at least he is at this moment) has an EBT card and just the other day he insisted I take him to a specific store so he could buy something. Turns out the store he wanted to go to sells him cigarettes on his EBT card. The asshole clerk marks up the price of everything when people do this though. I do get why some people buy unauthorized goods on their EBT card. I mean, poor people need toilet paper, toothpaste and other such things too. Cigarettes and booze are annoying though. He also is horrible at managing his funds that he gets on the card. It's frustrating to watch him spend the money in the most inefficient and unhealthy ways. It's shame he doesn't listen to anyone's advice either. Usually wouldn't give anyone shit about their personal choices like that, but when his poor planning causes him to have run to people for 'emergency' help/money, it becomes our problem.
Anyway, even though there is some bullshit that goes on with EBT cards, I see it as similar to how I help out my family. For example, my older brother is constantly asking me for money and I do occasionally go without because of his piss poor planning (for example, I just gave him $350 the other day.... I had to cancel my health insurance to do it) Which would be fine, but I know he won't do anything to prevent his need for relying on other people. He'll continue the same behavior and not adjust anything he does.(I know. I know. People always say I should cut him off and all that, but he has my nephew with him) On the other hand, I have a little brother who is actually doing something with his life. He makes an effort to do the right thing most the time and eventually he'll be doing even better. He does occasionally need help from me and other family, and he probably won't be able to pay anyone back at this time. However, the help he gets helps him improve his situation, because he takes steps to move forward. He just needs help right now to do that.
I think most people who are on government assistance fall into the latter category like my little brother. They don't want to continue to be poor, and they want to improve their lives, but they just need some help to get there. I don't think it's fair to punish the good people because some assholes exist.
I think the best way to combat ignorance like this, is to show examples of people who were on government assistance and then used that to time to improve themselves and their lives.
Response to penultimate (Reply #168)
Name removed Message auto-removed
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)there's no telling what kind of card they have anymore so if a black person buys something special it MUST be on the welfare card...
mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)and is paying with some kind of credit card, it must be a welfare card.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)Most likely they all love telling the same lie. There is no way you can make your food stamps last the entire month if you buy expensive foods and king crab legs are definitely not something you can buy. They can barely afford any fresh fruits or veggies on food stamps. And of course those who provide the ingredients for and those who make, often the same corporations, the crap processed junk food that is affordable get rewarded for keeping their shite foods at low prices that those on the lowest income level can afford to buy, that is what is so infuriating about this. I'm so sick of this bullshit. No one in this country, allegedly the greatest country in the world, should ever go without eating involuntarily, and they should be able to eat nutritious food but more often than not you can't even afford a few bananas or fresh carrots to feed your kids. I've never had to be on food stamps but I have known plenty of people who have and it is hard. You never have enough.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)was talking about some wild conspiracy theory involving terrorist anchor babies. 
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)
MattBaggins
(7,904 posts)beats my hot dogs and fish sticks.
frylock
(34,825 posts)hot dogs and fish sticks 
ellie
(6,929 posts)Come on repukes! All cellphones have cameras. Get out those phones and take those pics!
Fuckers.
Ezlivin
(8,153 posts)Seriously. These irate Republicans need to start using their cellphones to properly document "this abuse."
Hell, we had photos of Abu Ghraib and that was a world away.
ohnoyoudidnt
(1,858 posts)So what?
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)those dumb people waste all their benefits on a single extravagant meal and then have to go hungry the rest of the month. I mean, that would actually make them happy, no?
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)ohnoyoudidnt
(1,858 posts)Some of them do. Key word 'some'. So what?
Rex
(65,616 posts)on a daily basis, it will lead to them maybe wanting to eat lobster or steak every night. Much easier to keep them on a regiment of malnutrition. Keeps their brains confused, hungry. More easily to manipulate.
King Louie (R-I Hate Jesus) is saying he understands how social engineering works and approves dropping people over a cliff. See, they cannot do it themselves, so King Louie has a program in place to help them jump off a cliff.
NO ONE should eat their cake until Louie has a bite first!
sigmasix
(794 posts)
Turbineguy
(37,369 posts)is a gateway food!
Who knows where it will lead?
Volaris
(10,274 posts)even if I were a Republican, I would shove this fool out of his office at the business end of "Uncle Teddy's Big Stick", drag his ass in front of a Fox News camera, and then BEAT the fucking truth out of him. And that's if I were a REPUBLICAN. If I were a DEMOCRATIC member of the House HOLY GOD would this idiot hatehatehate coming to work everyday. I would SEE to it.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)right/
Rex
(65,616 posts)In THIS country, being poor means you are a failure and you deserve scorn solely based on the fact that you are an easy target in society. Being RICH, however, means you are successful, smart and a good person. It is this love for money that the PTB have that will lead us all into the poorhouse.
CrazyJudy
(40 posts)
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)Of course that would blow your contention out of the water.
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)the only way their arguments work at all, though!
Rex
(65,616 posts)Funny how desperate people are to dis the poor. LOBSTER is not KING CRAB LEGS. Ain't it just like a GOP tactic? To lie about something then pretend it is true?
Not saying that is what the posters intent was...but funny how JUST LIKE THE GOP, they lie and then pretend apples are oranges.
And I see the Usual Suspect came along and agreed with them. 
Pathetic.
cali
(114,904 posts)yeah, you may get the occasional person who takes advantage of the program- not as many as say slimeball repukes who take advantage of tax loopholes and farm subsidies, but a few.
I am on food stamps. I'm disabled. I get all of 113 bucks a month. King Crab legs? Lobster? Really? I eat black beans and rice, bananas, pasta, whatever veggies are on sale. chicken or fish approx once a week.
I'm sick unto death of the pigs like Goehmert. And people like YOU. He can go fuck himself with a rusty jagged farm implement. You? use your imagination.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)CrazyJudy
(40 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)
JanMichael
(24,891 posts)and she should be. 113 per month, that sounds pretty typical. Do you understand that many of the people who receive financial nutritional help have children?
What is wrong with people....if you believe the "welfare queen and cadillac" horseshit, I suggest you return to school...maybe take a history lesson or two.
Kali
(55,020 posts)wishing people dead, pushing this bullshit welfare queen lie... enjoy your stay 
It's during discussions such as this when I really appreciate your no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is acerbic tongue, cali. You rock! 
eShirl
(18,504 posts)there wasn't much difference
http://www.pressherald.com/news/low-price-for-lobster-stirs-anger-in-canada_2013-05-15.html
Bay Boy
(1,689 posts)...I think someone buying extravagant items like that is being foolish with their money but it's their choice still. What the heck are we gonna do? Have a food aisle at the store that contains the only items that poor people are allowed to buy? "Getcher white bread and mac & cheese in aisle two"
auntsue
(277 posts)is a luxury................ I look for chicken at $.98 a pound and call myself lucky! SOMETIMES I go in with my neighbor on a London broil when the price is lower than burger - used in small portions it's a real treat. I do eat a lot of beans and rice, fresh veggies from the 99 cents store. or on sale at the market. Pizza? when my neighbor shares with me. Restaurant? can't remember
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Chan790
(20,176 posts)Going to the beach cottage back in CT to visit family near Old Saybrook, the cost of lobster is so low (under $3/lb) compared to the cost of any meat (chicken is about the same, beef runs close to $5) and so much fresher that the smart thrifty purchase is the lobster. The prices y'all pay outside of the lobster fishing areas for lobster are jacked the fuck up because they have to be transported live and usually same-day as capture. Inside the lobster fishing areas lobster is cheap as fuck provide you're willing to go buy it off the dock at 7am.
Meat is more expensive there because we don't have meat-farming to any substantial degree in New England.
Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)for 50 cents on the dollar. How funny that you didn't include that particular piece of info in your post.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)if ONE person does it they all do. Time to round them up and put them in camps so we KNOW what they're eating. Right?
It's true...what kind of bullshit is that? ONE PERSON doesn't make it true. Fuckity fuckity fuck...stupidity makes my fucking head hurt. 
Rex
(65,616 posts)So...NO...it is not true, just more GOP tactics because they hate the poor is all I can come up with.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts) 
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)Which is why I don't think denial is a good strategy.
Myself, I get just as ticked off about fraud and abuse as any reasonable person would.
However, I would still say a couple things in response to that.
1. No system ever was or ever could be perfect
2. Until a better system is designed, or the one we have is improved, I would still rather pay for some of the inevitable fraud and abuse than to leave people stranded who actually NEED help.
The Good Samaritan was the "neighbor", he was "the one who showed mercy" and Jesus admonition was "go and do likewise". Not "go and be stingy about helping people so some will not be able to exploit your generosity".
Rex
(65,616 posts)are the same thing...but you keep right on with the lie. Such GOP tactics are par the course.
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)somebody who made an argument in favor of NOT cutting food stamps that did NOT involve insulting the people on the other side.
Conservative or moderate voter: I favor cutting food stamps because there are so many abuses
DUer: You are a liar, an idiot, and a nasty selfish person.
Conservative or moderate voter: Well, you have totally changed my mind. I will be voting for the Democrat in the next election.
In what universe do you think calling people liars is a way to make friends and influence people?
Rex
(65,616 posts)Oh RIGHT...the exact details are not important...WOW doesn't that sound like the GOP! Keep trying, that was a pathetic attempt since it is NOT TRUE.
Pathetic.
bobalew
(323 posts)in Santa Cruz fer a DOLLAR! AND you can Buy em with yer Foodstamps. Seen it myself!
OH fer cryin Out Loud! What a Specious Argument this moron brings to the table. What A cruel hearted Buffoon! Go AWAY, Louie!
Volaris
(10,274 posts)this guy paid almost as much for the Diet Mt. Dew (that's BAD for him) as he did for the (cheap) lobster that's NOT.
And, for the record, if I could by Lobster where I live for 8 bucks (I'm guessing thats for) a tail, you bet your ass I would use Food Stamps to pay for it, as I would likely pay cash for it anyway...that's a pretty damn good deal.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)
TeamPooka
(24,256 posts)
quaker bill
(8,224 posts)For most of a year, a long time ago, I was unemployed and living on unemployment and food stamps. I got my ration of food stamps once a month like clockwork.
You would work hard to feed yourself as cheaply as possible, because if you didn't the money ran out pretty fast. Occasionally because of an unexpected deal or two (10lb bag of potatos for less than $1.00, and such..) you ended up at the end of the month with $5 or $10 left over. So, on the last day of the month, the day before you got the new stamps, you could go out and buy some fancy protein. I personally preferred the bacon wrapped filets at the local meat market, if they were on sale.
Most of the month was bagged bean soup with the cheapest protein, and a few veggies from the farmers market or homegrown. But if you were careful and lucky, once a month you could put a really nice dinner on the table.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)datasuspect
(26,591 posts)i was behind a lady at the store, she paid for some very nice vegetables and snacks with an Illinois Link card.
i had two items, paid, and headed toward my car.
walked past her getting into her lexus.
granted, it was probably a five to ten year old lexus, but it was still a lexus.
i worked 12 hours that day.
plus the KGB, i mean **COUGH** the IRS is still on my ass for that nut i owe them.
(and i'm only calling the IRS the KGB because the mailman did. when you're in arrears with the IRS they start sending certified mail, so i got one of those little cards telling me i had a letter. in the box for "SENDER" or whatever, the postman wrote "KGB" - i got a chuckle out of that).
RC
(25,592 posts)Having grown up well-to-do, never having had to work, she doesn't have any job skills, other than being a wife.
niyad
(113,576 posts)on the other hand, you have given us all the information we need to make an informed judgement about you. remdi95
RC
(25,592 posts)all knowing one. How silly of me to post something I know something about from living in a government subsidized apartment building for 15 years.
niyad
(113,576 posts)absolutely NOTHING, except that some anonymous poster said she drove an old lexus and used food stamps. nice try, though.
RC
(25,592 posts)You had to have children and make less than a certain amount to start living there. I qualified at the time.
There were some fancy SUVs setting in the parking lot at times, belonging to women making minimum wage, and/or working more than one job. And those vehicles weren't old, either. That I know for a fact. How do I know? I ask. It happens. Some of those women had no job skills because they never needed any.
niyad
(113,576 posts)supposed woman in that post. it doesn't change the fact that your comments are sexist and offensive, even about the women whose stories you claim to know.
RC
(25,592 posts)What do you have against women trying to get back on their feet after a divorce or whatever?
How do you feel about those women getting some or most of the good furniture also? I bet that would fry your bacon too, huh?
The only reason you think that what I posted is sexist and offensive is because my profile states I am a male. I find that attitude sexist and offensive.
niyad
(113,576 posts)that she drove an old lexus. everything else was simply YOUR assumption. NOWHERE did the poster say she received it in a divorce. but keep on trying to twist this around as though YOU are the victim here. I didn't bother to look at your profile, because it is of no importance to me, and nothing more than a desperate deflection on your part. remdi95
KatyMan
(4,210 posts)One must sell everything decent one has. How dare someone on food stamps have a car! Why didn't you stop to find out why she had it? Could it possibly be that it was borrowed?
Can we judge you unfairly for not paying your taxes? And if you worked 12 hours, why? Did you goof off most of the day and had to work extra to catch up? So you don't pay your taxes and you goof off at work is what I read from your post.
See? It's easy to judge when you have no idea what the real circumstances are.
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)i think purchasing 5 dollar gas to put in a luxury car might be something to look at.
but yeah, if i ever got to the point that i had to face asking for public assistance, i would liquidate anything i could liquidate before i had to sit in a government office waiting for someone to give me something.
come to think of it, i think a lexus requires premium (91 octane) fuel.
pretty expensive gas in chicago.
on edit:
Gas, Grass, or Ass: No One Rides for Free
frylock
(34,825 posts)their current vehicle and buy a shitbox so people don't get the wrong perception?
the very first thing to do is to find more work.
so you can keep paying everything that needs paying.
your question is simplistic and betrays a lack of depth in your thinking.
on edit:
and come to think of it, protracted, chronic unemployment means lots of good things you might enjoy go by the wayside. luxury cars being one of them.
it's not like you have a choice when you don't have any money.
plus premium gas is more than $5 per gallon in chicago.
if you can't pay for food, but you can pay for 91 octane fuel, there's probably some things that need to be looked at.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)you can't own a car worth more than 2 or 3 grand and receive food stamps
that being said there is some fraud and abuse(like a boyfriend provides income that is not claimed) but i do not want to starve our children over a few adults bad choices
i am just glad the house version did NOT pass,20 billion in cuts is stupid when for every dollar of food stamps spent we get $1.79 in GDP...so by cutting food stamps the repubs were actually hurting econmic growth
frylock
(34,825 posts)shit dude, I've been in that boat. 14 months of under and unemployment. had two vehicles at the time; owned one (a 12 year old Toyota PU), and maintained my payments on the other. spent about 4 hours everyday searching job boards and sending out resumes. and yeah, I collected the unemployment benefits that I earned during that period, because it was a better option to do that while searching for jobs, and taking more certification courses than it was to take some meaningless minimum wage position. in some peoples eyes, that would be considered leaching off the state.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"the very first thing to do is to find more work..."
Which often requires putting $5 of gas in the car one may have purchased nine months prior to getting getting fired when the job was outsourced to the Philippines.. 
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)
RobinA
(9,894 posts)a bunch of years ago I had a brand shiny new Jetta. With the upgraded upholstery! It never ocurred to me to sell it so I wouldn't look bad to people following me out of the grocery store. I kinda had enough real things to worry about.
Arcanetrance
(2,670 posts)Think about this you live in Chicago I take it. You have to go look for work you have access to public transit to do so much like I do in NYC. But there are people who live in places where if you don't have a car your stuck. So if she wants to get a job, pay bills. and get off food stamps that car is necessary.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)and most people on food stamps are looking for work. If she lost her job, it would be financially stupid to sell her car at a loss and buy a less reliable car.
Response to gollygee (Reply #160)
Name removed Message auto-removed
gollygee
(22,336 posts)according to http://www.lexus.com/ES-2013/pdf/ES_Specs.pdf
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)i dunno either - but just b/c you catch a few seconds of someone's life doesnt mean you know their whole story
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)mac56
(17,574 posts)I mean, you've pronounced that she's irresponsible in other ways. Why not in that way also?
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)using standard fuel due to the high compression ratio.
it would ruin the engine.
and i didn't make any pronouncement other than an observation.
you are the one you made a pronouncement through your attempt to put words in my mouth.
mac56
(17,574 posts)Annnnnd.... isn't that what irresponsible people do to cars?!
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)scamp.
mac56
(17,574 posts)you sure don't like discussions much.
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)farting sophistry-laden rhetorical gambits isn't a discussion, that's why it's easy for me to simply disregard you.
because i know what you're doing and you think it's clever.
mac56
(17,574 posts)please remind me to sell my car and buy the cheapest shitbox vehicle i can find.
that way i won't disrupt your stereotypes, offend your precious sensibilities, and cause you to clutch your pearls and get the vapors.
oh yeah, sell my shift key too.
lame.
try harder sweetiepants.
mac56
(17,574 posts)an acknowledgment of having lost the argument, or of being a fourth-grader in the schoolyard.
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)bless your heart.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"farting sophistry-laden rhetorical gambits isn't a discussion,..."
Nor are hypotheticals implied as fact.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)as opposed to the family whose house she cleans?
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)i guess i shouldn't bring up the contractor looking dude who bought about $150 worth of water and gatorade i saw last year.
and paid with an illinois link card.
or the people i run into who offer .50 on the dollar to buy their stamps when i'm at the self checkout.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)I'm not asserting it wasn't her car. You implied it was and I would like to know why.
JanMichael
(24,891 posts)to mind your own business. If you can't, why don't you read People Magazine while you are in line and worry about Jennifer Anniston or Angelina Jolie?
kanda
(175 posts)Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2013, 04:25 PM - Edit history (1)
I have a friend, early 50's. Her and her husband have a foster child with a lot of medical needs. Because they're fostering, they receive some government assistance for food--could be food stamps or WIC, not sure. She went to the store to buy a few items including baby formula and she also picked up some organic apples while she was there. The cashier kept pointing out to her how expensive the organic apples are, just assuming since she was using assistance to pay for the formula, she shouldn't be buying the expensive apples. See, we don't always know the full story of someone's life just by seeing a snippet of their life.
edit to add: she was using cash to pay for her groceries that didn't fall under the WIC/food stamp program.
JanMichael
(24,891 posts)that thing must have been worth a fortune.
Sorry you had had such a long day that a woman with an OLD car should traumatize you so badly that you STILL write about it. I remember your original post on that one-
niyad
(113,576 posts)so what if she was in an OLD lexus? what, exactly, does that prove? and, just as a thought, did it ever occur to you that she MIGHT have been shopping for a friend who was unable to get to the store? we expect this stuff from the reichies. we do not expect to see it here on du.
Kali
(55,020 posts)
marmar
(77,091 posts)........ you have no idea how completely f**king stupid you are.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)
mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)because corporations and the wealthy NEVER abuse the system. Only poor people abuse the system.. blah, blah, blah.. same shit, different day.
OnionPatch
(6,169 posts)My family received food stamps for a few years when I was a teenager, after my father abandoned us. (Mom couldn't feed us on her full time minimum wage job alone.) We had to shop very, very carefully to make those food stamps last the month. Food stamp allowances have actually decreased since then, so I have a hard time believing people can afford to buy things like fresh crab legs with them. It's more like tuna (canned) and beans, not steak and lobster for most people who receive them.
Response to OnionPatch (Reply #32)
datasuspect This message was self-deleted by its author.
rurallib
(62,448 posts)he'll believe anything.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)why do you think that they are called FOOD stamps?
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)Paladin
(28,273 posts)Considering your head is never anywhere except up your ass?
Bon appetit, genius.
JohnnyRingo
(18,641 posts)I'm sure most of the people who voted for Gohmert have seen them drive a new STS to the store.
Sentath
(2,243 posts)Especially the older Cadillacs were Tanks! So an older, not quite broken down, 3rd or 4th hand car that will keep running with minimal and or shade tree service? Why not?
JohnnyRingo
(18,641 posts)...but it's the stereotype of someone "cashing in" on welfare that lives so vividly in the minds of conservatives. Many of them really do believe they could do better on "welfare", but they just choose to work because of their enormous pride.
I have to wonder how Gohmert, or his constituent, knows that person buying crab was using a SNAP card. Unless he was able to read fine print from where he was standing as she swiped the card, they look just like a debit card from any bank. I'm not even convinced Gohmert can read, and they don't say "Welfare Queen" in huge block letters.
That cartoon I posted is a parody, by the way.
AndyA
(16,993 posts)wears expensive designer fashions, lives in a huge house, and screws over the American people every chance they get.
What surprises me is I didn't realize so many Wall Streeters received food stamps!
There's who you should be going after, Gohmert...Wall Street. But, of course, they *own* your sorry @ss.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)
Quantess
(27,630 posts)I wish everyone made enough money to not need food stamps, but until that time comes, people need food stamps to survive.
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)just like the general population isn't.
if someone else is carrying your freight, it's just too bad if you don't want to hear criticisms about rampant fraud and abuse in public assistance programs.
the bottom line is this: if someone else is footing the bill, they get to chime in if they want to, regardless if the criticisms are unfounded, founded, sane, irrational, or otherwise.
don't like the criticisms, don't take the assistance.
and i get it, i get it - this is a strategy the 1% uses to pit the poor against the working poor and the barely getting by.
but lots of people who don't qualify for assistance could use a ton of help too - and it isn't forthcoming.
and those people have to drag their asses out of bed every day and bust said ass just to get some crumbs.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts) HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)GRAPES shouldn't be bought with food stamps because they are expensive???? Neither fruit nor seafood is junk food. Screw the cost if people are buying healthy food with food stamps.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)...and that's what crashed the economy.
booley
(3,855 posts)lets say that there are using food stamps to buy crab legs.
And it's not where sea food is unusually cheap because they live on a coast.
NOW, let me tell you my experience from working where we sell food and take food stamps. This isn't what i have heard. This is what I have SEEN with my own eyes.
No one buys crab legs or lobsters. of course we don't sell that at my store so that's a given. We do sell frozen shrimp. Though I have never actually seen anyone buy it with food stamps.
Some people do buy junk food with stamps. Cookies and candy and soda. The worst example I think I ever saw was one woman who bought generic orange soda and poured it into a bottle for her baby to drink.
The bulk of purchases however are things like bread, milk, baby food. One should also consider that my store sells more junk food then good, so even the bad examples may not represent as much of food stamp users as it appears.
In short, yes there are some who make choices we don't approve of with their food stamps. But we have to ask are these people enough reason to punish the ones who aren't?
Cuts to social programs are notorious for their bad aim. The one's who are buying milk are going suffer for these cuts in greater numbers then the ones buying candy and crab legs.
Initech
(100,104 posts) 
rrneck
(17,671 posts)Government grocery stores that sell only healthy sensible food necessary for life which will only take EBT cards as payment. Then deny the use of any public assistance at any private enterprise. But that would take a bite out of corporate sales wouldn't it? Much better to have government money find it's way to Albertsons and use peoples shopping choices as a wedge issue to find a way to funnel more government money into 1% pockets.
obama2terms
(563 posts)My brother worked for Kroger for 5 years and they had sea food, and also allow food stamps to be used. So I asked him, what were the most common things people buy with them? He said, milk, baby food, a lot of frozen food items ( I guess because they are cheaper), dented can goods, ramen noodles, and boxed meals ( like hamburger helper, mac and cheese etc.) I wish these fools would quit going after the working poor. Louie Gohmert knows nothing. If he was truly concerned, why not ask people that work or worked in grocery store like I did? That's where you would hear the truth.
MoreGOPoop
(417 posts)What will the majority of SNAP recipients (White) think of you when they find out you
want them to go hungry?
Do you get paid good money to throw this crap into the propaganda machine?
kurtharp
(18 posts)Louis is a complete tool but I do think changes are needed. I've seen folks purchase all manner of pre packaged/pre made/pre cooked foods, soda, Gatorade, chips, cookies and not a piece fruit, vegetables or fresh meats. Then I see the same person in a second order at that register purchase alcohol and smokes with cash. Why couldn't that person have purchased their own food with that cash instead of alcohol and smokes? I am all for helping those in need but I also think that Vision cards in Kansas (or whatever your state calls them) need to have the issued person's name on the card (selling them is a big market here) and ID checked when the card is used. The cards should be limited to fresh fruit, vegetables, meats (including lobster and King Crab), dairy products and baby foods/items.
In my position of public assistance I've seen many cards sold, loaned, traded for drugs/alcohol/sex, use the Vision card to purchase food and then use cash for drugs. I know it was a controversial topic here that Florida was drug testing those with public assistance but I can assure you, regular drug and alcohol use among my clients with public assistance or SSI/SSDI is common. I've seen this first hand.
I am ALL FOR a strong social safety net, I have worked with the poor or otherwise unable to take for themselves for most of my adult life. I also see on a regular basis that common sense changes MUST be made for the long term health of this safety net for those that truly need it.
datasuspect
(26,591 posts)good post.
mac56
(17,574 posts)Riiiiight. Every last one of them.
Your stance is unusual for one who works in a "position of public assistance."
(Which is code for "I call BS."
kurtharp
(18 posts)I did say that some people "job the system" This IS true, it happens. I DIDN'T say that they all do, not even half. I'm making an experienced guess that it's in the neighborhood of 25% to some degree or another. Let's say that I'm incorrect by 50%. If we could save 12.5% of the public assistance budget in Kansas and put that money toward those that need it (considering public assistance has taken a HUGE budget hit in recent years), that would be a help for those truly in need.
You said "Your stance is unusual for one who works in a "position of public assistance."
Apparently, you haven't worked in or have no friends that work with the poor and mentally ill for any length of time. The skin grows thick when it is experienced first hand.
mac56
(17,574 posts)Any "abuse" of public assistance I ever witnessed was so rare and so petty as to be laughable.
I have 12 years as a crisis case manager and supervisor in children's and adult's services in a CMHC and have worked with well over 600 clients and their families. Apparently you haven't been paying attention.
mac56
(17,574 posts)"Apparently you haven't been paying attention."
No, apparently you're ascribing to malice that which are adequately explained as innocent mistakes.
Add on edit: out of respect for your years working in "the system," I believe you'll agree the public assistance system is convoluted, bureaucratic, not user-friendly, and easy to make mistakes in.
kurtharp
(18 posts)selling, loaning or trading a benefit card, lying about number of folks in a house to obtain benefits, asking for attendant care (in case you don't have AC in your area, it's a good step below a case manager) when not medically necessary, asking for AC as a baby sitting service, refusing to take an offered job when available to keep benefits, lying about losing or having stolen meds (esp. benzos) that were paid for by the medical card only to sell those that were "lost", examples go on and on...
As a crisis case manager, I do all of my work in the homes and community and I see it, warts and all. Sometimes I see innocent mistakes, happens in a complex system that we work in. Sometimes I see effort to game the system and it isn't rare.
mac56
(17,574 posts)I will agree to disagree. Neither of us perceives what the other does.
Maybe it's the blind men and the elephant.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Odd that.... I worked at TX Dept of Child Safety and did pay attention, though my own conclusions seem dramatically different than yours.
However, I certainly realize the convenience of dismissing an argument that may not validate yours as merely "not paying attention" It's easy, and it's convenient. Though it is a logical fallacy, who really cares about logic, right?
kurtharp
(18 posts)Kansas has out fraud issues:
http://cjonline.com/news/2011-11-30/report-confirms-fraud-snap-program
http://www.kansas.com/2011/08/14/1973542/srs-cracking-down-on-fraud.html
Maybe Texas is just a better place.
http://www.kwtx.com/ourtown/communities/waco/headlines/209452741.html
http://www.kwkt.com/news/40-arrests-expected-waco-food-stamp-fraud-sting
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_and_trials/dozens-of-charges-expected-in-alleged-food-stamp-fraud-case/article_f706ac7d-1339-5fa9-bb8b-3c2959e3fab9.html
http://www.ktre.com/story/13855600/food-stamp-fraud
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRelease/2012/OCT2012/oct12mohamud_ali_food_stamp_fraud_plea.html
No, it isn't a better place, just different (although I do love the steaks at The Big Texan road house in Amarillo and the Dallas night life was great when I was single.) I think "not paying attention", "not noticing", whatever...fits. Fraud does happen and if we want to help ensure the long term survival of our social safety nets we can't have our collective heads in the sand.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)That means NO ONE uses them improperly.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/09/22/news/cops_and_courts/doc4e79fec4e6389300977669.txt
http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Police-and-federal-agents-raid-welfare-fraud-on-wheels-158028985.html
Why is everyone so freaking BINARY?
99% of benefits are used properly. 1% are not. Gomer the Pile wants to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Many people here want to counter that with La La La no such thing as SNAP abuse you are a liar who hates poor people.
Both positions are wrong.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)with rich farmers getting welfare(insurance subsidies,price assurances?)
you said,In my position of public assistance I've seen many cards sold, loaned, traded for drugs/alcohol/sex,
but those things are already illegal,right?
heck sharing food is illegal on food stamps,,,,how stupid is that
kurtharp
(18 posts)yes, I do have a problem with large corporate "farmers" having these subsidies, think Cargill and the like. When these types of public assistance were put in place a vast majority of farms were small, family owned..and they were going under at an alarming rate that put the country at risk of not being able to adequately feed itself .
"but those things are already illegal,right? "
yes, just like speeding and jay walking but it still goes on every day. A simple solution is to have the name on the card and the person needs to show some sort of ID to use the card. It's no different than when I use my debit card and I have to show my ID to use it.
"heck sharing food is illegal on food stamps,,,,how stupid is that"
I think you are confused. Right from the http://www.nlsa.us/resources/benefits/pb7_food_stamps_overview.html
People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a "household" even if they are not related. There can be one or more separate food stamp households in a residence. Some household members (spouses and most children under age 22) must be included in the same household.
Here are some examples:
Judy and her two children share a house with Karen and her daughter. They prepare meals and eat separately. They are not related. Judy (and her two children) and Karen (and her daughter) are two separate households.
Ken and Susan share an apartment with Susan's friend Lynne and her two daughters. They all eat together. All five people are one food stamp household.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)"but those things are already illegal,right? "
yes, just like speeding and jay walking but it still goes on every day. A simple solution is to have the name on the card and the person needs to show some sort of ID to use the card. It's no different than when I use my debit card and I have to show my ID to use it.
////////////////
see my age is showing i guess,i was taught as an American citizen we are all "innocent until proven guilty",that until we do something that is wrong that people can tell is wrong from our public life,we are not to be penalized by our gov't
i have never had to show id to use my debit card but maybe i look more trustworthy than you.'.jkjk
/////////////////
Judy and her two children share a house with Karen and her daughter. They prepare meals and eat separately. They are not related. Judy (and her two children) and Karen (and her daughter) are two separate households.
////////////
as i said,stupid,judy and karen's food would go alot farther if judy could buy a bag of beans,karen buy the rice,judy adds a can of tomatoes and judy adds a (way to expensive for poor peops ) fresh pepper
/////////////////////////////////
as to the family farm thing,i live in the middle of farm country,most farmers that have survived inherited thousands of acres simply because their greats got here first and i still would not begrudge them their "welfare" as long as the same bill feeds the poor kids
//////////////////
so while we agree on some things i do not think that poor peops liberties should be infringed upon simply because they are poor and someone poor somewhr misused the system
//////////////////////////
i think food stamps should be expanded to all but the 1% because for every dollar spent on food stamps $1.79 is added to the GDP
kurtharp
(18 posts)i have never had to show id to use my debit card but maybe i look more trustworthy than you
Nothing to do with innocence or guilt, all to do with being sure the person given the benefits is the person using the benefits. The law was recently changed, any retailer can ask to see ID when doing a credit/debit card transaction...it used to be illegal. I think you're confused, it's not your age that is showing.
as i said,stupid,judy and karen's food would go alot farther if judy could buy a bag of beans,karen buy the rice,judy adds a can of tomatoes and judy adds a (way to expensive for poor peops ) fresh pepper
I agree but when you become frustrated because you clearly misunderstand what is being said you resort to name calling? Classy. I'm guessing you aren't so brave in person. I thought I would see a higher level of discussion here. Guess not. This wasn't my example, it was from the quoted website. Put your glasses on. I quoted all examples from the website for completeness so it wouldn't look like I was cherry picking my information.
as to the family farm thing,i live in the middle of farm country,most farmers that have survived inherited thousands of acres simply because their greats got here first and i still would not begrudge them their "welfare" as long as the same bill feeds the poor kids
I live outside of Topeka, KS and YOU life in farm country? Anyway, I guess we will have to disagree. Smallish co-op farms I do feel need some help at times but the "thousands of acres" farms you describe, they are often 6 and 7 figure businesses. They're just fine.
so while we agree on some things i do not think that poor peops liberties should be infringed upon simply because they are poor and someone poor somewhr misused the system
Please give examples, what liberties have I suggested be infringed? Is it a constitutional liberty to NOT have your name on a Vision (food assistance) card that was assigned to you to prove that YOU are the one entitled to that assistance? Is it a liberty to NOT have to show an ID when using said assistance card? Is it an infringement to privacy? If so, why is it okay to have my name on MY driver's license, passport, etc. ? These are government issued cards that are assigned to be used by a specific person.
There are no liberties being infringed. There would be no violations of privacy. These are reasonable suggestions to spend the money of the citizens of this country in the most responsible way possible.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)Nothing to do with innocence or guilt, all to do with being sure the person given the benefits is the person using the benefits.
this is the same kind of logic used for voter ID laws that are designed to disenfranchise thousand,maybe millions,another hoop to jump thru wether you have been accused of wrong doing or not
i didn't call you stupid,i repeated that the law was stupid.....and yes i would say the same in life
i would give the big farms their "welfare" because the 99% ALWAYS have to give something to get anything from the 1%
kurtharp
(18 posts)ID for voting is wrong. The intention of voter ID laws it to restrict voting RIGHTS before that right has been exercised. It is designed to discourage folks from exercising their rights.
Having a name on a benefit card and needing to show ID is different because public assistance programs aren't rights related, that's why one has to apply for benefits. Having a name on a card and needing to show ID takes place AFTER benefits have been approved.
It would simple validate that the person who has applied and was approved for the state benefits is the person using those benefits.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)Take it from this single mom: when your resources are limited and you have hungry bellies to feed, you're going to stretch those resources as far as they can go.
Gatorade is .99 in a lot of places. Mac N Cheese and processed crap is also cheap.
Unhealthy as all hell, yes, but you can buy more of it to feed your hungry children more often.
Logical? No, not in the least.
And how many inner-city grocery stores even carry organic fruits/veggies, or how many of those folks know that oftentimes Farmer's Market vendors accept SNAP?
When your 6 year old says she's hungry, you try to explain to her that the veggie salad she had for dinner last night was healthy & really expensive so she doesn't get dinner tonight. Good luck with that.
As far as the swapping for alcohol, cash etc goes ... people do what people gotta do, and there are always other people around willing to take advantage of that and offer to 'make them a deal'. That's human nature.
I thought you said you worked with people?
kurtharp
(18 posts)I didn't say ANYTHING about organic food. I go to Aldi and I can get 3 peaches for the price of a box of mac-n-cheese, I can get a pound of strawberries for the price of mac-n-cheese. I have the ad sitting on my desk next to me right now!
I have had families in the past ask for food/electric/gas/heating/car insurance assistance. They always get pissed when I suggest, you know, shutting off the cable TV (I have no cable, can't afford it), drinking water from the tap instead of purchasing Gatorade, having a garage sale to raise money, selling something on Ebay, shopping at thrift stores, using coupons, living on less than you make. I do understand that being a single parent if extra difficult.
As far as the swapping for alcohol, cash etc goes ... people do what people gotta do, and there are always other people around willing to take advantage of that and offer to 'make them a deal'. That's human nature.
Yep, and people rob banks and liquor stores because "you gotta do what you gotta do". You act as if "you gotta do what you gotta do" makes it okay to commit fraud. It doesn't.
By the way, your veggie salad for you and your 6 year old daughter? On sale this week at HyVee for 0.69, house brand ranch dressing on sale at Kroger for 0.99, house brand cheese on sale for 0.99, chicken breast on sale for 4.99 for 3 lbs. Purchase all of that (including 2 bags of lettuce) plus 3 house cans of veggies and you eat dinner for 7 days. (0.69*2 + 0.99 + 0.99 + 4.99 + 0.5*3 = 9.85). Thats Chef salad (3 oz of chicken each) on Monday and Wednesday, baked chicken (6 oz each) and mixed veggie on Tuesday and Friday, (2 1/2 cup servings total), grilled chicken with small salad and vegetables on Thursday and Sunday. On Saturday night, for a girl's night, get a McChicken sandwich each and an ice cream cone each from the McDonald's dollar menu (total about $4.50 including tax) and take it to the park to play. There, you now have dinner for the entire week that is fairly healthy for less than about 15 bucks. The medical card and food stamps are supposed to be there to assist the family, not to replace the parent's responsibility to supply for the family.
I do work with people and I'm pretty good at what I do. Don't confuse being solution oriented with being cold hearted. ALL of the things I suggested above, I do myself with my family. I haven't had cable TV in years. I have a STACK of coupons on my desk in front of me right now with area food ads. I drive at 55 on the highway to conserve gas (drives those passing me crazy but I don't care). We shop at the good will store for many of our clothes including my work clothes and my 6 year old son's school shoes. If I can do this then you can too. If it still isn't enough then THAT"S why we have a social safety net. It's a net for when people fall, not a warm blanket to get comfortable in and fall asleep. It was NEVER meant to be a long term solution.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)
But seriously, good luck and blessings for trying to help people in hard circumstances.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of binary "all or nothing" thinking in this world that it gets in the way of productive solutions.
Response to Myrina (Reply #96)
Name removed Message auto-removed
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)were included in place of candy and junk food.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Especially in the city without a car. Also no one should be denied use of their EBT card because they can't afford to replace a lost ID card.
It's not a perfect system, but frankly, there is more harm done to our economy and our society with farm subsidies ( how many congress people get that subsidy?) then from poor people buying food that some people think they shouldn't.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)but most peops that use them spend more going store to store than they save,like you said it is not an option w/o a car
10 billion a year is the known nsa budget,those are the IDs i would like to see..lol
kurtharp
(18 posts)that if a person doesn't have a car it makes things much more difficult. in my area mental health center we at times give taxi vouchers, public transportation offers steep discounts for those with disabilities. All I'm saying that if there's a will, there's a way. It is easy to look for the negative and tell us why not.
Yesterday I did one of my deals that drives my wife crazy (in a good and bad way). I spent an hour (30 minutes driving) going to 4 different Walgreen's stores. the deal was on 6 packs of Dial soap. They were buy one, get one free. I had coupons for buy 2 get one free. I was able to get 168 bars of soap for 20 bucks. That is a fantastic deal and I won't have to buy soap for the family for 3 years (assuming 1 bar per week for 52 weeks for 3 years = 156 bars of soap). Including gasoline, I spent less than 25 bucks for soap for 3 years.
I haven't paid for toothpaste in two years. I haven't paid more than 3 dollars for a 12 pack of toilet paper in years. I bought 40 Knorr pasta side dishes for 10 cents each. One time I got 40 tuna foil packs for free. FREE! I'm not one of those extreme couponers you see on TV, that's all for show and those folks will buy anything that's cheap. I only buy what is needed and I stock up heavily when I see a sale that I have coupons for. In this way I beat inflation AND stock up for lean times. By lean times I mean like now. My wife has a seizure disorder and doesn't drive. It's all on me. We have a limited budget (social worker and librarian) so we can't waste anything. so when I start to get down and start to focus on why not, my wife reminds me of Why Not?
I would love to stay on this thread longe but I have been neglecting my garden and I need to check on the peach trees - looks like I might have Japanese Beatles, Grr.
questionseverything
(9,660 posts)that every person on food stamps should be penalized because some take advantage of the system broke my heart
but thinking about your job and how you see the worst of the worst at least lets me understand how you became so jaded
i think you said 600 families in 12 years,,,50 families a year then and all with severe problems..or they would not have you,correct?
AND HERE IS THE THING,EVEN IF HALF OF YOUR 50 FAMILIES A YEAR DO SOMETHING AWFUL(LIKE HAVING CABLE/)
do we just starve them?
also you never addressed that fact that food stamps are one of the very BEST things we can do for the GDP
for the beetles try a #10 can of soapy water underneath the tree,they are drawn to it and can not fly out afterwards or buy a commercial beetle trap but replace the small catch container with a garbage bag(i saved my fruit trees this way a few years ago)
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)and not once have I been asked for ID. My "pay as you go" card has my name on it, No requests for ID. My bank debt card has my name on it, 3 requests in 16 years.
I have held out my ID to clerks to check without being asked; and been blankly stared at.
JanMichael
(24,891 posts)and cook a meal. So the poor should not be able to have convenience food? Don't tell me about crock pots either...they cost money, as do microwaves.
You just want to tighten the noose more, and frankly, when you do...the only people are going to have left is the self medication of alcohol, tobacco, or whatever else they can get their hands on.
niyad
(113,576 posts)eat, just because they need assistance? the fact that this mentality is presenting itself on what is supposed to be a progressive board is beyond disgusting.
spanone
(135,880 posts)
Buns_of_Fire
(17,197 posts)
appleannie1
(5,069 posts)cake and ice cream. Just because a child is poor does not mean it can't have a treat for a special occasion. Buying those things means they really have to skimp on meals and sometimes go without for the rest of the week. Bottom line is it is their choice not the business of the food police.
malokvale77
(4,879 posts)and his ilk start worrying about banks, corporations and elected officials stealing my money, I'll start worrying about poor people eating nutritious food. What a pile of bullshit.
dawg
(10,624 posts)In a country of 300 million people, some idiot is eventually going to buy king crab legs with their ebt card. And they'll go hungry later in the month as a result.
Or, maybe they scrimped and saved for months and months and just landed a great new job and had money left on the card. Who knows?
But SNAP is not overly generous. It barely provides enough for basic nutrition. We need to stop allowing people to pull these stories out of their nether regions in order to justify their greedy attempts to further afflict those who are already struggling.
I wish the government would raise all our taxes by the amount of a monthly SNAP benefit and immediately refund the money back to us on ebt cards. Then we would all be the same, and no one would be able to point fingers and look down on others just because they needed some help that month.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)If they're willing to swap a month's worth of food for 1 meal's worth, that's on them.
Just because folks are poor & on assistance, they should only be able to eat baloney sandwiches & generic mac n' cheese??
We can't legislate HOW people spend their 'money' - if that were the case, think of what we could tell corporations to do with all of the tax incentives and welfare benefits THEY get.
mac56
(17,574 posts)to conform to all these posters' stereotypes?! Sackcloth and ashes, because it's all they deserve?!
in case it's necessary
n/t
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)While they loll around the mansion counting the silver and diamond tiaras?
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)
DinahMoeHum
(21,809 posts). . .odds are, the bad boys of the Bering Sea (aka "Deadliest Catch" would tie him to a line attached to a crab pot and launch them into the drink.
Better yet, they'd stuff him into the crab pot itself, along with the gutted fish for bait and launch him overboard. Those crabs are like piranhas when it comes to gutted cod or salmon.
Johonny
(20,889 posts)we must punish the million that benefit from it. That is brilliant logic. The needs of the few out weigh the needs of the many which is of course the Republicans whole message. Sacrifice and tighten your boot straps more so a few billionaires can live a little better, meanwhile you should feel good about doing it because you screwed someone poorer than you. The race to the bottom...
mac56
(17,574 posts)
Generic Brad
(14,275 posts)The misconceptions about welfare and food stamps recipients are beyond belief. Those perceptions are clearly rooted in racism and hate. I am disgusted by people who think that welfare recipients live high off the hog. I am even more disgusted by critics who believe food stamp recipients should be able to only buy gruel.
Beacool
(30,253 posts)Yeah, I'm sure everybody on food stamps is running out to buy Alaskan king crab legs.
What an insensitive, moron.........
Lobo27
(753 posts)But the people of my state are also the idiots who got him elected... I yearn for the days Texas goes blue, hell even pruple. One can dream!!!
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)You have to be careful what you say around him. He might think you're serious.
The Wizard
(12,549 posts)The Wizard
(12,549 posts)
muntrv
(14,505 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)niyad
(113,576 posts)
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)A single person gets $200 a month.
A Couple gets $350
With kids a person gets so much per child.
And that is for 1 month. You only get the SNAPS re-charged one time a month. So if you break down the allotment you are looking at $6.50 a day for you to brake down between 3 meals. An that is just for a single.
So please tell me HOW one can buy Crab legs and eat for the rest of the month?
midnight
(26,624 posts)
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)they guy just made the whole story up. Where's the proof? Remember how the ReThugs checked to see how much Al Gore's mother paid for the dogs prescription and found it to be untrue? Someone should do the same for Gohmert's comment.
Two bits he was lying! Betcha $10,000!
rks306
(116 posts)This man is a pure idoit. The other day he say that somebody use his food stamp card to bail himself out of jail.
politicat
(9,808 posts)About 20 years ago now. I bought a Prime rib with stamps.
So I had an agreement with a friend who had family money. I was in grad school, couldn't afford to breathe (because I could not afford to get a virus) so TP and soap and tampons were NOT in my budget. My scholarship (which included a housing stipend that barely covered 9 months of rent) and food stamps was the entirety of my income, and between my 20 hours a week of work study and my class load, there was no time for a job, too. I was lucky to have stamps, and really happy to have them. Most of the time, I was living on eggs, bread-machine bread, apples, oranges, lettuce and Everlasting soup made primarily with beans, onions and random cheap vegetables.
My friend would buy me the hygiene necessities with her cash, I'd buy part of her groceries. It was always an equal exchange, we never made money off of each other. And yes, tampons and soap are as important as food.
But then there was this time that she really wanted to try to make something called a Shooter's wedge (which is a type of roast beef sandwich) which required prime rib.
That's what she had on her grocery list, so that's what I bought for her that month. (Iirc, that was shortly after the Oprah-beef beef, so beef prices were depressed, which is why I think we got it for somewhere around $2.00 a pound. And why she considered making it at all.)
Yes, she shared. It was a nice sandwich. Prime rib gets really boring after about 15 straight meals of it.
blogslut
(38,017 posts)Fraud. I should be in jail.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)NOBODY uses SNAP benefits improperly. Because if one person used them improperly, that would mean everyone was using them improperly. And thus, since there are people using them properly, that makes EBT fraud and poor food choices an urban legend.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)from an alien planet.
Rain Mcloud
(812 posts)but when JP Dimon and Loyd Blankfish,Bob Putz and Warren Buffet eat seafood then it is not evil.
Jesus is spinning and spitting up pea soup in his otherwordly mansion that we built for him by clipping coupons and supporting the war.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)Cutting food stamps is despicable, and the Democrats want to cut them just as much as Republicans do - the Senate overwhelmingly voted to cut them in the Senate version of the bill.
alp227
(32,056 posts)Other people or institutions using public money are bound by rules with such money. Why not welfare programs as well?
Buns_of_Fire
(17,197 posts)Obviously beer and ciggybutts are out. At least in Virginia, so are paper products (like toilet paper and paper towels). The general rule-of-thumb here is that if it's edible, it's eligible.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)buy to eat, since my source of income and health insurance comes from "public funding," too.
alp227
(32,056 posts)But if people in hard times are getting public money earmarked specifically food aid, the money has got to go to healthy food, shouldn't it?
forestpath
(3,102 posts)includes the right to make their own food decisions.
alp227
(32,056 posts)forestpath
(3,102 posts)sickening when Democrats do it as when Republicans do it.
niyad
(113,576 posts)subsidizing the most profitable industries in the world.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)Where do you draw the line? Should we include whole milk? How about butter? What about cereal- what's the cut-off point for the amount of sugar you will allow in cereal? Red meat isn't particularly healthy- maybe we should ban that. I'll never understand why anybody would concern himself with what poor people choose to buy with their food stamps. And by the way, they're our tax dollars, not yours. We all pay taxes.
alp227
(32,056 posts)That philosophy apparently does not extend to poor people on food stamps, however.
Emanuel signed a letter along with 17 other mayors urging Congress to look at limiting the ability of those receiving aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy soda.
The mayors suggested the food stamp program “can do more to address the pressing challenge of obesity and diet-related disease.”
“It is time to test and evaluate approaches limiting SNAP’s subsidization of products, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, that are contributing to obesity,” states the June 18 letter to Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The letter’s main thrust was to ask the House not to make cuts to the food stamp program, and a version of the farm bill that would have done just that was defeated Thursday.
Emanuel’s decision to join New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and others asking for federal government control of what food stamp recipients can buy contrasts with his stance on Chicagoans’ access to sugary pop.
Don't you think it's a bad idea for public money to be able to subsidize unhealthy food that'll end up putting MORE strain on the health system?
DLevine
(1,788 posts)If you want to ban unhealthy food for poor folks (and again, where do we draw the line), then you better ban it for everybody. Let's not make special rules for poor people. Poor people are not the reason this country is so messed up. Let's focus on the 1% who are destroying us. And if you want, we can start with their eating habits, & work our way down.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)Akoto
(4,267 posts)Other people or institutions using public money are not on programs intended for the poor or disabled. When they receive funding, they should not be made to feel dehumanized and judged simply because they were unfortunate enough to need the government's help. Being poor enough to need EBT sucks. Being disabled sucks. If we want a bag of cookies, let us have a bag of damned cookies, because odds are everything else in our life is miserable.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,197 posts)
I'm not qualified to be -- nor is ANY congresscritter qualified to be -- anyone's food nanny.
niyad
(113,576 posts)so it is their money, as well.
trixicopper
(62 posts)a lot of people who receive EBT benefits ARE working AND paying taxes?
niyad
(113,576 posts)Incitatus
(5,317 posts)you are probably doing something wrong.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,197 posts)Gomer gets 174 large (plus perks) per year. Sombitch doesn't look underfed to ME. 
Incitatus
(5,317 posts)And if he said that, he's full of shit. He certainly isn't underfed.
lob1
(3,820 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)What's wrong with people on food stamps buying them? I'm sure everyone involved in the king crab industry appreciates it. It's legal. I have a much bigger problem with people who get all offended by poor folks having something good to eat. Shit, if those hypocrites had their way, food stamps would only pay for stale bread and water...maybe not the water.
texanwitch
(18,705 posts)He doesn't have a car and grocery shopping is hard on the bus.
He buys most of his food at this time.
My friend gets $200 a month.
I know what he buys, he makes that money go a long way.
He found a package of t-bones for $6, this was a must sell by date item.
That is a great deal, the t-bones were good size.
That is 3 meals for him.
My fiend as the right to a t-bone steak everyone once in a while.
I know someone who works at a grocery store.
She told me a lot of people are using the Lone Star card now.
The money goes back into the system.
niyad
(113,576 posts)assistance actually benefits the local economy by three dollars (or something very close)
texanwitch
(18,705 posts)It would be interesting to find out how much is being spent at grocery store.
