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My mother, who is on SSDI and food stamps, gets $60/month.
Would you like to peruse her shopping cart? In fact, since you seem to know the intimate shopping habits of those around you (or at least the ones on food stamps), may I assume that you work in a grocery store?
Nothing peeves me more than the self-righteous who love to gawk and pass judgment based on the exception rather than the norm.
This thread makes me feel awful.
You are so right - the assistance for one person is so pitiful - it may supplement a bit, but it sure won't mean someone can survive off it.
I donate to food banks here in my region. The working poor, the elderly, the handicapped . . . people are going hungry.
Yes, there are folks that abuse the system - and we have doubtless all seen these fools. But for the majority of folks on food stamps, it is just a small amount of money and isn't gonna get anyone very far.
If you have children, of course you will get more money. And I am also sure there are people who are ignorant about how to spend it wisely, cook from scratch, etc.
But for those people who genuinely need assistance . . . they won't be eating lobster and steak every day. They will be lucky to have enuff to see that every family member even GETS a decent meal - ONE decent meal - every day.
In our state they revamped the food stamp program this year, giving it a new name and increasing the benefits paid out.
I have no problem supplementing the pantrys of low-income workers and their children. I do have a problem with people who abuse the system and there are plenty of those folks around. For example, I have an acquaintance who is young and healthy. She chooses to work a 25-hour a week job in food service even though she's been offered a 40-hour a week job as an LPN. Her reason? She would lose her food stamp benefit and other welfare she receives.
Also, I've noticed that people on food stamps tend to pile processed, unhealthy foods into their carts. When I was growing up we were poor, but never on food stamps. My mom would buy pantry staples like pasta, beans, rice, canned tomatoes, vegetables, etc. and work hard to create healthy, cheap meals. When she did buy prepared food is was always something like Dinty Moore Stew, which she served over buttered noodles (cheap, but relatively healthy).
When I donate to the local foodshelf, I always give healthy foods like whole grain pasta, all-natural pasta sauce, bags of rice, etc. so the kids who receive the food will have a nutritious meal.
I have no problem supplementing the pantrys of low-income workers and their children. I do have a problem with people who abuse the system and there are plenty of those folks around. For example, I have an acquaintance who is young and healthy. She chooses to work a 25-hour a week job in food service even though she's been offered a 40-hour a week job as an LPN. Her reason? She would lose her food stamp benefit and other welfare she receives.
While that does happen A LOT and I don't know your acquaintance personally it's really not that black and white. I had a friend who was in this grey area for almost two years. She was offered a full-time job but couldn't take it because she would have lost the medical coverage for her younger sister and her full-time salary didn't pay enough for her to cover her sister through her employer. Plus she would have lost her daycare benefits.
I'm not saying people don't abuse the system - I know it happens - I'm in favor of reform because I feel that the system helps the wrong people while crippling those who actually want to do better.
.... something like Dinty Moore Stew, which she served over buttered noodles (cheap, but relatively healthy).
What part of that meal would you consider "relatively healthy"? (Not picking on you, but Dinty Moore Beef Stew is one of the WORST foods as far as it's fat and sodium content, and when coupled with buttered noodles... I just don't see the healthy component there....)
Generalizations are stupid. If everything you say is a generalization than you are probably stupid.
Does anyone really believe that most people on food stamps are overweight and fill up two carts with nothing but junk food every week?
In the words of Forrest Gump “Stupid is as stupid does”
No you are being nasty.
You say generalizations are stupid but did just that. You cant prove that most on food stamps arent over weight or that they dont fill up their cart with nothing but junk food.
So if you wanna be real practice what you preach before you try and correct someone else
While that does happen A LOT and I don't know your acquaintance personally it's really not that black and white. I had a friend who was in this grey area for almost two years. She was offered a full-time job but couldn't take it because she would have lost the medical coverage for her younger sister and her full-time salary didn't pay enough for her to cover her sister through her employer. Plus she would have lost her daycare benefits.
I'm not saying people don't abuse the system - I know it happens - I'm in favor of reform because I feel that the system helps the wrong people while crippling those who actually want to do better.
Now on that we can agree
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(Not picking on you, but Dinty Moore Beef Stew is one of the WORST foods as far as it's fat and sodium content, and when coupled with buttered noodles... I just don't see the healthy component there....)
