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I think the problem many have with welfare and food stamps is the fact that a large number of people make welfare and food stamps a lifestyle and simply refuse to take any responsibility for themselves. I know it really bothers me. I don't think anyone should be forced to starve or live in the street but it's frustrating to see people rely on these programs year after year while spending the money they do have on bling, alcohol, fast food, weed, cell phones, etc....
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The time to deal with the "lifestyle" issue you refer to is when the job market is in good shape. When unemployment is high and the economy is poor, it is not the time to question motives of those less fortunate.
The reality is there are people who want jobs, can't get one, and have a family to feed.
When you have 44 million Americans living below the poverty line, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that in the middle of this recession 40 million of those are taking advantage of a programs that was designed to give them aid!
The problem is when welfare becomes an entitlement.
Awhile back, there was a thread about food stamps being used to purchase lobster.
Amazing that nearly half the respondents saw nothing wrong and stated poor people on welfare are entitled to enjoy some luxuries now and then.
Yes I totally believe it. Especially after the start of each month I notice the majority of people at the store are swiping their food stamps card. I believe they pushed as many people as they can onto the program in exchange for votes. I never hear any politicians, even the most conservative republicans, say anything about cutting food stamps. The voting block has become too massive. I feel the real victims are members the working class who do not quite qualify for food stamps, they have to watch every dollar (and may actually go hungry on occasion) while others get to fill their shopping cart to the brim with free food.
I would guess the junk food lobby would be very defensive of keeping the food stamp program large and ever growing as I notice food stamp card swipers (on average) buy the most junk food of anyone. Why does the N in SNAP stand for nutrition if the most unhealthy, least nutritious food is covered?
It appears to me that many of the states with high percentages of people using food stamps are in what most would be considered conservative states. I guess Oregon and Washington would be exceptions to that statement.
New York and California don't use as much as I thought they would. California has a high percentage in the central part of the state but that's an area that is primarily conservative.
Most of us on here, are somewhat intelligent! we know the answers and we know why this happens, do we not. We also know who is responsible for wanting this to happen do we not! No surprise to a lot of us why this continues to happen. There are some who are highly deserving of this, and some who take and bleed the system dry, lazy bones who want, but don't want to contribute.
As a prior food stamp recipient, I can tell you that the rules for food stamps have not really changed, other than the amount of income allowed, in 30-40 years.
I'm glad my tax dollars were of service to those who were in a time of need and point a finger of shame to those who used this service in the name of greed!
I want to make a general comment here--I really don't understand this anger toward people who need help. Why do you assume that everyone who needs food stamps, unemployment or welfare is lazy?
Well, they're not all lazy, but there's plenty of reasons to be wary....
September 28, 2010
Two narcotics investigations by several law enforcement agencies led to the arrests of nearly 100 people, including drug-dealing suspects in Evanston accused of using Link cards to buy narcotics instead of groceries.
Operation Hard Swipe started in April and targeted people in Evanston and Rogers Park whom authorities accused of selling drugs and funneling money to street gangs. As an example, authorities cited how a convenience store owner may pretend to sell a "customer" $100 worth of groceries, paid for with a Link card, but actually may give the person crack cocaine and $20. The owner then could keep the remaining money, defrauding taxpayers. Link cards are state-issued debit cards for food stamp recipients.
It appears to me that many of the states with high percentages of people using food stamps are in what most would be considered conservative states. I guess Oregon and Washington would be exceptions to that statement.
New York and California don't use as much as I thought they would. California has a high percentage in the central part of the state but that's an area that is primarily conservative.
If you examine it by voting district you will find that food stamp users (and welfare recipiants in general) who live in conservative states generally vote Democrat. The major difference is voting patterns of NON welfare recipiants in blue and red areas. In red states, the middle class and affluent vote Republican in huge numbers While in blue states. many of the rich vote Democrat, often over cultural issues.
When I mentioned this in another thread someone told me to "try again". But then someone posted a graph of voing results from each county in the (very red) state of Mississippi. Every county with average or above income votes Republican while every county in deep poverty votes Democrat. So while liberals like to imagine it's conservatives in those "backwards" red states getting all those handouts, it's actually their own party members trying to vote themselves a raise.
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Interactive Food Stamp Map
