Should there be tighter restrictions on what can be purchased using food stamps?

[T77911S]

when we fostered kids they would be on wic/wik (like food stamps). we usually did kids under 4 or 5. what we could get was restricted but not in a good way. there were times we could only get formula for a baby that was no longer on formula, or we could get boxes and boxes of cereal for kids that could not eat it. same thing with milk. we had more milk than the entire family could drink. but then we could not get the things the kid actually needed or ate.

[Hugh R]

A few years ago, the liberal LA Times did a story on this, they found California-issued EBT cards used for the cash portion of the monthly allotment on cruise ships, in Las Vegas, in Hawaii,etc. I agree should be limited duration.

I think, but i don't know for sure that the cash portion of the monthly allotment is what is used at McD's, BK, 7-11,etc.

In CA at least the EBT card is divided into a cash portion and a portion for approved items, like bulk and fresh foods. IIRC a cooked chicken at Safeway is a no, but a frozen pizza is OK.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

The problem with the first Lady's program is that it didn't distiguish between a 90 lb seventh grade girl, and a starting senior lineman on the football team, they both got the same amount of food on the plate, and then it was probably good for them, but not necesarily good to eat.

I can't survive on tuna pitas, carrott sticks, and a 1/2 pint of milk like the designers of the school program (thin, health conscous, women), and I don't expect poor/underpriveleged people to have to eat that stuff in small quantities either.

There is plenty of good food to fix in a grocery store without allowing them to buy chips, cookies, and other sugary, fattening things on the government's (our) dollars.

Not to mention that the foods chosen are, put in kid's terms, gross.

Tangential conversation, but school lunches aren't the reasons kids are fat. Lazy kids are the reason why kids are fat. Lazy parents are the reason why kids are fat. Cutting PE in schools to try to increase standardized test scores and therefore government funding is the reason kids are fat. Not the single slice of pizza that they served when I was a kid.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by widebody911

So the bleeding heart liberals secretly own the big corporations that lobbied for universal EBT acceptance?

No, I'm saying that the Liberal government sluts don't care if big business takes their share, so long as their share is administered by Liberal government sluts.

That is exactly what is going on. Why are you too dim to see it?

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Not to mention that the foods chosen are, put in kid's terms, gross.

This concept is foreign to me, as I did not grow up in a foodocracy. When food was put on the table, you ate it. You didn't get up from the table until you did so. There was no debate, no bargaining, no quid pro quo. You couldn't play the "I'm not hungry" card and walking away. None of this "if you eat your green beans you can have some candy" bull5hit.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Not to mention that the foods chosen are, put in kid's terms, gross.

Tangential conversation, but school lunches aren't the reasons kids are fat. Lazy kids are the reason why kids are fat. Lazy parents are the reason why kids are fat. Cutting PE in schools to try to increase standardized test scores and therefore government funding is the reason kids are fat. Not the single slice of pizza that they served when I was a kid.

whether you intend it or not everything you do with kids teaches them something.

feeding them **** teaches them to eat ****.

there is no excuse for our schools to be serving anything other than wholesome, healthy meals and not a bunch of processed crap.

[Tobra]

Wow, did not take long for the mud to start flying around, imagine that.

I was eligible for food stamps when I was in college and in the Navy. I never got them, but was pretty surprised when my shipmates told me about it.

We have the fattest "poor" people that have ever existed on the planet. Fat people that have crappy eating habits have fat kids with crappy eating habits, SHOCKER

Originally Posted by berettafan

unfortunately you are correct.

I disagree, but that is a subject for another thread in the dungeon.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Tobra

We have the fattest "poor" people that have ever existed on the planet. Fat people that have crappy eating habits have fat kids with crappy eating habits, SHOCKER

it's called a cycle. They self-perpetuate without outside influence.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

We have the fattest "poor" people that have ever existed on the planet. Fat people that have crappy eating habits have fat kids with crappy eating habits, SHOCKER

On that note, why is it you can get a burger for $1, but it's $6 for a salad?

[rusnak]

I bought a retail operation, and I don't know yet if we will be taking EBT.

It's a franchise, but the very thought of shlepping out fatty burgers for EBT sort of makes me feel ill.

For one, it is not profitable for us. As another, only EBT people will buy the crappiest food. It really is a vicious cycle.

I am looking high and low to make the discretionary portion of my inventory count. I am able to buy fresh produce direct from the farm, for one, and I am talking to local producers of gourmet restaurant food (lobster ravioli and chocolate truffles) to speak to the high end customers.

The low end customers get the crap because they accept it, and that is all that government is good at providing. Those who want more achieve more eventually.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Meh, I don't begrudge a kid a birthday party.

We were not always comfortable but my parents did what they could to not punish us for it.

Almost feels like you are a bit bitter that maybe your parents didn't work hard enough so you could have had a birthday party.

I don't begrudge anyone anything they can purchase with their own money. In fact, I don't really begrudge anyone taking the social welfare if they do it according to the rules. What I do not like is having a social welfare system that is so generous that it allows people to have "spending money" to buy luxuries with cash. In the end, it creates a culture of dependency.

Parents not giving children something the family cannot afford is not punishment, but rather, a lesson in reality.

My parents worked very hard, but maybe not too smart (and it didn't help that my father was disabled at a young age). They deserved everything they got...and didn't get. They did not ask anyone for assistance.

I am not bitter that I never had a birthday party. I learned very young that if I wanted things like that for my children, I would have to work smarter and harder than my parents.

[berettafan]

Tobra I do recognize that I'm in the minority as a conservative on the school lunch issue. I am baffled by it but think it's one of those things that doesn't have to be ugly.

Rusnak it's not just a matter of accepting crap processed foods. IMO and experience they are an addictive substance that once given in to is very, very hard to get away from. Our bodies adjust to crap food and after not very long will DEMAND it. Talk to a gym rat and see what he/she says about this sort of food. it is diabolical how strong a pull it exerts on us and it is a very difficult cycle to break.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

people love to worry that poor people might be getting something we don't think they deserve.

We were real poor when I was in elementary school. I remember being with my mom getting groceries, and her cashing her assistance cheque at the checkout. The lady made a snide comment about the cake and chips and pop... "must be nice" or something like that. My mom cried on the way home, then I had my birthday party.

People need to get a life. Way easier to judge and criticize than it is to help or even show empathy.

Thanks.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

...

Fint was the one who passed judgment on notfarnows mothers decision to forego some other staple in order to give him at least one good day.

It's not the same as buying cakes, cookies, chips, smokes, and booze every trip.

Knowing how selfless moms tend to be she very likely gave up something she needed in order to give him a party.

Actually, I was passing judgment on his attempt to shame the folks that disagreed with him and the current USDA food stamp program by using a "mean" person who did not approve of his mother's using them while buying luxuries with cash as an example...and her subsequent tears.

I give her credit for being saddened regarding her circumstances and I suspect she vowed that her children would not end up in the same situation...and did everything she could to prevent that just as my parents did.

The fact that his mother was ashamed to use food stamps was a normal reaction and the very reason that many eligible folks never received them and redoubled their efforts to pull themselves out of poverty. The current program, SNAP, intentionally hides the fact that the user is receiving assistance to "preserve self esteem". That is why the rolls keep expanding.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Our bodies adjust to crap food and after not very long will DEMAND it. Talk to a gym rat and see what he/she says about this sort of food. it is diabolical how strong a pull it exerts on us and it is a very difficult cycle to break.

I think you bring up a good point. Food is ground, mixed, and altered until it is calorie dense, and nutrient poor. What they are doing is creating a reaction to the blood sugar and fat response that is in fact addictive. Very valid point IMO.

[tadd]

Like another said earlier, I think there should be a separate .gov store that only stocks specific items and that is the only place the card works.

As another story... I remember after the divorce being 12 or so, dad bringing home that giant block of cheese and milk. He taught wood shop in Jr high. He worked his ass off with custom construction/furniture after school and during the summers. Yet as a paid, full time school teacher, he still qualified for food help. I have never forgotten this. Just for reference this was very early 80s...

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by widebody911

So the bleeding heart liberals secretly own the big corporations that lobbied for universal EBT acceptance?

If that's where they have to go to blame everything on liberals, that's where they'll go, it doesn't make any difference how absurd it is.

[john70t]

Q: Should all food purchases be monitored/controlled by the federal government?
A: Ask a N.Y. politician.

[Evans, Marv]

There should be restrictions on what can be bought with food stamps. There should be restrictions and time limits on all other facets of the welfare program(s). The disabled are the only category of people who should be able to be maintained on welfare. I had to work with the County and private corporations administering welfare. Every part of the system is rotten. Benefits are too numerous, time lines don't exist, those administering it try to maximize the amount of services they give out, and those on the receiving side try to maximize the amount received. The whole system drains individual initiative & fosters individual efforts to play the system.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by widebody911

This concept is foreign to me, as I did not grow up in a foodocracy. When food was put on the table, you ate it. You didn't get up from the table until you did so. There was no debate, no bargaining, no quid pro quo. You couldn't play the "I'm not hungry" card and walking away. None of this "if you eat your green beans you can have some candy" bull5hit.

Originally Posted by berettafan

whether you intend it or not everything you do with kids teaches them something.

feeding them **** teaches them to eat ****.

there is no excuse for our schools to be serving anything other than wholesome, healthy meals and not a bunch of processed crap.

It's a nice idealistic (unrealistic) attitude, but the average 1st grader isn't going to eat most of the lunches that they serve. I'm all for serving quality food at schools, but a hamburger isn't going to kill them.

Moderation and balance are good. There's a family at my kids' school, the mom is a total fitness freak and forbids her children and husband (!) from eating unhealthy meals. She is at every school party that her kids participate in to insure that her kids don't eat candy or sweets, because God forbid her kids eat a piece of cake. My wife has witnessed her fly off the handle when one of her kids ate a cookie. We saw them one evening at a local restaurant that has freebie candy by the front door, she scolded the kids and husband for trying to eat some. As soon as she went to the bathroom they started eating candy by the handful. I bet you money that those kids are going to eventually be fat adults, because junk food is the forbidden fruit.