Posted on 09/11/2013 5:49:56 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
I know it happens and think those unscrupulous merchants should be punished as much as, if not more than, the recipients who abuse them in such a manner.
The simple fact of the matter is not everyone receiving food stamps lives in inner city ghettos, but the way some FReepers throw those type comments around one would think that everyone one who has an EBT card and every merchant who accepts them is that larcenous.
Well, I don't know about that, but they are parasites.
Nanny State PING!
Thanks, I appreciate that.
I really didn’t change my food purchasing habits very much except for “stocking up” more pantry staples than I had in the past. Things like beans, rice, flour, sugar, vinegar, tuna and peanut butter - especially the peanut butter! I also continued to use coupons and shop the red tagged manager’s specials on meats.
An interesting thing I learned, actually the hard way, is about sales tax on things. In Virginia food is taxed, albeit at a lower rate than everything else, but taxed nonetheless. That tax is not charged when using the EBT card, except if coupons are involved. The food sales tax is applied, and must be paid in cash, on the face value of any coupon used.
Thanks for the ping!
Obvious there is a lot you don't know, but thank you for letting everyone know that people who are working their butts off and need a bit of temporary assistance are nothing more than one of the lowest forms in the food chain.
False and either a malicious lie or displaying of wanton ignorance.
"Cash Back" would have to be from the TANF portion of the card. Separate accounts, on the same card.
If you don't like the meanings of words, move to a country that doesn't use them.
The only reason I can agree with your attitude this is “nanny state” worthy is because of the concept of the arbitrary term “junk food.” My idea of junk food is most likely different from yours and yours will differ from others and theirs will differ from either of ours.........
However, if a person is going to accept the $$$$$ they are going to have to accept the rules on how it is spent.
While cooking classes might be considered *stigmatizing*, our area organic co-op holds gourmet classes every couple of weeks. It is $25 for non-members and $15 for members. They are fun, you get dinner for the price, as well, and even experienced cooks learn something new each time. Plus, for those of us who stayed after to help clean up, we were offered our choice of opened cans and packages of things used in the class to take home, if we wanted.
If anyone gave a damn, they could utilize the media and social media to make this sort of class trendy and cool.
I give away tomato starts each summer, since I always start more than I can plant myself. I usually explain the variety to the recipient, and I always tell them which seeds can be saved that will breed true. So far, I don’t think one person has bothered to do more than plant the start and eat the fruit. I know that a few have given the plant to another gardener in exchange for some of the fruit at harvest, thus avoiding all the work, of course. These aren’t people in poverty, but they all do gush over my plants each year. They simply don’t want the work.
Think of all the creative things people do to stay out of poverty: knit, crochet, sew, refinish junk furniture, make their own cleaning products, repair *broken* appliances that sometimes just need a new fuse. When the crafty and handy people do teach at various venues, the students are others just like themselves, never people who stay *poor* enough to get benefits forever.
All these skills can be turned into income, too. But some folks just don’t want to be taught how to fish if they can just hang out and get a fish for free.
WOW - aren’t you just a peach.
You’re not a parasite are ya?
Truer words could not have been said.
"Stigmatizing" was the word the case worker used, complete with finger quotes, when I aid something along the lines of some basic home-ec classes. I'm no gourmet cook, but I was willing to teach such, and still am.
If anyone gave a damn, they could utilize the media and social media to make this sort of class trendy and cool.
Another true statement.
I belong to a local "plant rescue and exchange" page on Facebook and it is just amazing how much a few people in a small rural area can accomplish.
All these skills can be turned into income, too. But some folks just don’t want to be taught how to fish if they can just hang out and get a fish for free.
You are preaching to the choir saying things like that to me. My husband and I have been doing the things you mention and others for most of our lives, even when we were both making our "living" doing other things. My husband built me a greenhouse using scrap wood and the windows he had removed from our pastor's home when he replaced the windows. But even folks that do those things do run into a rough patch once in a while.
Even our 15yo old daughter has known how to fish & crab since she was a wee bit, and how to handle dead game since she was in kindergarten - the lat being something I didn't learn until I was over 40 (although I was fishing while still in grade school)
No, I am not, and never have been. I do know a few, including one who was indicted and convicted on 9 counts of federal welfare fraud. The problem is, people like that have corrupted the entire system.
Shouldn’t be able to use food stamps for steaks or lobster either!
Bump
It does actually work in the form of food pantries. I’ve spoken to people who work there though, and you’re partly correct. The parasite class (my words) is often not interested in store brand cream of mushroom soup or surplus cheese.
They've also populated the entire system. It's supposed to be a safety net, not a hammock.
Here, in the Peoples' Republic of Maine, one out of four are on medical welfare (Medicaid)...the national average is about one out of seven. I'm sure most of the Northeast has similar numbers.
Then there's "food stamps" and section 8 housing...where we are paying for drug dealers to live with their "gimme-girl" hosts, free rent, free love, free food, and having subsidized babies...all on a rotational basis of course.
This is what happens when RATs rule the roost.
Beans, rice and tuna...sounds familiar. Not a bad thing to have around in quantity either in case things go bad.
You make a good point here. I know a fellow locally who is retired but very skilled at small engine repair. He makes a living rebuilding lawn mowers mostly, and reselling them. His main sources of work are recycling centers and the sides of roads during trash day.
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