The Daily Mail claims it has an authentic receipt that proves someone used food stamps to buy more than $140 worth of lobsters and Porterhouse steaks. And for the sake of this argument, let's assume it's genuine, someone really used their food stamps to buy a nice little surf and turf dinner for them and their friends.
How does that make you feel? Do you think we should monitor what people spend their food stamps on?
>>Man Wins $2M Jackpot, Admits He Still Uses Food Stamps
Sure, lobster and steaks are a particularly galling example, but its not hard to imagine that once the government starts dictating what kinds of food poor people should have access to, it could quickly become a slippery slope rife with politics and terrible public policy. How long until the government realizes it can do better by blocking people from using food stamps on organic produce, or higher quality foods that aren't subsidized by the government?
And what about the parents who use all of their food stamps on cheese curls and fruit punch? Are they any less wise with their food stamps? Or is it that we can't stand the idea of poor people using assistance to have something that we all consider a luxury?
Or are you a hard liner? Do you think food stamps should be reserved only for the most needy and should only be spent on the bare necessities? And what would you consider the bare necessities for a healthy diet?
What do you think? Should the government monitor how people use their food stamps? Or can we live with a few lobsters and steaks in the name of getting government out of out grocery carts? Let us know!
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Comments
March 12, 2012
To tell you the truth most of these people that receive stamps are trailer trash. If you told them to cook food on their own, they would just starve because they wouldnt know what to do. These people are bred on mountain dew and fast food and so are their children. Maybe a cooking class would be good as well as nutritional courses. But then again it is very hard to change the mindset of lazy trash.
June 9, 2011
I use food stamps, and I am very frugal, using stockpiling of sales items, buying bogos, etc. After a few months, if I have some extra, and steak and seafood is on sale, yes, I treat myself. I got a strange look the other day because I bought $40 worth of rib eyes that were on sale half their usual price, but those steaks will last me for a month or more. You don't know how this person is using this food. They may be stretching it like I do by making stir-fries or eating it cut up in pasta. Maybe they just got a good job and were celebrating, used the rest of their food stamps to blow it out. I have no problem with that. I get strange looks when I buy organic food too, but I am after health, and if I have to eat less to eat healthy, that's what I do. I don't think those who have never used food stamps understand how hard it is to eat healthy on that tiny bit of money. If I choose to buy steak and lobster to put into my brown rice and beans, who's to say I'm wrong?
June 9, 2011
I'm not worried about lobster and steaks because the government doesn't give enough food stamps to eat that daily. But cheap foods cheap and cause diabetes, hypertension, heart disease are constantly on the menu of food stamps recipients because Wholefoods isn't a long-term option for the poor---which includes college students, elderly, unemployed and ill.
Eat you steak and lobster. It can be a celebration of a new job or graduation. People should mind their business and stop being pawns.
All of these complaints about system abuse...I dare to see you do that to banks, oil companies, or Monsato.
June 8, 2011
Interesting article. Very thought-provoking.
June 8, 2011
In my opinion ppl mneed to mind their own business. I know ppl always assume that they are the one paying for the next persons food stamps. Well when I was in college and working two jobs I could not afford to pay my bills and eat after all the taxes were taken so yes I got food stamps. So I say to all of you who think someones food stamps are coming out of your chesk think again. That person more than likely works and by the time Uncle Sam gets his cut their food budget may be gone. They may also have family members who work and pay taxes therefore what they fet in food stamps does not com from you, it comes from what Uncle Sam took out first!
June 8, 2011
Personally I don't have a problem with meat and seafood, whatever the variety. The $ is their allotment to spend.... maybe they are having beans and rice the rest of the month and this was for a graduation or something special - who knows....
What I do have a problem with is the soda pop, donuts, chips, candy, junk food, etc..... Regulate that!
June 8, 2011
When (if ever) the government decides to give a family of 6 more than $200 a month in assistance on a $300 per week income, and regulates the price of food in general....THEN they can tell me what I can use their "assistance" for. Until then, they can kiss my ass.
June 8, 2011
Not a wise choice to spend the money on. Personally, I do my best to make my food assistance last through the month. It is unfortunate that there are those who take advantage of the system. But there are also many, that due to circumstances of the economy, are forced to take low paying jobs that barely pay the bills. We certainly are thankful to, at least, not have to worry about putting food on the table. WIC already tells me what to buy and how many ounces of it per month. I certainly don't want the government shaking their finger at me if I decided to buy cookies and chips instead of fruits and vegetables (I don't..just sayin'). Who knows?! Maybe her man was busting his hump at a crap job and it was his birthday and she decided he deserved some lobster n' steak and that they would eat ramen noodles for the rest of the month so that he could feel like a king for the day. I would have made a frozen pizza and had the kids make daddy a paper crown, but who am I to judge...
June 8, 2011
They should run EBT like they run WIC - only having healthy foods that meet certain nutritional requirements on the list of foods that can be purchased. No one is saying they can't buy lobsters or junk food, they just have to use their own money for that.
June 8, 2011
I agree, certain "foods" should not qualify for food stamps. Things such as snack chips, candy, sodas & energy drinks should not be included. No one cannot monitor what people choose to feed themselves with but healthy eating classes should be a requirement for those accepting food stamps. As far as the receipt goes, you are allocated a certain amount per month. If this was half their food stamp allotment, what did they eat the other 3 weeks?
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