LisaTX wrote:
Well, when you are on WIC, you can only buy certain foods. Basic nutritious foods, like milk, cheese, fruit juice, etc. So, I don't see why it's different for food stamps. You have to be extremely poor, to qualify for food stamps, so it's supposed to just be for the essentials to sustain you, not satisfy your sweet tooth, imo. A program that is supposed to be there to provide the most basic necessities for the very needy, allowing people to "splurge" on Twinkies, filet mignon, delicacies, etc. just seems absurd, to me.
Why should the rest of us have to show some self control and restraint, but the "very needy" can just get whatever they want? Some of us have to say no to the candy bar because we have to spend that money on an essential, so if someone has enough food stamp money left over for that kind of stuff, they're getting too much assistance. The rest of us don't get to just buy whatever we want, so why should they?
My mom was a grocery checker for many years and saw rampant abuse of food stamps, people buying nothing but junk. Generational food stamp users. And she was actually on food stamps for a brief period, and she did get more money than she needed. But I have also heard of the truly needy, not getting enough to survive on. So, you have people out there buying doughnuts, expensive steaks, etc. and others who can barely afford rice and beans. They need to develop some type of consistency.
Also, when you accept government assistance, you are already inviting the government into your business. I'm for less assistance and less government involvement in our lives, but I also think programs that are supposed to be for the needy should be, well, for the needy.
Well, there again, the system is broken. You do NOT have to be "extremely poor" to be on food stamps. Some who could really use them can't even get $40 while others that are getting by get hundreds. I don't know how they determine it. I know we could get them but we get by, especially now with mom here. We've been on them in the past and we've also gotten commodities from the government both regular commodities and Indian commodities! (Could hardly fit them all in the CAR!)
Anyways, i remember my dad talking about being so very poor that they often only had potatoes. He remembered someone giving them ice cream once and he tho't he'd died and gone to heaven. I don't think we can say how others ought to spend their food money once we have determined they are eligible for help but... otoh.... food stamps are supposed to be supplemental and if you couldn't buy junk food with them you could use your other money to buy it. And soap, and pads and diapers and tp and toothpaste and clothes and electricity and dog food and .....
But who is going to say what is junk? Have you SEEN what they pass out as commodities for the poor?