Are Food Stamps Becoming a De Facto Guaranteed Minimum Income?

[^_^ 5,021]

If we're going to have a guaranteed minimum income, isn't it better if that income take the form of food stamps and not cash? At least this way they're required to spend it on food. Thoughts?

Today's Wall Street Journal report on food stamps raises the question: is nutrition assistance evolving into a de facto guaranteed minimum income?

The newest factor in the program's growth, one that hasn't been tested in past boom-and-bust cycles, stems from policy changes that began almost two decades ago. The 1996 welfare overhaul, coupled with a rule change crafted four years later by the Clinton administration, allowed states to make it easier for residents to qualify for benefits. …

The goal was to help Americans with government aid before their savings were wiped out. Policy makers wanted to allow newly poor families, such as those where the breadwinner was temporarily unemployed, to have enough money to put gas in the cars and pay phone bills—two necessities for finding and retaining jobs. To qualify for this easier screening process, Americans had to do little more than prove their income levels were low enough to meet certain thresholds.

The change didn't attract much attention until the financial crisis hit. After that, states began aggressively implementing the laxer standards, which allowed cash-strapped states to funnel more federal aid to their residents. … Today, 43 U.S. states and territories have such expanded eligibility policies. …

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364477257' post='6089792]

If we're going to have a guaranteed minimum income, isn't it better if that income take the form of food stamps and not cash? At least this way they're required to spend it on food. Thoughts?

odd. just the other day my best friend was complaining that her boss didn't pursue giving her a substantial raise because he didn't want her to lose her food stamp benefits. she was angry and told him she didn't want to receive foodstamps, she wants to be in the position to care for her children on her own. he said she made no sense and she should stay on food stamps because they are more 'reliable', whatever that means.

[^_^ 5,021]

odd. just the other day my best friend was complaining that her boss didn't pursue giving her a substantial raise because he didn't want her to lose her food stamp benefits. she was angry and told him she didn't want to receive foodstamps, she wants to be in the position to care for her children on her own. he said she made no sense and she should stay on food stamps because they are more 'reliable', whatever that means.

businesses come and go, uncle sugar is forever.

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364478420' post='6089821]

businesses come and go, uncle sugar is forever.

i want to know why the state of virginia can have a child support order - over $25,000 in arrears at this point - and virginia won't extradite dude from iowa to virginia and put him in a work release program to pay some of that money back. either to the state for the foodstamps they provide for this kids or to her. the state simply isn't interested in doing so..

[^_^ 5,021]

i want to know why the state of virginia can have a child support order - over $25,000 in arrears at this point - and virginia won't extradite dude from iowa to virginia and put him in a work release program to pay some of that money back. either to the state for the foodstamps they provide for this kids or to her. the state simply isn't interested in doing so..

no man should ever have to pay child support.

we should be free to spread our seed without consequence.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364477257' post='6089792]

If we're going to have a guaranteed minimum income, isn't it better if that income take the form of food stamps and not cash? At least this way they're required to spend it on food. Thoughts?

There is a whole black market system based around unscrupulous "merchants" who will buy food stamps (the cards) for cash, which the recipient can then use for drugs, alcohol, a big screen TV, whatever - usually at the rate of 50 cents on the dollar. The merchant can launder the cards through his "grocery business."

[^_^ 5,021]

There is a whole black market system based around unscrupulous "merchants" who will buy food stamps (the cards) for cash, which the recipient can then use for drugs, alcohol, a big screen TV, whatever - usually at the rate of 50 cents on the dollar. The merchant can launder the cards through his "grocery business."

all that is true, but so what? are you saying you'd rather there be a cash-based system? one gets their food benefits as a visa gift card to be used any way one chooses?

i can see how that cuts the launderer types out. i can also see how conscientious families that care about feeding their kids will continue to use the money to do so.

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364479105' post='6089845]

no man should ever have to pay child support.

us womens should look towards the big daddy state to fill in the gaps.

There is a whole black market system based around unscrupulous "merchants" who will buy food stamps (the cards) for cash, which the recipient can then use for drugs, alcohol, a big screen TV, whatever - usually at the rate of 50 cents on the dollar. The merchant can launder the cards through his "grocery business."

i know the process is different in each state, but i really don't know how that works..

[^_^ 5,021]

us womens should look towards the big daddy state to fill in the gaps.

yes, uncle sugar will take care of you.

man was put on this earth to spew ####### seed far and wide. let him do so. do not interfere with the mission.

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364479637' post='6089862]

yes, uncle sugar will take care of you.

man was put on this earth to spew ####### seed far and wide. let him do so. do not interfere with the emission.

fixed

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364479322' post='6089854]

all that is true, but so what? are you saying you'd rather there be a cash-based system? one gets their food benefits as a visa gift card to be used any way one chooses?

i can see how that cuts the launderer types out. i can also see how conscientious families that care about feeding their kids will continue to use the money to do so.

No, not cash-based. That would be stupid.

But obviously, the card is being used at merchants who should not be part of the program. Usually, these are smaller store-fronts (not supermarket chains) or even "mobile grocery stores." Here in San Antonio, several scammers have been busted who were using vans, stocked with a token amount of incredibly overpriced non-perishable goods, that would cruise out to low-income neighborhoods and do the transactions there.

I am not against the concept of providing assistance to needy families, especially children; I think it's an important responsibility for any society. But our system has some big problems that need to be addressed. Any money we save from being wasted on fraud is money that can be used to help people who really need it.

[^_^ 5,021]

No, not cash-based. That would be stupid.

But obviously, the card is being used at merchants who should not be part of the program. Usually, these are smaller store-fronts (not supermarket chains) or even "mobile grocery stores." Here in San Antonio, several scammers have been busted who were using vans, stocked with a token amount of incredibly overpriced non-perishable goods, that would cruise out to low-income neighborhoods and do the transactions there.

I am not against the concept of providing assistance to needy families, especially children; I think it's an important responsibility for any society. But our system has some big problems that need to be addressed. Any money we save from being wasted on fraud is money that can be used to help people who really need it.

State-run grocery stores? Require SNAP cards be used there and no where else?

Kind of how Ontario sells liquor.

[JstaRebel 48]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364479637' post='6089862]

yes, uncle sugar will take care of you.

man was put on this earth to spew ####### seed far and wide. let him do so. do not interfere with the mission.

You have got to be kidding?

[^_^ 5,021]

You have got to be kidding?

no, why would you think that? god's will is nothing to kid around about.

Edited March 28, 2013 by ^_^

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364479942' post='6089874]

State-run grocery stores? Require SNAP cards be used there and no where else?

Kind of how Ontario sells liquor.

We used have a state-run liquor store here in San Antonio. Which also sold hunting knives. And handguns. And ammo. Everything you need for a Saturday night...

It was called "The Texas Store."

I don't know about state-run, but maybe a better system of certification.