Are Food Stamps Becoming a De Facto Guaranteed Minimum Income?

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  On 3/28/2013 at 2:16 PM, wife_of_mahmoud said:

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...

Sounds awesome.

[decocker 7,198]

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:10 PM, wife_of_mahmoud said:

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 don't know how it is in texas, do retailers have to apply to accept snap?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:10 PM, wife_of_mahmoud said:

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.

Good points. The program is rife with massive fraud and abuse.. If anyone was exposed to many of it's users like I am they would know why it is such a waste of taxpayer money overall.

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  On 3/28/2013 at 2:18 PM, The Nature Boy said:

Good points. The program is rife with massive fraud and abuse.. If anyone was exposed to many of it's users like I am they would know why it is such a waste of taxpayer money overall.

Let's have a reasoned discussed about this.

Do you agree that it is our role, acting through our government, to help those who do not have the means to feed themselves and their kids?

If yes, then suggest an alternative means of doing so that reduces fraud and abuse (eliminating it entirely is not practical, people will be people) enough to satisfy you.

[Póg mo 1,749]

  On 3/28/2013 at 1:58 PM, wife_of_mahmoud said:

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."

Yep, time to close the program, some people might abuse it, so the majority who don't should be punished.

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  On 3/28/2013 at 2:27 PM, InKorea said:

Yep, time to close the program, some people might abuse it, so the majority who don't should be punished.

Serious question. Is it a subversion of God's will to prolong the life, through nutrition, of those who would otherwise die of starvation?

[decocker 7,198]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364480940' post='6089925]

Serious question. Is it a subversion of God's will to prolong the life, through nutrition, of those who would otherwise die of starvation?

doesn't matter. god gave us free will. we should do the right thing because we can, not because we have to.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364480389' post='6089894]

Let's have a reasoned discussed about this.

Do you agree that it is our role, acting through our government, to help those who do not have the means to feed themselves and their kids?

If yes, then suggest an alternative means of doing so that reduces fraud and abuse (eliminating it entirely is not practical, people will be people) enough to satisfy you.

Make beans, flour, butter, cheese, corn meal, grits, and basic protien choices etc etc available to anyone that qualifies. Stop all and any ability to use a card at most places. Limit food staples to the most basic needs. You go and get grocery staples.

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:27 PM, InKorea said:

Yep, time to close the program, some people might abuse it, so the majority who don't should be punished.

it's more than some I assure you.

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  On 3/28/2013 at 2:32 PM, The Nature Boy said:

Make beans, flour, butter, cheese, corn meal, grits, and basic protien choices etc etc available to anyone that qualifies. Stop all and any ability to use a card at most places.

corn meal? grits?

i hope you are ok with those choices being different in different regions of the country.

but i get your point. it is a good one.

so let me ask you this - how do you propose the staples be delivered to recipients?

privately run grocery stores? only large chains, no small mom n pop groceries?

or state-run food disbursement centers?

or something else?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I found these stats which may help in the discussion:

  Quote

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, CATO Institute

Date Verified: 10.15.2012

** Welfare is the organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups. Aid could include general Welfare payments, health care through Medicaid, food stamps, special payments for pregnant women and young mothers, and federal and state housing benefits. The Welfare system in the United States began in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Opponents of Welfare argue that it affects work incentives.

Welfare Statistics

Total number of Americans on welfare 4,300,000

Total number of Americans on food stamps 46,700,000

Total number of Americans on unemployment insurance 5,600,000

Percent of the US population on welfare 4.1 %

Total government spending on welfare annually (not including food stamps or unemployment) $131.9 billion

Welfare Demographics

Percent of recipients who are white 38.8 %

Percent of recipients who are black 39.8 %

Percent of recipients who are Hispanic 15.7 %

Percent of recipients who are Asian 2.4 %

Percent of recipients who are Other 3.3 %

Welfare Statistics

Total amount of money you can make monthly and still receive Welfare $1000

Total Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than an $8 per hour job 40

Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than a $12 per hour job 7

Number of U.S. States where Welfare pays more than the average salary of a U.S. Teacher 9

Average Time on AFCD (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)

Time on AFDC Percent of Recipients

Less than 7 months 19%

7 to 12 months 15.2%

1 to 2 years 19.3%

2 to 5 years 26.9%

Over 5 years 19.6%

Top 10 Hourly Wage Equivalent Welfare States in U.S.

State Hourly Wage Equivalent

Hawaii $17.50

Alaska $15.48

Massachusetts $14.66

Connecticut $14.23

Washington, D.C. $13.99

New York $13.13

New Jersey $12.55

Rhode Island $12.55

California $11.59

Virginia $11.11

http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/

BTW the total American population is 312,780,968 (2012 figure.) So with about 46.7 million on food stamps, that means almost 15% of our population.

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:27 PM, InKorea said:

Yep, time to close the program, some people might abuse it, so the majority who don't should be punished.

Um, what

[decocker 7,198]

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:32 PM, The Nature Boy said:

Make beans, flour, butter, cheese, corn meal, grits, and basic protien choices etc etc available to anyone that qualifies. Stop all and any ability to use a card at most places. Limit food staples to the most basic needs. You go and get grocery staples.

give them the option for very specific ingredients, in hopes that they have an oven. did you know some people don't have ovens? some people don't have kitchens even!

also, make these options for very specific ingredients only accessible at localized points. hopefully poor people have transportation to these points. did you know some people don't have transportation? america sucks at public transport.

i don't know where you live in georgia, but you need to grasp that georgia is hardly reflective of america as a whole.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[quote name=' timestamp='1364481310' post='6089954]

corn meal? grits?

i hope you are ok with those choices being different in different regions of the country.

but i get your point. it is a good one.

so let me ask you this - how do you propose the staples be delivered to recipients?

privately run grocery stores? only large chains, no small mom n pop groceries?

or state-run food disbursement centers?

or something else?

LOL Yes i feel you. Corn Meal and Grits would not be a big hit in Ohio. etc.

Why not have stores carry the staples and folks could come in for their ration. Of course the Libtards will screw about healthy choices. Do they really think the people using snap cards are eating salads and free range chicken breast now.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:32 PM, The Nature Boy said:

Make beans, flour, butter, cheese, corn meal, grits, and basic protien choices etc etc available to anyone that qualifies. Stop all and any ability to use a card at most places. Limit food staples to the most basic needs. You go and get grocery staples.

Sounds like WIC.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/benefitsandservices/foodpkgallowances.HTM

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

  On 3/28/2013 at 2:39 PM, val erie said:

give them the option for very specific ingredients, in hopes that they have an oven. did you know some people don't have ovens? some people don't have kitchens even!

also, make these options for very specific ingredients only accessible at localized points. hopefully poor people have transportation to these points. did you know some people don't have transportation? america sucks at public transport.

i don't know where you live in georgia, but you need to grasp that georgia is hardly reflective of america as a whole.

So how do they get to the store now.??

So all these millions that don't have the ability to heat food. what are they currently eating now ? Drive Thru---?? But then how would they drive to the drive thru ???

[SMOKE 1,426]

'becoming'