Discussion Didn't know Government food commodities are still around.

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Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
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Cutting money going into the hands of the market.
And increasing government means of production.

Didn't realize Trump was a socialist, I mean communist.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
33,381
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I'm thinking that Food Stamps did a lot to keep smaller grocery store and chains in business during the Great Repression. They certainly kept me fed while I was waiting for my disability benefits.

Okay, they kept you fed. What does that have to do with smaller grocery stores? Their items are ALL $1 more expensive than if you bought the same thing at Walmart. If you are trying to survive, you go with the cheapest option. That's not any small grocery store.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,460
1,570
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Okay, they kept you fed. What does that have to do with smaller grocery stores? Their items are ALL $1 more expensive than if you bought the same thing at Walmart. If you are trying to survive, you go with the cheapest option. That's not any small grocery store.
At the time there was a local grocery store about roughly two or three blocks from me. Prices were quite reasonable. Walmart was much farther away.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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I'm thinking that Food Stamps did a lot to keep smaller grocery store and chains in business during the Great Repression. They certainly kept me fed while I was waiting for my disability benefits.

Shee-it. If it weren't for various federal transfer programs commerce itself would cease to exist in some parts of this country. It takes a certain minimum cash flow to keep the doors open. That's true of basic services as well.

The Job Creator way of distributing the fruits of progress leaves more people behind all the time, particularly in rural/ small town America. Want more? We won't get it waiting around for them to give it to us voluntarily.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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Okay, they kept you fed. What does that have to do with smaller grocery stores? Their items are ALL $1 more expensive than if you bought the same thing at Walmart. If you are trying to survive, you go with the cheapest option. That's not any small grocery store.

Supermarkets require a certain amount of cashflow to be profitable. Mom & Pop markets fill in the gaps. They charge higher prices because they can't keep the doors open otherwise.

The other side of it is that people have to get there to buy anything. Some people have to walk.

http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,133
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I recall my mother getting some commodites during the late 70's and early 80's, such as government cheese and peanut butter and some canned juices and meats(beef?). Well I know they still existed but only for Food Banks, schools, prisons, and the like.

I was unaware that people are still getting government cheese as I can recall was fairly decent at home and at school, and really enjoyed the peanut butter as well.

Well Trump is considering cutting Food Stamps in half and increasing the Box of Commodities to much more people.
https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/16/news/economy/government-food-box/index.html
While I'm not opposed to more people getting the "Box", I think it is a bad idea to cut Food Stamps, in fact we should be increasing them so no one in the US has Food Insecurity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security

Thoughts?

Workflow is this.
2019-20120
Cut Assistance in half.
Increase box of commodity items
Supplies come from vendors with best lobbyists.
2020-2021
Cut commodity supplies in half and come up with grant program for curch food drives
2022-2023
Eliminate commodity supplies program. Praise success of funneling money to churches.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,460
1,570
96
Supermarkets require a certain amount of cashflow to be profitable. Mom & Pop markets fill in the gaps. They charge higher prices because they can't keep the doors open otherwise.

The other side of it is that people have to get there to buy anything. Some people have to walk.

http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts
I wonder if it would be practical to give subsidies or taxes breaks so grocery stores and farmer's market can be located in those areas?
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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I wonder if it would be practical to give subsidies or taxes breaks so grocery stores and farmer's market can be located in those areas?

Existing subsidies arrive in the form of SNAP benefits.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
68,852
26,643
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I wonder if it would be practical to give subsidies or taxes breaks so grocery stores and farmer's market can be located in those areas?
The city where I grew up did just that. They offered a rent subsidy to get grocery stores into the urban core that was what we would now call a "food desert". It worked.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,460
1,570
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The city where I grew up did just that. They offered a rent subsidy to get grocery stores into the urban core that was what we would now call a "food desert". It worked.
Can you still use Food Stamps to buy Seeds for a food garden? They did back when I was a minor.
 

rommelrommel

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2002
4,370
3,077
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It just seems really inefficient. Why not just use the existing food distribution system?
Ie supermarkets and a flexible system of credits (ie food stamps) so recipients can leverage the free market to maximize their benefit?

It's a dumb idea on multiple levels.

Can’t have people using food stamps to buy smokes and beer. Much better to make a convoluted government program to deliver heavy, bulky, and perishable goods.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,460
1,570
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Sorry guys, I didn't the this was a year ago. I really need to check the dates of any news articles I post.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,009
8,640
136
Okay, they kept you fed. What does that have to do with smaller grocery stores? Their items are ALL $1 more expensive than if you bought the same thing at Walmart. If you are trying to survive, you go with the cheapest option. That's not any small grocery store.
And you drive to that Walmart in the car you don't have!
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,009
8,640
136
Can’t have people using food stamps to buy smokes and beer. Much better to make a convoluted government program to deliver heavy, bulky, and perishable goods.
The reason for this is the huge subsidies we pay to farmers, by buying up their excess product. Our gubmint then has to unload this surplus somehow, somewhere, since it does COST to keep it all piling up in warehouses.
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
9,460
1,570
96
The reason for this is the huge subsidies we pay to farmers, by buying up their excess product. Our gubmint then has to unload this surplus somehow, somewhere, since it does COST to keep it all piling up in warehouses.
Well they could give boxes of food to people who need them, but without cutting food stamps. I would take the peanut butter at least.