Foodstamps.

[Shame]

One of my odder ideas:

Instead of issuing foodstamps/vouchers (which has to cost a buck or two), what about eliminating those programs and go with Mail Order MRE's for long term receipients. Each person eligable gets a box of 100 a month.

Benefits:

1. No one would trade MREs for money/drugs/alcohol.
2. No one would be on the program very long because they can't taste all that great.
3. We already own the Post Office, so receipients would get free shipping (with delivery confirmation).
4. MREs would get cheaper because of mass production.
5. We know they are safe and nutrious because our military consumes them.
6. Ends starvation in the country immediately.

Just a thought...

 

[sillymofo]

Your plans would fail, because, guess who would benefits from sales of MREs?

And BTW, they're not cheap. <- end of plan.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Yeah, there's nothing like the threat of government issued cheese to get me off my ass...

-geoff

 

[jurzdevil]

someone will have to pay for the jetfuel to drop them from the planes

 

[waggy]

yeah was going to mention MRE's are NOT cheap.

but anyway IL stoped useing foodstamp vouchers. now you get a Credit card type thing so you cant sale it or such.

 

[Shame]

cr4zymofo: I bet the price would go down if they ordered a couple billion of them!

jurzveil: 100 MRE's landing on one's head from 30,000 feet would hurt. Bad idea.

Waggy: Credit card? There'd be no reason to get off the program, would there?

 

[cronos]

actually, for food stamps here in WI they are using some kind of 'debit card' that electronically connects to the system everytime it is used, so there are not many chances of abuse. i kept thinking that a particular asian food store accepts debit card but they don't, that machine at the counter is to slide food stamps, or maybe more accurate, 'food cards'

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Shame
cr4zymofo: I bet the price would go down if they ordered a couple billion of them!

jurzveil: 100 MRE's landing on one's head from 30,000 feet would hurt. Bad idea.

Waggy: Credit card? There'd be no reason to get off the program, would there?

I'm sorry i was not clear. i will try and to dumb it down even more.

The card they get has the limit they are allowed to spend. It re-fills each month. This way the government does NOT have to continue to print out the fake money they used to. Also makes it harder to sale for cash. It also will not pay for things that are not allowed such as cigs and err not sure what else.

is this clear enough now?

 

[BatmanNate]

MRE's don't taste that bad.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: saxguy
actually, for food stamps here in WI they are using some kind of 'debit card' that electronically connects to the system everytime it is used, so there are not many chances of abuse. i kept thinking that a particular asian food store accepts debit card but they don't, that machine at the counter is to slide food stamps, or maybe more accurate, 'food cards'

It's called EBT (electronic benefits transfer)

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: Shame
cr4zymofo: I bet the price would go down if they ordered a couple billion of them!

jurzveil: 100 MRE's landing on one's head from 30,000 feet would hurt. Bad idea.

Waggy: Credit card? There'd be no reason to get off the program, would there?

They have already ordered billions of them through defense contract (wink wink nudge nudge). Yet the prices aren't falling. Same with gas prices.

 

[Shame]

Waggy: You receive food stamps, don't you? My point is to get people off the program, not give people a reason to remain. Can I make that any more clear? I can dumb it down for you if you need.

BatmanNate: Eat the same one for a year and it would....

 

[EagleKeeper]

The swipe card was also put in place by the do-gooders to remove the stigma of using food stamps.

This way when you buy, no-one would know that you are getting a taxpayer handout.

Only if there are not enough funds to cover the excluded items will the cashier even know.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Shame
Waggy: You receive food stamps, don't you? My point is to get people off the program, not give people a reason to remain. Can I make that any more clear? I can dumb it down for you if you need.

BatmanNate: Eat the same one for a year and it would....

am i on food stamps? nope.

giving people MRE's would get them off food-stamps but it would cause another problem. either way you are still paying for people.

I didn't say the card made people remain on food-stamps. I just pointed out it attempts to keep them from selling them. It also saves the government money. I'm sorry if i didn't make that clear.

While your idea may get them off food stamps it does not fix the real problem. Maybe you do need to dumb down your idea so even you can understand it.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Shame
Waggy: You receive food stamps, don't you? My point is to get people off the program, not give people a reason to remain. Can I make that any more clear? I can dumb it down for you if you need.

BatmanNate: Eat the same one for a year and it would....

Maybe that would motivate them to get off the program. Then again, consuming that many calories without a lifestyle that promotes physical activity might just make them fat(ter).

 

[Shame]

Waggy: I just think it is a bad idea to give money away with no reason for the receipient to stop accepting it.. You don't, and that's ok. You probably also think that most people who apply for disability are disabled (Right....). I just disagree with you. That doesn't make either one of us dumb.

EagleKeeper: Why would that be so difficult since there is a SKU # on almost everything?

Ed:

BatmanNate: How many friggen calories are in them???

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
Yeah, there's nothing like the threat of government issued cheese to get me off my ass...

-geoff

So true.