N.Y. to Ban Food Stamps Used on Sugary Drinks

[ayabe]

Yes.



No.

Can always count on someone to put forth the unworkable libertarian BS. We shouldn't limit what they can buy, we just shouldn't pay for anything, problem solved!

pfft.

 

[bamacre]

I have to disagree Bamacre. There ought to be significant strings attached to receiving government money. There shouldn't be unlimited license to procreate. I'd support a cashless system much like what is done with health savings accounts. Only certain items are covered, and if one doesn't like the "menu" then when they are on their own resources they can expand their options. We had George Soros obligate the government to spend $175 million in NY on anything welfare recipients wanted. It supposedly was for school supplies and was spent on alcohol, tobacco and electronics like HDTVs.

No.

See, that's one problem with us giving them money in the first place. There's no doubt we'll eventually want to control what they buy with it. Then no one is free.

 

[bamacre]

We shouldn't limit what they can buy, we just shouldn't pay for anything, problem solved!

Now you get it.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

yes dependency isn't freedom anyways. Screw em.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

See, that's one problem with us giving them money in the first place. There's no doubt we'll eventually want to control what they buy with it. Then no one is free.

We're going to give them money. No politician is going to revoke it. Since we have to pay I don't see an obligation on the part of the taxpayer to have to reward 8 children families with a larger HDTV.

 

[*kjm]

See, that's one problem with us giving them money in the first place. There's no doubt we'll eventually want to control what they buy with it. Then no one is free.

That’s what is scares me about public health care:'(

 

[BigDH01]

See, that's one problem with us giving them money in the first place. There's no doubt we'll eventually want to control what they buy with it. Then no one is free.

And if we don't give them food and they can't find a job?

 

[Throckmorton]

That’s what is scares me about public health care:'(

You aren't scared of private insurance controlling what you do with it? Because that's what they do.

 

[*kjm]

"And if we don't give them food and they can't find a job?"


What the heck did they do before all this hand out crap started? We counted on each other.

 

[*kjm]

You aren't scared of private insurance controlling what you do with it? Because that's what they do.

Compared to our government in its present state, heck no.

 

[BigDH01]

"And if we don't give them food and they can't find a job?"


What the heck did they do before all this hand out crap started? We counted on each other.

Sure, so now my neighbor is willing to give me food. They are also able to attach conditions to that food. Is that freedom?

I've got news for you. The history of the world is dominated by slavery and for most of that time the slaves were owned by individuals, either on a small scale or as the ruling member of the state.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Compared to our government in its present state, heck no.

Yeah, because unlike politicians, you can be successful in big business by not acting like a total sociopath.

 

[her209]

Sure, so now my neighbor is willing to give me food. They are also able to attach conditions to that food. Is that freedom?

I've got news for you. The history of the world is dominated by slavery and for most of that time the slaves were owned by individuals, either on a small scale or as the ruling member of the state.

I'll give you food, but you have to accept Jesus as your savior.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You aren't scared of private insurance controlling what you do with it? Because that's what they do.

Yes it's the same because you can get a different government and private insurance makes regulations with the weight of law behind them. Yeah right.

 

[Murloc]

I'm not opposed to the idea of limiting how a government subsidy is spent. However, I don't see how this does any good. Food stamps do not cover 100% of even a poor person's food budget. They don't really even cover the basic food necessities. Hence, the food stamp recipient makes up the difference with money, either from a meager working income, from welfare checks, or some other source. If they want sugary drinks or anything else not government approved, they'll use money to buy it, and use the food stamps to get everything that is government approved. So last month they used the food stamps to buy Pepsi but paid cash for the broccoli. Next month they aren't allowed to use food stamps to buy Pepsi, so they use them to buy the broccoli and use cash to buy the Pepsi. Same result.

- wolf

it may be true, but at least you're sure that they spend those foodstamps on good food ONLY.
If they want to use their money to buy soda, fine. But they might want to spare it for other stuff.

 

[Throckmorton]

Yes it's the same because you can get a different government and private insurance makes regulations with the weight of law behind them. Yeah right.

If insurance won't pay for something, they do have the weight of law backing them up. You can't just go to the insurance co and TAKE the money.

And I don't know about you, but I only have 2 choices of insurance, and I can pick once a year. Maybe you ATPN millionaires can afford individual insurance but I can't, just like most Americans.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

As we grow more responsible for each others' bad decisions, so does our desire to manage each others' lives. The ends justify the means. Freedom is tossed aside for effectiveness.

There's ahuge difference here. It's not their (recipients) money. They are leeching off of tax payers, therefore they need to be restricted as to what tht money can buy.
Though there are more people on food stamps than ought to be. When I worked at a grocery store in high school we had our regulars come in and use their Lone Star card (Texas food stamp program) They would by steaks, racks of ribs, carts full of soda, the most expensive deli meats and cheeses, and candy out the ass.
One lady did this religiously, and when she needed bread/milk/ other staples, she bought what seemed like barely enough for her family and put it on a freaking AMEX card.

I'd be comfortable saying fully a quarter of people on food stamp and goverment assistance, are abusing the system.

 

[werepossum]

We're going to give them money. No politician is going to revoke it. Since we have to pay I don't see an obligation on the part of the taxpayer to have to reward 8 children families with a larger HDTV.

LOL Well said.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If insurance won't pay for something, they do have the weight of law backing them up. You can't just go to the insurance co and TAKE the money.

And I don't know about you, but I only have 2 choices of insurance, and I can pick once a year. Maybe you ATPN millionaires can afford individual insurance but I can't, just like most Americans.

We'll just have to make sure you can't pick anything, but will do as you are told, just like the rest of us non millionaires.

Once the government assumes control there is no going back, and since our governments highest priority is to keep Democrats and Republicans in power you'll have to take second political best.

 

[werepossum]

If insurance won't pay for something, they do have the weight of law backing them up. You can't just go to the insurance co and TAKE the money.

And I don't know about you, but I only have 2 choices of insurance, and I can pick once a year. Maybe you ATPN millionaires can afford individual insurance but I can't, just like most Americans.

Absolutely wrong. You have only two choices of SUBSIDIZED insurance. There's a big difference, and since you're more than willing to give up your meager choices and your arbiter of last resort for the chance than someone else will pick up more of the tab the lack of choice is clearly not what bothers you. Assuming you are of age you have a large number of choices should you desire to seek them out and pay for them. That you "can't afford" individual insurance is merely a result of your choices in disposing of your income.

 

[Modelworks]

I remember when my family was poor we did not get food stamps but damm Gov chesse is good. And no I am not joking. Have a Gov cheese grilled cheese sandwich and you will know what I am talking about.

My grandmother used to get that and it was damn good cheese. Better than any I had bought in the store. Too bad they stopped giving it out. I might even be in line if they did

 

[Modelworks]

I'd be comfortable saying fully a quarter of people on food stamp and goverment assistance, are abusing the system.

It is more than a quarter. I see people with food stamps buying all the name brands and the best cuts of meat. I buy the store brand and have to get meat that is marked down because it is about to expire. Then I leave the store and see the person who just used food stamps get in a car that cost more than I can afford as I walk home.

 

[GoPackGo]

My grandmother used to get that and it was damn good cheese. Better than any I had bought in the store. Too bad they stopped giving it out. I might even be in line if they did

Today the government could market that cheese and make money.

 

[Linflas]

When I was in elementary school the kids that received free or reduced cost lunches were not allowed to buy an ice cream with their lunch. Do you think that those kids went without an ice cream? What they would do was hand one of their friends a dime to buy the ice cream for them. Why would anyone think it would be any different with food stamps? Do you really think they don't buy the items that they are currently not allowed to buy with food stamps or do you think they buy the stuff they can buy with the food stamps and the stuff they can't with their own cash?

 

[zsdersw]

I'm opposed to this philosophically, but as long as the ban doesn't start to include foods the unhealthiness of which is suspect, I'm willing to live with it.

If this turns into a "red meat causes heart disease, so it's banned" or "eggs are bad for you because they're high in cholesterol, so it's banned" type of thing, then it's got to go.