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

[Whoozyerdaddy]

This brings up the topic of how powerful shame is. They moved to the debt cards for food stamps because people were embarrassed to use food stamps.

Well guess what! You should feel embarrassed, you should feel shame, you should feel bad, you should be shunned. You are using other people's money to feed yourself, it's effectively stealing somebody's food which is the lowest of lows. That's the problem with all these entitlement programs. Society used to view these as something to be avoided because it meant you were a failure at life and would be viewed as such. Now it's "I deserve ma food stamps, I deserve ma money, you owe me!"

Let's get back to the time when using such services were shamed, publicly humiliated and viewed as failure. That would go along way along with time limits. Hunger is a hell of a motivator to get to work, take away the hunger, need for shelter, etc and the motivation to go to work is gone.

Ok.... that's actually NOT why they went to the cards. The conservative talking heads get this wrong all the time... and they do it on purpose.

The real reason to go to the cards is to prevent misuse and fraud.

1. The old food stamps could be used to buy non-food stamp items like ciggs and beer if you gamed the system right. If you bought something for less than a dollar the store had to give you change back. Since there were no stamps valued at less than a dollar you got the actual change. Go through the line a few times with a single macaroni noodle from the deli and you have enough cash to buy a pack of ciggs or a six pack. It happened all the time at the Safeway I worked at in high school. Local 'mom & pop' stores and liquor stores would just take the stamps in exchange for alcohol but ring up items in the register that the stamps actually covered.

2. You can't sell or trade the EBT cards like you could the stamps. The card holder actually has to use the benefit for what it's intended for. You can't gamble them away... trade them for drugs... whatever.

As a conservative I would think you could focus on the fraud/abuse protection side of this issue instead of the whole 'shame' thing... which is really a lame argument from the start. Your idea that people need to be shamed off of welfare is just assinine. It runs along the lines of 'the beatings will continue until morale improves'. You can't shame someone into improving their lives. They have to have that motivation within themselves or have it instilled in a positive manner.

All that said, beggers can't be choosers. If the people administering the program decide that the cards can only be used to buy fruit, veggies, high quality protien (not slim-jims), grains, juices, etc... then that's what you get. It's a program that is designed to feed those who can't afford to feed themselves... not satisfy someone's sweet tooth.

 

[DesiPower]

The fack... ... I am shocked at the poll results... hobos buy soda with your money and you are OK with it...

 

[JSt0rm]

This is a good thing. I drink in order of quantity 1. Water 2. Coffee 3. Beer 4. Wine

I could live with just the first 2.

 

[Dekasa]

Time for the poor guy to comment. FYI I'm not on food stamps, but definitely eligible for probably ~$100/mo.

I know tons of people on food stamps, most of which can really use the assistance, few of which are just plain lazy. But most people I know still buy alcohol, you just have to use your own money, but since most people on FS don't use them for 100% of their food bills, it doesn't really make any difference. As long as you're not paying all of your groceries in FS, you just switch soda to the other side, and things that went over your FS budget now fit in. No loss in $, negligible difference.

While I have no problem changing food stamps to only cover staples like breads, grains, fruits, veggies, and even only the cheaper varieties (can't get the most expensive apples or whatnot) I think it should definitely be accompanied by a (possibly mandatory) cooking courses and maybe an option for some basic dishware. I know lots of people who couldn't cook anything to save their lives, and almost as many who don't have a pot to cook in.

If you're going to try to force some healthier living, make sure people have the education necessary to make those *educated* choices.

And for this: "The fack... ... I am shocked at the poll results... hobos buy soda with your money and you are OK with it..."

We promote freedom, unilaterally.

 

[ElFenix]

will the stamps still work on diet coke?

 

[classy]

This is wrong on so many levels. I am all for eating right, but to treat someone different because they get assistance is wrong. While there may be a notable percentage of losers who get assistance most are not and are good people just trying to get through a rough patch. I see some who constantly whine like little school girls because of big government, but in this case all for big government because its a put down on people who they think less of to begin with. Again I am all for eating right, but not instituting a policy like this.

 

[cKGunslinger]

This is wrong on so many levels. I am all for eating right, but to treat someone different because they get assistance is wrong.

Aren't they already being treated differently by getting assistance?

My wife and I were on WIC for about 12 months and food stamps for 2 months when we first started out and had a baby. The WIC covered things like cheese, milk, juice, etc. Basic essentials.

I don't see too much of an issue putting restrictions of government handouts. There are probably much better things to tackle first, however.

Also, while I agree that sugar is too be avoided in excess, the Government doesn't have the best track record with determining what is "healthy" and not. Just look at that screwed up Food Pyramid crap.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

As i understand it, those on welfare and unemployment in the US are on those without having to look for work and take ANY job offered?

That isn't the way it's in the EU nations, if you are healthy, you can study or work, you will HAVE TO apply for any job the unemployment agency can find, regardless of if you used to be an engineer and now you will be a janitor.

If i get it right, in the US, welfare is just collecting money forever without having to take any offered job regardless of what job it is?

 

[BudAshes]

i salute you ny.

 

[bfdd]

I was at 7-11 and I saw you could use your EBT card to pay for 99 cent sugar cookies, but not the 70 cent banana.

 

[bfdd]

As i understand it, those on welfare and unemployment in the US are on those without having to look for work and take ANY job offered?

That isn't the way it's in the EU nations, if you are healthy, you can study or work, you will HAVE TO apply for any job the unemployment agency can find, regardless of if you used to be an engineer and now you will be a janitor.

If i get it right, in the US, welfare is just collecting money forever without having to take any offered job regardless of what job it is?

JoS are you sure about that? When I used to play semi-pro counter-strike some of the Europeans I met who weren't big yet we're living off their countries welfare systems. They were mostly scandinavian.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

JoS are you sure about that? When I used to play semi-pro counter-strike some of the Europeans I met who weren't big yet we're living off their countries welfare systems. They were mostly scandinavian.

Yes, i'm absolutely certain about all Scandinavian nation and western european nations.

The unemployment agencies are required to get everyone a job and unless you are disabled you will need to both apply for and take any job offered to you.

I am 100% certain of that in all nations except the Netherlands and Greece.

 

[bfdd]

Yes, i'm absolutely certain about all Scandinavian nation and western european nations.

The unemployment agencies are required to get everyone a job and unless you are disabled you will need to both apply for and take any job offered to you.

I am 100% certain of that in all nations except the Netherlands and Greece.

np, was just curious. i know australia is different. i know an australian chick who i don't think has ever worked and occasionally signs up for like a college class then drops out. still collecting government welfare, got like 10k cash for having a kid. pretty ridonkulous stuff.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

np, was just curious. i know australia is different. i know an australian chick who i don't think has ever worked and occasionally signs up for like a college class then drops out. still collecting government welfare, got like 10k cash for having a kid. pretty ridonkulous stuff.

I thought that was the case, excuse me if i came off as overbearing, i have a tendancy to do so, sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's not.

You won't get shit for having a kid in most EU nations these days and not all that much support either.

It surprises me that it works that way in the US and that Americans talk about welfare nations which are not even close to the welfare state the US has become.

Oh well, i guess it's you and our old prison colony. (i am joking, there is nothing wrong with it but... well mayber there is. That is up for you to decide, not me)

 

[Dekasa]

John, in my state, when I was on unemployment (only a few months ago) I had to look for work every week, and keep track of who I applied with + get signatures of someone I talked to (had to be able to prove I applied/talked to someone) and I was required to take any job I was offered, otherwise I couldn't get Unemployment. So at least in my state, you don't have it right.

 

[OCNewbie]

John, in my state, when I was on unemployment (only a few months ago) I had to look for work every week, and keep track of who I applied with + get signatures of someone I talked to (had to be able to prove I applied/talked to someone) and I was required to take any job I was offered, otherwise I couldn't get Unemployment. So at least in my state, you don't have it right.

I have a friend on unemployment, here in Florida, and all he has to do is go online and fill out and online survey with a number of "Check yes or no" boxes, and that's all they require. One of the questions is something along the lines of "Did you apply for a job this week/month?". No further proof has been requested of him.

 

[JSt0rm]

why are the neocons in a uproar over this? Poor people should be given water and bread. They should work in the salt mines during the day and go to school at night.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

This is wrong on so many levels. I am all for eating right, but to treat someone different because they get assistance is wrong. While there may be a notable percentage of losers who get assistance most are not and are good people just trying to get through a rough patch. I see some who constantly whine like little school girls because of big government, but in this case all for big government because its a put down on people who they think less of to begin with. Again I am all for eating right, but not instituting a policy like this.

They're not treating anyone different... All they're saying is 'Hey... if you're spending our money this is what you can/can't spend it on'. I don't have a problem with that. As I said above... beggers can't be choosers.

 

[Dekasa]

I have a friend on unemployment, here in Florida, and all he has to do is go online and fill out and online survey with a number of "Check yes or no" boxes, and that's all they require. One of the questions is something along the lines of "Did you apply for a job this week/month?". No further proof has been requested of him.

Then I guess the point would be: it varies state-to-state. I had to show mine once in a 3-month period (was only on for 14 weeks). Also, I know that if they do check and you don't have any info, that they can demand back-payment of everything they gave you.

 

[techs]

I'm against the welfare that subsidizes corporate farmers to produce excess corn syrup at a ridiculously low price which corporate food producers use to produce cheap, poorly nutritious food which they advertise heavily to poor people.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I'm against the welfare that subsidizes corporate farmers to produce excess corn syrup at a ridiculously low price which corporate food producers use to produce cheap, poorly nutritious food which they advertise heavily to poor people.

I have to agree that this is a *much* bigger issue.

 

[piasabird]

You can just as easily drop 3 or 4 spoons full of sugar in coffee or hot choclate or in your ice tea. Maybe we should also ban ice cream, and doughnuts, and all barbeque sauce and ketchup with sugar in it. Why stop there ban pizza and fried chicken while you are at it.

[sarcasm added for effect]

Ban those stupid coffee drinks also. We need a luxury tax on all coffee drinks.

 

[zsdersw]

Maybe we should also ban ice cream, and doughnuts, and all barbeque sauce and ketchup with sugar in it. Why stop there ban pizza and fried chicken while you are at it.

What part of "nutritional value" don't you understand? Soda has zero nutritional value. Everything you listed has some.

 

[Dekasa]

Even Kool-Aid has nutritional value

 

[PingSpike]

LOL at Poll.