So my father-in-law sends me this email with a scanned food stamp reciept...

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waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Wife used to work at a small grocery store. People would regularly come in and buy candy, snacks, and soda with their food stamps, then use what cash they had to buy lottery tickets or smokes.

I'm all for providing a safety net for people who have been dropped into unfortunate situations, but the current system is fucked up. You can't just give irresponsible, career-poor people free money and expect them to spend it wisely.

true. wich is why i laugh when i see people doing it.

while lobster is insane i really don't have a issue with steak and such. Where do you draw the line? a 3lb roast is expensive but gives a bunch of meals. would that be ok? hell a steak gives me 2 meals.

do people think "food banks" would be cheaper? would it be more healthy?

what foods would you put on it? so far people say no to junk food, steak, lobster, boxed stuff. so what do people want?
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
You are lacking knowledge of nutrition steak and lobsters don't cause diabetes or make people fat. This is not a very out of the ordinary EBT receipt. I would speculate the person either had a date or is a bodybuilder beginning a diet for competition because the receipt is completely lacking carbohydrates and is high in protein. It is called a ketogenic diet.

Shellfish are loaded with cholesterol, as is steak. They aren't the most efficient expenditure of resources. Aside from that, I wasn't talking about this particular receipt exclusively, but all the other horseshit people buy that's terrible for the body.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
How do you figure? Obesity and diabetes are an epidemic amongst the poor. A food program is the perfect place to educate people on proper diet. Aside from that, it's fuckin' free. You can take food you're not crazy about, and not feel hungry anymore, or you can have nothing and still feel hungry. The worn out saying "beggars can't be choosers" fits the situation perfectly.

it's an epidemic among the poor because they use their food stamps for survival rather than for nourishment and health.

the government mandating what foods can and can not be bought on food stamps is ridiculous... not just because it puts restrictions on a free society under a free democratic government, but because it would cost way more to implement your idea. first, it would increase bureaucracy, cause all kinds of confusion and problems, it would probably cause an increase in theft, etc. it's just ridiculous. there's nothing wrong with people choosing what they want to eat... the problem is when there's tons of low quality "food-like" products out there that only decrease health and it's cheap as dirt, poorer people will get it so they and their kids can survive and so they can have something quick to make for dinner because they're so busy trying to make ends meet or trying to get to their next job.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
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www.integratedssr.com
Shellfish are loaded with cholesterol, as is steak. They aren't the most efficient expenditure of resources. Aside from that, I wasn't talking about this particular receipt exclusively, but all the other horseshit people buy that's terrible for the body.

shellfish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which negate any negative affect the cholesterol could have on the body.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
You are lacking knowledge of nutrition steak and lobsters don't cause diabetes or make people fat. This is not a very out of the ordinary EBT receipt. I would speculate the person either had a date or is a bodybuilder beginning a diet for competition because the receipt is completely lacking carbohydrates and is high in protein. It is called a ketogenic diet.

yup
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
shellfish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which negate any negative affect the cholesterol could have on the body.

No they don't. They're fairly poor in omega-3s. But to make up for it, they do have higher levels of heavy metals and toxins due to being bottom feeders :^D
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
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www.integratedssr.com
No they don't. They're fairly poor in omega-3s. But to make up for it, they do have higher levels of heavy metals and toxins due to being bottom feeders :^D

actually, they do have higher levels of omega-3s. that's why you don't see high cholesterol or cad levels in countries that eat a shellfish-rich diet, like southeast asian countries. also, shellfish aren't really that high in cholesterol... they're moderately high, but not unhealthy at all because it isn't coming from carbohydrates or saturated fats to elevate your blood cholesterol. not all cholesterol is bad. they're very high in protein, low in carbohydrates, low in fat, and low in calories. and, yes, you're right... shellfish do have heavy metals, but not really high levels of them... they provide a good source of copper, zinc, and iron among other healthy minerals.

there's absolutely nothing wrong with eating lobster.
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
1,126
126
I would hate to spend time with your family if this is the type of shit you sit around worrying about

Exactly. If someone wants to blow their pittance on one shopping trip for lobster and steak enjoy your Ramen the rest of the month.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Are you two seriously debating the merits of food stamp expenditure based on the nutritional benefits or lack thereof of lobster? I don't even... D:
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
Cholesterol from carbs? What food do you eat? Where I come from, cholesterol only comes from animal products ;^)

Edit:
Btw you might like to review this page...

http://www.thepaleodiet.com/nutritional_tools/omega3.shtml

Be sure to note the comparison with salmon and tuna; fish known for having good levels of omega-3s

carbs increase vldl, which causes an increase in ldl, which are more prone to oxidation which cause plaquing to cause atherosclerosis.

anyway, http://www.americanheart.com/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3013797
http://www.shellfishandcholesterol.org/
etc.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
IF its true (i have my doubts) so what? the people are on a fixed amount they blow it on stupid s hit like steak and lobster they get to eat tuna the rest of the month.

i have no problem with them getting good food. I would rather see them get this then getting pre-made crap

Except most are not doing that.

Down here in S. Florida we just had a HUGE food stamp sting...one dude was running 100's of thousands of bucks through the system.

It's a huge industry. Joe Gangsta works the system to get a bunch of aid, he sells these stamps at a discount.

Another person buys up a bunch.

Another workaround is the person gets a bunch of stamps they don't really need and he negotiates with a Kwikee Mart owner to run the stamps through for other items later while he buys beer and cigarettes (and even porn discs).

At the end of the day the Kwikee Mart owner works it out on the books and keeps some stamps to resell.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Except most are not doing that.

Down here in S. Florida we just had a HUGE food stamp sting...one dude was running 100's of thousands of bucks through the system.

It's a huge industry. Joe Gangsta works the system to get a bunch of aid, he sells these stamps at a discount.

Another person buys up a bunch.

Another workaround is the person gets a bunch of stamps they don't really need and he negotiates with a Kwikee Mart owner to run the stamps through for other items later while he buys beer and cigarettes (and even porn discs).

At the end of the day the Kwikee Mart owner works it out on the books and keeps some stamps to resell.


sure people are going to screw any system. the question is what do you do about it? scrap it and hurt honest people that really need it? or do you accept some fraud and try to get those people?

what is the alternatives?
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
1,126
126
Florida still uses actual stamps? In Michigan the have a BridgeCard which is like a debit card with a PIN. Makes the scam you are explaining harder to pull off. But I have seen it myself where people come into the gas station and the clerk allows them to pump $40 in gas and grab a pack of smokes and they bill for misc. food items they don't leave with and charge the BridgeCard. Scammers will always find a way.
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,548
10,171
126
Cholesterol from carbs? What food do you eat? Where I come from, cholesterol only comes from animal products ;^)
I just went to a heart lecture, presented at a local hospital, from someone that has done research on fats and cholesterol, and I learned that a diet high in carbs (sugars, etc.), actually does raise your cholesterol levels. Something about insulin and (IIRC) the liver.


carbs increase vldl, which causes an increase in ldl, which are more prone to oxidation which cause plaquing to cause atherosclerosis.
Yeah. This.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
I just went to a heart lecture, presented at a local hospital, from someone that has done research on fats and cholesterol, and I learned that a diet high in carbs (sugars, etc.), actually does raise your cholesterol levels. Something about insulin and (IIRC) the liver.

it's not exactly new science or anything...
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Been on foodstamps in the past. Yes, this is completely normal. While I actually bought food for my family, more often than not you would see people in the checkout line all the time with two separate piles - one foodstamp junk pile, and a second beer/cigs pile. Even better, if you followed said person out of the store, they'd normally be yakking on their iPhone (latest model) while unloading their groceries into their brand new tricked out Escalade with 22" rims and spinners.

The real winners would be wearing top end clothes/shoes, have mani/pedi's while they drag their kids around who look like they just rolled out of the dumpster.

It's sad because it hurts the people that food/assistance is supposed to help the most on two fronts. First, it makes families legitimately in need have to jump through more hoops than they should for assistance. Second, it makes the families that really need the assistance not want to be associated with those types of people, making them less likely to pursue assistance they need in the first place.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,548
10,171
126
Would you guys believe, I know someone on food stamps, that only gets a small amount every month (less than $20), and doesn't spend it on lobster and steak? That maybe there are people out there using it for its intended purpose?
 

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
3
81
Been on foodstamps in the past. Yes, this is completely normal. While I actually bought food for my family, more often than not you would see people in the checkout line all the time with two separate piles - one foodstamp junk pile, and a second beer/cigs pile. Even better, if you followed said person out of the store, they'd normally be yakking on their iPhone (latest model) while unloading their groceries into their brand new tricked out Escalade with 22" rims and spinners.

The real winners would be wearing top end clothes/shoes, have mani/pedi's while they drag their kids around who look like they just rolled out of the dumpster.

It's sad because it hurts the people that food/assistance is supposed to help the most on two fronts. First, it makes families legitimately in need have to jump through more hoops than they should for assistance. Second, it makes the families that really need the assistance not want to be associated with those types of people, making them less likely to pursue assistance they need in the first place.

The food stamps aren't what's enabling that. It's the selling crack.
 

tk149

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2002
7,253
1
0
I think I've recently seen signs at the Papa Murphy's saying that they now accept WIC or EBT or whatever.

Papa Murphy's provides fresh pre-made uncooked pizzas. You take them home and stick them in your oven. They are loads better than frozen pizzas.

Really, that just strikes me as wrong. How many people on food stamps are so busy with work that they need pre-made pizzas?
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I think the problem here is that a lot of people don't really need the foodstamps. So when they get their food stamp money, they treat it like free extra money and buy a bunch of fancy food (like lobster and steak).
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,548
10,171
126
I think the problem here is that a lot of people don't really need the foodstamps. So when they get their food stamp money, they treat it like free extra money and buy a bunch of fancy food (like lobster and steak).

My friend saves them up for a rainy day, in the rare happenstance that his cash is depleted by the end of the month, and needs food.

One thing that being on foodstamps enables, is going to the local food pantry. Which you can get staple food for free. (Canned vegetables, soup, chile, cereal, pasta, tuna fish, and monthly, you can get condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo), sugar, coffee, tea, soap, flour, oil, and usually, a package of eggs and cheese.)

I don't think anyone here is going to complain about food pantries, they don't give out alcohol and cigs. Nor flatscreen TVs. On thanksgiving, they do give away frozen turkeys though. Lots of meat for cheap, you can eat for a week or more on one of those. If you know how to cook one, that is.
 

eits

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
25,015
3
81
www.integratedssr.com
I think I've recently seen signs at the Papa Murphy's saying that they now accept WIC or EBT or whatever.

Papa Murphy's provides fresh pre-made uncooked pizzas. You take them home and stick them in your oven. They are loads better than frozen pizzas.

Really, that just strikes me as wrong. How many people on food stamps are so busy with work that they need pre-made pizzas?

how is it wrong? first off, you can't do it all the time because it's too expensive to do. also, the reason why people are often on food stamps is because they work too much. they get shitty dead-end jobs to support their kids and not enough time and energy to cook or clean because of how much they need to work to make ends meet. they're getting nickeled and dimed.