Food Stamps and the $41 Cake (1 Viewer)

[squistion]

I was behind a lady and her five kids in a convenience store last week. Each kid had one bag of Funyons and a large softdrink. The bill came to roughly $15 which the lady paid for with her "Lone Star Card" which is the equivalent of a SNAP card.

She didn't even thank me for the free food.

It made me pretty sad for America.

What, were you wearing a t-shirt that said TAX PAYING CITIZEN, PLEASE THANK ME IF YOU PAY WITH A LONE STAR CARD?

 

[Joe T]

I was behind a lady and her five kids in a convenience store last week. Each kid had one bag of Funyons and a large softdrink. The bill came to roughly $15 which the lady paid for with her "Lone Star Card" which is the equivalent of a SNAP card.

She didn't even thank me for the free food.

It made me pretty sad for America.

What, were you wearing a t-shirt that said TAX PAYING CITIZEN, PLEASE THANK ME IF YOU PAY WITH A LONE STAR CARD?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

my wife's friend had another kid, just so she would qualify for all the maximum aid

 

[IC FBGCav]

I'm glad I live in an affluent area and never have to see these dirtbags with their welfare debit cards buying their junk food. That's got to suck.

I don't live in an "affluent area" and never seen a welfare debit card or know what it looks like. But then, I am not nosy or give crap about how other people are paying or what they are buying.

 

[McGarnicle]

I'm glad I live in an affluent area and never have to see these dirtbags with their welfare debit cards buying their junk food. That's got to suck.

I don't live in an "affluent area" and never seen a welfare debit card or know what it looks like. But then, I am not nosy or give crap about how other people are paying or what they are buying.

It should be "and have never seen", not "and never seen".

 

[Joe T]

I'm glad I live in an affluent area and never have to see these dirtbags with their welfare debit cards buying their junk food. That's got to suck.

I don't live in an "affluent area" and never seen a welfare debit card or know what it looks like. But then, I am not nosy or give crap about how other people are paying or what they are buying.

Then why are you here?

 

[the moops]

my wife's friend had another kid, just so she would qualify for all the maximum aid

She must be living the life now. I am so jealous of her and all her junk food eating children

 

[Henry Ford]

my wife's friend had another kid, just so she would qualify for all the maximum aid

That's some serious planning ahead.

 

[IC FBGCav]

I'm glad I live in an affluent area and never have to see these dirtbags with their welfare debit cards buying their junk food. That's got to suck.

I don't live in an "affluent area" and never seen a welfare debit card or know what it looks like. But then, I am not nosy or give crap about how other people are paying or what they are buying.

Then why are you here?

To see why this title got 10 pages, I thought I was missing something but I am not. Just the same holier than thou crowd. Carry on.

 

[meatwad1]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

 

[the moops]

 

[squistion]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

Great idea, one never knows when there will be a calculator shortage.

 

[Henry Ford]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

You sure do think poor people are stupid.

 

[meatwad1]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

You sure do think poor people are stupid.

Definitely not all...probably more than half, though. In any event, it would be good for those who don't understand fractions to learn them. Plus, people would be healthier since you would be unable to blow your wad on soda and chips.

I would also give all of the poor people free chromebooks with the stipulation that a person is taking a free online course every semester. They could be easy things like, "How to watch your kids properly", or "How to use flour, sugar, and other raw materials in order to bake a cheap birthday cake". #### it. I should quit my job right now and just start producing these videos...wait...I am pretty sure they are already on youtube. Rats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPHucBp_kDY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6il7xe7O-kk

 

[bostonfred]

you know what homeless people need? a way to learn fractions. basically the only thing stopping them.

 

[McGarnicle]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

You sure do think poor people are stupid.

They are really fat too, and they smoke Newports and play scratch-offs. Literally every poor person ever.

 

[KarmaPolice]

a lot of condescending posts in here, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I would think you guys would want them to only be able to by smokes and booze and Doritos with the cards- die off faster so you don't have to deal with them. who wants poor people eating salad and sucking off your tax teets until they are 100?

 

[meatwad1]

you know what homeless people need? a way to learn fractions. basically the only thing stopping them.

Alot of homeless people get their needs taken care of by a shelter, for the ones scraping by in motels though, it would not hurt to brush up on math skills. A big part of being down on your luck is depression and a lack of confidence.

 

[meatwad1]

a lot of condescending posts in here, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I would think you guys would want them to only be able to by smokes and booze and Doritos with the cards- die off faster so you don't have to deal with them. who wants poor people eating salad and sucking off your tax teets until they are 100?

Who is saying they should only eat salad? They should eat a balance of food, and I would include junk in the balance. Sorry, but one good thing about our new frontier (computer culture) is that we now have the ability to create databases that actually track every purchase and also eventually link those purchases to bio metric monitoring systems. People should not be able to take money they did not earn and totally waste it on junk.

My system of computer betterment programs will actually lead to more self actualization for these people and will hopefully improve their communities.

 

[KarmaPolice]

a lot of condescending posts in here, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I would think you guys would want them to only be able to by smokes and booze and Doritos with the cards- die off faster so you don't have to deal with them. who wants poor people eating salad and sucking off your tax teets until they are 100?

Who is saying they should only eat salad? They should eat a balance of food, and I would include junk in the balance. Sorry, but one good thing about our new frontier (computer culture) is that we now have the ability to create databases that actually track every purchase and also eventually link those purchases to bio metric monitoring systems. People should not be able to take money they did not earn and totally waste it on junk. My system of computer betterment programs will actually lead to more self actualization for these people and will hopefully improve their communities.

it would improve all our communities if we all ate a balanced diet. but I guess only people who take gov. aid are low enough to be told to eat a certain % of each type of food for their own good?

just a lot of generalization in your plan that I am not comfortable with. telling people what to eat is not something I am down with. nor do I think a balanced diet is going to help people who don't want to be helped. always going to be people who exploit any system in place. does 0 good to focus on that small % of people.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Once again the small government types are advocating for the expansion of the nanny state.

Not only that, but they want government grocery stores to take poor people business away from the free market grocers. I guess because those government grocery stores would be able to operate more efficiently.

 

[ElGatoLoco]

The government should start a warehouse food club for poor people, that only stock certain brands at a discount. They should require all county bus systems to roll to one of these warehouses, so people can get there. Then they should pay $15 an hour for the unskilled among us to work. People with food cards should only be able to shop at these stores. These stores will carry name brands because the name brand companies will want to peddle their wares to the masses. They should only be allowed to purchase a certain fraction of goods in each category per month. For example, 25% fresh meat or seafood, 35% dry grocery, 20%produce, 10% dairy, 10% fielders choice. This way they will be forced to learn about fractions as well as time...sounds like a win win to me. I would let the general public shop at this discount store as well so they can receive the benefits. This is my dream for poor people in America.

Why stop there? I think we should just feed all poor people Soylent. Win-win. No more fat, sick, and poor people.

 

[Freelove]

Once again the small government types are advocating for the expansion of the nanny state.

Not only that, but they want government grocery stores to take poor people business away from the free market grocers. I guess because those government grocery stores would be able to operate more efficiently.

As long as I can still get my two halves of cake.

 

[tonydead]

They are really fat too, and they smoke Newports and play scratch-offs. Literally every poor person ever.

You ever hang out in a Breaux Mart in Louisiana?

I'm a supporter of making poor people buy healthy food, where is the harm in that? And it just might help get the fat ### lazy ones off the couch and get a job.

 

[bostonfred]

you know what homeless people need? a way to learn fractions. basically the only thing stopping them.

Alot of homeless people get their needs taken care of by a shelter, for the ones scraping by in motels though, it would not hurt to brush up on math skills. A big part of being down on your luck is depression and a lack of confidence.

1) There's two types of homeless people. The ones who live in shelters and the ones scraping by in motels instead.

2) One of the big reasons they're homeless is because they don't have basic math skills, like fractions.

3) Learning fractions solves depression.

4) If they just knew fractions, they would become confident.

5) All you need to get a job is to be confident and not depressed. I mean that, and obviously, fractions.

I'm trying to figure out which of these is the most ridiculous assumption in your horrible condescending version of the plight of the homeless. My mentally ill brother was homeless for years, living in a tent community, routinely robbed, including having his tent stolen, he budgeted his money meticulously, knowing at the start of each month where every dollar was going to go.

He was also depressed and lacked confidence. But knowledge of fractions wasn't the issue. He got a near perfect score on his SATs, was enrolled in a college astronomy class while in junior high because he wasn't challenged in school, and he attended a prestigious prep school and college before his mental illness crept in to his life. Estimates range between 20 and 40 percent of the homeless population who are mentally ill, and many of those are intelligent, well educated people who know fractions.

 

[Wrighteous Ray]

Estimates range between 20 and 40 percent of the homeless population who are mentally ill

That's between 1/5th and 2/5ths.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Hope your brother is doing well these days fred. I remember you posting his story in some detail in some other thread.

 

[Freelove]

Estimates range between 20 and 40 percent of the homeless population who are mentally ill

That's between 1/5th and 2/5ths.

Somebody has a home.

 

[Otis]

Wow. Lots of jerks in here. Cool.

 

[meatwad1]

you know what homeless people need? a way to learn fractions. basically the only thing stopping them.

Alot of homeless people get their needs taken care of by a shelter, for the ones scraping by in motels though, it would not hurt to brush up on math skills. A big part of being down on your luck is depression and a lack of confidence.

1) There's two types of homeless people. The ones who live in shelters and the ones scraping by in motels instead.

2) One of the big reasons they're homeless is because they don't have basic math skills, like fractions.

3) Learning fractions solves depression.

4) If they just knew fractions, they would become confident.

5) All you need to get a job is to be confident and not depressed. I mean that, and obviously, fractions.

I'm trying to figure out which of these is the most ridiculous assumption in your horrible condescending version of the plight of the homeless. My mentally ill brother was homeless for years, living in a tent community, routinely robbed, including having his tent stolen, he budgeted his money meticulously, knowing at the start of each month where every dollar was going to go.

He was also depressed and lacked confidence. But knowledge of fractions wasn't the issue. He got a near perfect score on his SATs, was enrolled in a college astronomy class while in junior high because he wasn't challenged in school, and he attended a prestigious prep school and college before his mental illness crept in to his life. Estimates range between 20 and 40 percent of the homeless population who are mentally ill, and many of those are intelligent, well educated people who know fractions.

I am sorry about your brother, and believe me I am well aware of the plight of the homeless. I work with some people who are homeless, however the majority of people who receive food aid are most certainly not homeless. As a matter of fact, about less than 1% of the population is homeless on a chronic basis....while 20% are on food stamps. Also, this is a message board....it goes with out saying that most of what is posted on here is rife with hyperbole, so you should probably take some of this with a grain of salt.

I don't doubt that many of the people who are homeless are mentally ill...but that is not what anyone is talking about....we are talking about abusing the free money given by buying frivolous items with the scarce resources we have, most of which is done by people who are not homeless. Nobody here is suggesting that we take away aid for homeless people, not that there is much of it anyways. You probably know more than anyone that there are very few people in our country who give two fu(ks about homeless people, mentally ill or not.

 

[datonn]

I am sorry about your brother, and believe me I am well aware of the plight of the homeless. I work with some people who are homeless, however the majority of people who receive food aid are most certainly not homeless. As a matter of fact, about less than 1% of the population is homeless on a chronic basis....while 20% are on food stamps. Also, this is a message board....it goes with out saying that most of what is posted on here is rife with hyperbole, so you should probably take some of this with a grain of salt.

I don't doubt that many of the people who are homeless are mentally ill...but that is not what anyone is talking about....we are talking about abusing the free money given by buying frivolous items with the scarce resources we have, most of which is done by people who are not homeless. Nobody here is suggesting that we take away aid for homeless people, not that there is much of it anyways. You probably know more than anyone that there are very few people in our country who give two fu(ks about homeless people, mentally ill or not.

I just had a thought...and if anyone knows the statistics, that'd be great!

You mention less than 1% of the American population is homeless on a chronic basis. You also mention 20% of Americans are on food stamps...and openly suggest that many who are homeless are suffering from some form of mental illness.

That being said, has anyone seen statistics on the number of individuals on food stamps (or other Federal social service programs) who are suffering from some form of mental illness?

I can think of eight members of my larger extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, their kids) who are collecting some (several?) forms of non-retirement based Federal assistance. Food stamps, disability from social security, etc. Three of the eight have been diagnosed (clinically) as bipolar, and are being medicated for it (two of those three have attempted suicide on at least one occasion). A fourth of the eight is a poster-child for bipolar and depression as well...though she refuses to seek treatment (instead opting to pop horse tranquilizers and veg-out every time life gets even a little hard/stressful). That makes half of the people I know very-personally (in my extended family) who are on Federal assistance who are suffering with some form(s) of mental illness.

Just curious if anyone has any good stats on that...as it seems as though it would aid the direction the conversation has been heading.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

my wife's friend had another kid, just so she would qualify for all the maximum aid

She must be living the life now. I am so jealous of her and all her junk food eating children

We're paying for it.

 

[Henry Ford]

my wife's friend had another kid, just so she would qualify for all the maximum aid

She must be living the life now. I am so jealous of her and all her junk food eating children

We're paying for it.

I have zero issues with the $70-80 a year I pay into the federal coffers for food for other people.

 

[Sabertooth]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

 

[Henry Ford]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea.

Some did. Many didn't. They were told it would only be 0.5% of income. Some tried to warn that it would become a monstrosity. They were mocked. They were right.

 

[Sabertooth]

My grandmother gave me some advice one time..

Never trust a Turk or a Kurd.

That's common sense right there.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things income tax cuts is a terrible idea.

I believe that you will largely approve of the edit.

 

[Gawain]

I support a MAP, just like I support a BIG.

MAP=Monthly Allocation of Produce

BIG=Basic Income Guarantee

 

[Soonerman]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

In what way does it "ignore the basics of compounding wealth?"

 

[Henry Ford]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

 

[Henry Ford]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things income tax cuts is a terrible idea.

I believe that you will largely approve of the edit.

For anything.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Maybe a 'lock box' of some sort

 

[Soonerman]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Or, they could have individually owned accounts that actually earn a return.

 

[Henry Ford]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Or, they could have individually owned accounts that actually earn a return.

Which might interfere with the "continuous payments until death" plan for some people, one might imagine.

 

[Soonerman]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Or, they could have individually owned accounts that actually earn a return.

Which might interfere with the "continuous payments until death" plan for some people, one might imagine.

Not necessarily. There are these things called "annuities" one can purchase to mitigate that concern.

 

[Henry Ford]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Or, they could have individually owned accounts that actually earn a return.

Which might interfere with the "continuous payments until death" plan for some people, one might imagine.

Not necessarily. There are these things called "annuities" one can purchase to mitigate that concern.

And what happens if the financial company providing that annuity goes bankrupt?

Social Security, in essence, is an annuity. It's just one run by and backed by the federal government.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

I laugh at the premise that our grandparent had all this common sense. Aren't they the ones who thought social security was a great idea. Gave birth to the baby boomers and basically ran this country into the ground during the cold war?

Social Security is a great idea. Stealing from Social Security to pay for other things is a terrible idea.

Only the government could put in place a pay as you go system like this that ignores the possibility of program threatening demographics and the basics of compounding wealth.

Yes, they should definitely create some kind of Trust Fund to hold excess during the boom years so that there's enough money to pay people when the demographic shifts. Good idea.

Or, they could have individually owned accounts that actually earn a return.

Which might interfere with the "continuous payments until death" plan for some people, one might imagine.

Also kinda takes the "Social" aspect out of "Social Security"

 

[DiStefano]

Nobody ever wins votes by telling people to save more. On the other hand, if you promise people $41 cakes which others will pay for, you will be elected to Congress, and hailed as a great statesman who cares for the poor.