Are you on food stamps?
November 29, 2009
If you are, you failed. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is true. You failed to take care of even yourself. Sure, it happens. Sometimes things get out of control, but the reality is, you failed. Yes, the government wants you to feel no shame for being dependent. It gave you a slick plastic card with an American flag. When you use it you look just like people who pay for food with their own money. The government doesn’t want you to be embarrassed but you should be.
That stings a little, doesn’t it? It should. Other people are being forced to buy your food; people who didn’t fail. Don’t let anybody tell you there is no shame in being on food stamps. They are wrong. It is shameful. That is okay. Shame is the subconscious telling you to make changes, get a job and pay your own way. When you get off food stamps and break that dependency, that feeling of shame will turn into a feeling of pride. Until then, don’t let anybody tell you that there is no stigma in living off of the wealth of others. Like the New York Times: Across U.S., Food Stamp Use Soars and Stigma Fades
Although the program is growing at a record rate, the federal official who oversees it would like it to grow even faster.
“I think the response of the program has been tremendous,” said Kevin Concannon, an under secretary of agriculture, “but we’re mindful that there are another 15, 16 million who could benefit.”
The undersecretary won’t rest until all 16 million are wards of the state.
For some people, maintaining pride and dignity is important.
Two northeast Ohio counties are being ordered by the state to try to boost the number of Amish receiving food stamps.
Geauga and Holmes counties plan to start advertising campaigns to encourage Amish to enroll in the subsidy program. Holmes may use a billboard to get the message out.
State officials saidt’s important that the Amish know the benefit is available.
But county officials question whether the effort is a waste of time and money. Amish oppose accepting government assistance.
The head of the Geauga Department of Job and Family Services says no matter how much they do, the Amish won’t sign up.
“…ordered by the state to try to boost the number of Amish receiving food stamps.”
Coming up following the failure of imposed dependency: Forced dependency.
James :
Date: November 29, 2009
The bureaucrats want a large number on their report to justify their program’s “success” rate. A lot like Canada and their socialized health program. Canadians below 18 years of age receive rapid treatment. Over 18? Get ignored. Those bureaucrats want low infant mortality numbers on their reports.
I digress…
James :
Date: November 29, 2009
The number of losers on the welfare dole in the article is staggering.
Doesn’t free government food condition people to think they don’t have to build savings to manage employment risk?
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 29, 2009
James: We keep at least a year of shelf stable food on hand. For items that are not shelf stable – like cooking oil – we keep several quarts and cycle through it. Our main purpose is emergency preparedness. That could mean war or pandemic but it could also mean feeding ourselves during a financial crisis.
ED Barnes :
Date: November 29, 2009
This has been a discussion in my family for a while that the government “food stamp” credit card was a bad idea. There should be some shame for being on food stamps.
When you’re at the grocery store and you have to pull out the actual numbered coupons and people are looking at you and judging you, then it’s an incentive to not have to do that anymore. If you’re pulling out a credit card then it’s no big deal.
Bman :
Date: November 29, 2009
Anybody receiving foodstamps shouldnt be able to qualify for “free” or reduced lunches at school for their kids. If they are already getting “free” food, then why should they get “free” food again for their kids at school? Democrats look at the success rate of a program by measuring the number of people dependent on it. I look at a programs success by how many people are off of it
James :
Date: November 29, 2009
If you’re on the dole, you shouldn’t vote.
Given the choice of food stamps = “government plastic” or the privilege of voting for the next 4 years, which would people choose?
James :
Date: November 30, 2009
A year of any kind of food is a lot. Three cans of soup per day is 1,000 cans. Those have shelf life, and too much salt. Hopefully there’s better choices than 50# bags of brown rice and lard. Unless you home can, shelf stable with variety that you want to eat month after month is a task.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 30, 2009
It takes up some space and it isn’t eating like you are used to. Many canned foods will last 10-20 years regardless of what the expiration date says. Rice and beans will last practically forever if stored correctly. In my case, the food fills one large closet. I don’t have a year of everything, by the way, the stuff that is most likely to spoil I will add when I feel a crisis coming on (hopefully). I probably have enough to feed my family without any hunger for four months right now.
The Mormons practice a year of food storage as part of their religion. There are many businesses that serve that need who will serve your secular need too.
Here is an LDS food needs calculator.
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm
van-a-gram :
Date: November 30, 2009
We used to live in Las Vegas. I remember going to the Food Lion (or whatever the grocery chain was) and watching wealthy older ladies (cadillac, rolex, jewelry) BUYING food stamps from people outside for .50 on the dollar.
You see, the food stamps can’t be used for alcohol or tobacco so they would sell them at a steep discount to get enough $$ to buy those things.
Illegal? Yes. Stigma to EITHER person — no.
Another favorite: Welfare recipients buying tuna fish and hamburger because you can’t buy cat food or dog food with the stamps. Even their fucking pets get fed better than many who do not receive “assistance”.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 30, 2009
Van: The stupid flaw in the stupid idea that food stamps are nutrition assistance: food stamps are fungible. Even if they aren’t sold at .50 on the dollar or they aren’t used to buy Starkist for the cat, they free up other funds that would have been used to purchase food.
Food stamps = cash = food stamps.
The island of Saipan as part of the CNMI is a commonwealth of the United States. Every single store on the island has a sign that reads “We accept food stamp.” It is a weird local colloquialism that the word “stamp” is always used in the singular. The signs are so ubiquitous, some smart ass put a sign up that you can’t miss near the airport that says, “Welcome to Saipan. We accept food stamp.”
MadBrad :
Date: November 30, 2009
Should I lose my job one of the first things I’m going to do is apply for my Communist Debit Card. Every time I use it I’m going to proudly show it to everyone within sight and earshot and thank them for buying my groceries as I “Game the System”, and explain that I’m saving my cash to buy Lotto Tickets, Beer, Weed and Sex Industry Services.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 30, 2009
Brad, I think that is a great idea! I believe you would do it too. It is the perfect response. Make sure you have things like whiskey, cigars and copies of Penthouse right out in plain sight in the Winn Dixie check out too.
MadBrad :
Date: November 30, 2009
Oh HELL YEAH. I might even get a T-Shirt that provides adequate expression too. The written word can be very powerful.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 30, 2009
If you do it at Winn Dixie, everybody there will be on Food Stamps and assume you are providing sincere financial advice.
R.D. Walker :
Date: November 30, 2009
Love my liberty :
Date: November 30, 2009
The movie Cinderella Man was on TNT this weekend. It was the first time I saw it, and I was so impressed — both with the movie and with the man (James Braddock). In the Depression, there was a stigma about going on public assistance. And it was clear that it hurt Jim’s pride to have to turn to the government. But the biggest thing: when he got back on his feet, he returned all the relief money that he had taken.
Poverty should be (and primarily is in this country) a temporary condition. Therefore, they should give up their right to vote in exchange for assistance, the assistance should be limited, and — let’s take it a step further — they should have to pay it back once they get back on their feet.
Shawn :
Date: December 1, 2009
Re: “If you’re on the dole, you shouldn’t vote.”
That thought terrifies me – and I have no doubt that our “representatives” will give it significant consideration – while they also push to increase the number of “users” of these “services”. Though, in all likelihood, those that are gaming the system in this way are the same that vote more money into that type of system, liberals, so our current reps would be fools to eliminate their voting power.
lisa :
Date: December 27, 2009
wow you guys are so out there. there is honest people who have been hit hard by the ecom. and have kids too. so you are saying that the kids should suffer because you are selfish and inconciderate. grow up really…not everyone abuses the system and there u sit probably in a suit and tie…lol i sure hope i dont see u using stamps one day…
R.D. Walker :
Date: December 27, 2009
No lisa, they should take the food stamps and buy food. They should use the food stamps when they have used up their own funds. Nobody should be forced to go hungry, least of all children.
Still, you don’t get to be on food stamps and be proud. When you are on food stamps you have failed. You have failed to live up to your responsibility to care for yourself and your children. It happens. Still, you don’t get to be proud when you are on food stamps. You are living off of other people and you should a) act grateful, not entitled and b) do everything in your power to get back to supporting yourself so you can be proud.
Food stamps are a stop gap, not a lifestyle.
Finally, if you do see me on food stamps, I invite you to mock me with derision. I will appropriately hang my head in shame and plan ways to get off of them as quickly as I possibly can.
MadBrad :
Date: December 27, 2009
Wow. I wish I could afford a suit and tie. The last one I bought was several years ago, when I was making money. The suit doesn’t fit anymore.
Maybe if I had a Communist Debit Card I could do like the fatasses who ride around the grocery store on a motorized cart, loading up on bullshit at the expense of the taxpayer.
My guess is that Lisa doesn’t live in the ghetto. No wonder she thinks we are really out there.