Missouri Lawmakers Don't Want Food Stamp Recipients To Buy Steak

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting
a reply to: Daughter2

welfare abuse is a myth pushed by the elite so the angry of the middle class can be directed away from them and towards the poor. There was poster complaining about their 40% tax rate caused by welfare - they had no understanding of how little actually goes towards social services.

I still think this law was just another ploy to push this myth without supporting facts.

I absolutely agree. I wish we could see it broken down, and someday it might need to be, before people start assaulting the poor in groceries stores! I really think it's such a small amount that goes towards feeding the poor. If the 40% went towards that, there might be an argument. But it's such a tiny fraction of that.

If taxation were voluntary, I don't think people would be as upset.

a reply to: OccamsRazor04

I can't think of any luxury vegetables, if there are any they don't get a pass from me. Do you know any $10/lb veggies?

Truffles!

a reply to: 0 x 0

I think a truffle constitues a fungus which is not a vegetable?

originally posted by: Annee
What do they think they're gonna do with the steak - - - have a big backyard shindig?

We buy steaks because they're flavorful. We slice them thin, saute them, then use them in a rice or noodle dish.

We never use them whole.

Yes, Annie. I think most people do the same. But you know what? If someone decides they are GOING TO have a big back yard shindig, for once, and throw caution to the wind, because they need to feel human and "not poor" for a few hours, knowing they will have to eat Ramen noodles for the rest of the month, then who are we to make the decision for them? Ya know? The spirit needs what the spirit needs.

Greetings:

First of all, food stamps do not go very far, so if one buys crab, steak or other expensive things, the other, perhaps less expensive, items will not be paid for.

Not everyone hames the system.

I have a close relationship with someone who is on food stamps and she just got them cut by about 20%.

It is extremely difficult for her to make ends meet, and she is a vegetarian, and buys very frugally.

I (of course) make up whatever differences there are, toilet paper, cat food, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc.

It is truly disgusting how our government treats the disenfranchised.

We Are Our Brother's Keeper

a reply to: MonkeyFishFrog

It's not a vegetable, but is treated as such for most food related classifications.

So basically, you wouldn't allow anything above what would keep someone alive. You wouldn't allow them to buy even the most merger items if it would just give them a little happiness? So at least be brave enough to answer the following questions. Do you apply this type of moral thinking to the following groups: Would you include all of these groups, just some or all?

a reply to: Daughter2

Good God almighty...you are getting FREE money to keep you from dieing of hunger.
Nobody is telling you that you can't buy these things..buy them with YOUR money like everybody else.

Food stamps aren't there to "make everybody happy" & "give them a moment of joy" - you know who can do that - YOU - with your own money like everybody else.

You're acting like this is all you can get - holy crap, there's TONS of programs out there for people that are poor enough to qualify for food stamps.

And that doesn't even start to discuss the non-govermental sources of help like charities & private food pantries.

The best thing to get out of poverty is to use your brain & not make unwise financial decisions like spending $9.00 on steak for one meal when you could buy broth, beans, some veggies & beef to make soup for 3.

The best thing to get you out of poverty is you...period.

A. Families of active military (about 25% receive foods stamps).

A. Well..they do have a check coming in, so if that & foodstamps aren't enough then they could look at additional employment, if they're unable to get a job because of childcare then they should talk to the family support services of their branch. There's also VHA & on-base housing that might help save some money (or section 8 if you're off base & quality), also utility assistance and social security if there's any reason someone in their house hold would qualify.

B. Severely disabled people in hospitals

B. That's what social security/disability is for. There is also now government subsidized healthcare which would probably be free if their income is low enough. Between the social security (which they could use for steak & lobster if they wanted) & the foodstamps they might be able to rub two pennies together...it's a tough situation, which is another reason you shouldn't be wasting your very limted funds on what is universally accepted as a luxury.

C. Severely disabled people living at home

C. See B

D. Children in foster homes

D. What? Isn't that why the foster parents get a check for them every month? Maybe we need to have them evaluated if the child isn't getting fed with that money.

E. Elderly in nursing homes

E. Foodstamps, social security & hopefully you earned some money during your long life. Also, maybe your family should be doing something for you since someone is obviously paying for the nursing home.

F. Elderly living at home.

F. Another tough situation. Defnitely foodstamps, social security, housing & utiilty assitance. I hope you're not alone, with your limited funds you probably shouldn't be wasting it on what is universally accepted as a luxury.

G. Children of parents who are working full-time but do not make enough to afford food

G. The government can't fix stupid & shouldn't have to. If you have 2 people working full time & can't afford to feed your kids you need to get some different jobs. The world is your oyster...go get you some. If nobody will hire you then perhaps you need to do some introspective reevaluation.

a reply to: LewsTherinThelamon

If taxation were voluntary, I don't think people would be as upset.

I hope someday our taxation system will be re-worked. I think people who receive poverty level wages, or near- poverty level wages should be exempt from those type taxes. I'm not a socialist, but I think what's fair is fair. You don't take money from those who are barely scraping by. What' the old saying "Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul"?. It's just wrong. (to me).

a reply to: Aazadan

Too bad that is not the real world. It might work if pay was higher and prices didn't keep rising.

Using that logic then the wealthy should be capped and their excess returned to other people. How many jobs have been lost to shifting work away from our country.

a reply to: roadgravel

I've personally always believed in a wealth cap myself, an infinite allowable wealth gap is preposterous in my opinion, but not getting into this argument.

originally posted by: MonkeyFishFrog
a reply to: Daughter2

Couldn't agree with you more. Kansas spent $40,000 to fish out alleged drug abusers on their assistance programs. Out of the 4,000 tested, only 11 were positive. But let's villify people anyways.

Actually Kansas hit the news for limiting the amount of money you take out of your EBT card to $25 a day. Now, you have to pay $.85 to take your money out, PLUS the ATM fee. Now if you don't have a checking account, imagine doing this every day to try and pay your rent?

Now they claim this is to stop welfare recipients from taking cruises, spa day, tattoos, etc... ???? WTH ???? I can see tattoos maybe and alcohol, but as I said about food stamps, once you give them the cash, however they spend it, is their choice. BUT, if they get evicted for not paying their rent, it's ON THEM!! Then an investigation should be started by welfare as to WHY their rent wasn't paid. I'm not on full welfare, so I don't know, but does welfare pay the rent directly to the landlord like they used to? I know it used to be that way, but I don't know about now.

a reply to: roadgravel

Pay has nothing to do with it, neither does the price of goods both can easily shift to meet market needs or in other words they adjust relative to supply and demand. Right now we don't need people to work, this has resulted in there being a large surplus of labor which lowers demand and in turn lowers wages.

When it comes to sending work to other countries that's part of the problem but not all of it. Labor is always going to go where it's cheapest, and that means the unskilled jobs short of economic protectionism are not coming back to the US. That leaves only skilled positions, which we simply don't have a need for.

And yes, it is the real world.

a reply to: Anyafaj

True but there is not as much support as they originally thought there would be, especially after the $40,000 folly. It also sounds like there are already talks to repeal or amend it.

a reply to: coldkidc

Ahh, you've got it all figured out, and make it sound so simple. Why don't you print out all your 'answers' and send them to the white house? You think nobody has thought of those things? Seriously? You think it's that simple?

If only it was. It isn't.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Ahh, you've got it all figured out, and make it sound so simple. Why don't you print out all your 'answers' and send them to the white house? You think nobody has thought of those things? Seriously? You think it's that simple? If only it was. It isn't.

What was the point of your post?

a reply to: coldkidc

To point out that you've completely oversimplified the scope of the problem, and furthermore imply that while you seem to believe you have all the answers, you in fact, do not.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

At no point have I said I have all the answers - I don't pretend to.
I was under the assumption I was answering someone's question.

Just for the record though, I think you're over-complicating it...

I just learned that only around 100 Americans die of starvation every year.
Seems like we have a pretty good support system in place right now...without steak & lobster.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

originally posted by: Annee
What do they think they're gonna do with the steak - - - have a big backyard shindig?

We buy steaks because they're flavorful. We slice them thin, saute them, then use them in a rice or noodle dish.

We never use them whole.

Yes, Annie. I think most people do the same. But you know what? If someone decides they are GOING TO have a big back yard shindig, for once, and throw caution to the wind, because they need to feel human and "not poor" for a few hours, knowing they will have to eat Ramen noodles for the rest of the month, then who are we to make the decision for them? Ya know? The spirit needs what the spirit needs.

Definitely agree.

a reply to: coldkidc

wow. I didn't even get to "A" and still threw up in my mouth a little bit.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

I'm not a socialist, but I think what's fair is fair. You don't take money from those who are barely scraping by.

BIG HUG to you!!!!

(Although, yes - you are a socialist....)
and welcome aboard!