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

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

by the way - my husband grew up in rural Missouri.
That state is a mess.

(I grew up in Illinios and Kansas).....

EDIT: But then again, Kansas is an even WORSE mess.
Just so you all know what I think. Kansas SUCKS. Brownback is a monster.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting
a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Lol! Never heard that definition of redneck before, but okay! It's odd though. I think 'redneck' as more of a mindset, political thing. I guess we get these little mindsets on what is what at some point. I try not to say 'white trash' at all. : )

Anyway! I didn't mean to derail the thread with that. The conversation has a good flow, I think.

I have some things I want to add; but it will have to wait until later this evening.

People develop impressions based on what the media presents. I lived in Mississippi for years and it is not as it is most often represented as being. There is a lot that is wrong there, but not even close to what the average out of state perception is.

I now live in Texas and I could pretty much say exactly the same about Texas. People in Pennsylvania have a perception that Texans all walk around with guns, say duh 10 times in a sentence and hang gays on trees.

I have lived here for a bit over 3 years and have yet to see a gun in public that is not of the police or security. There are some incredibly smart people here and the state is rocking along economically and is practically carrying the nation in job growth.

I live in Dallas, and every time I go to the mall closest to me I see gay guys. Austin has one of the larger gay populations in the country. Ignorant people often believe what they want to believe and are pretty damned clueless in truth.

I have known many rednecks in my life and the ones who werent white trash were pretty upstanding guys who spoke with an accent and often worked with their hands. There was a nobility, in some cases, to their philosophy of life and their ethics were unquestionable. Can you say that about the "civilized" people who occupy the avant garde in our society? umm Frack no!

So what's the problem? Sorry but if you need government assistance for food, maybe you shouldn't buy $25 dollar steaks or a $30 bag if shrimp. Just saying.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs MO. a mess? Lol please elaborate. I do agree KS sucks

a reply to: Puppylove see the problems is, not everyone's like you. There's a reason they are putting limits on how long you can be on welfare. Cause not everyone is as honest as you and unfortunately most have taken advantage of the system. I've seen first hand people who are on H.U.D. With $35 rent and on welfare but they are driving a Cadillac,or a Lincoln, or a huge suv. There needs to be limits

a reply to: spaceage816

How will they be able to afford that on food stamp?

Again why do people care what they buy on food stamp? It's not their businesses.

a reply to: Deaf Alien

Because we pay for the food stamps.

originally posted by: pfishy
a reply to: Deaf Alien

Because we pay for the food stamps.

You pay about $2.50 a year for them. Also, once the money is gone it's no longer yours. That means you lose your say on what it gets spent on. You're another one of those that just likes being a control freak.

If you really want to be technical about it, all of the food you buy is as cheap as it is due to farm subsidies. That means your neighbor is paying for your food. Should your neighbor get to dictate what you are eating? How about the people you're in an insurance pool with? If you get hurt they pay for you. Should they get to dictate your activity?

a reply to: pfishy

Because we pay for the food stamps.

LOL that argument again. We have discussed that already.

The majority of food stamp recipients have or are paying for the food stamp!

It's not like you are paying much. It's a non-issue.

It is healthier & less expensive to buy a huge steak & split it up into many
meals than to eat only packaged food. Packaged food is ~ 99% of what you
can get at any food bank...therefore the "steak" can go a long way or be
abused...but who is to say? Many people down & out have been contributors
to the system. I realize many have not contributed & never will...but everyone
is NOT the same. However we have enough food to bloody feed the world if we
powers would allow it.

Cheers
Ektar

a reply to: Deaf Alien

Sorry, the thread has grown to fast to keep up with all the posts, and the others I'm following.

Read here and educate yourself before you make more silly arguments:

www.cbpp.org...

a reply to: pfishy

Yeah I understand not wanting to go through large threads LOL. I wish ATS would have some kind of system where they list the best posts in threads.

originally posted by: Deaf Alien
a reply to: Xtrozero

Why restrict booze and cigs then too?

They are not considered food. How will booze help them on their feet and work? Can you eat cigarettes?

You can eat cigs, dirt, chips, coke or Twinkies all about the same thing, wait I take that back, dirt is most likely better for you.

a reply to: Xtrozero

LOL I don't know if you were being humorous or serious.

Family member got more on SNAP when unemployed & now they are
permanently disabled & only get $13k / year & so only get $24 per month
from SNAP...
Before they got $16.5 K per year & $188 per month SNAP.
There is a problem & now only $24 per month when they are
desperate...yes many people on snap can work...others cannot.

Something needs to be fixed.

Cheers
Ektar

originally posted by: Deaf Alien

You think most people are abusing food stamp? That it's epidemic?

Actually I don't, but I think apathy is an epidemic. I'm debating this because it's the OP point.

a reply to: Xtrozero

In OP:

Rick Brattin a Republican lawmaker in Missouri...does not want people who get food stamps to be able to eat, steak, lobster, cookies, sodas. He says and I quote "that people are abusing the system by purchasing luxury foods, and believes that that must be stopped, even if it ends up requiring the inclusion of other less luxurious items."

That is what he claimed. Where are those people that are abusing the system? There are few people who do that. They will be caught anyway. We don't need to worry about that.

a reply to: links234
Not using food stamps for steak is suffering? I know my opinion will be unpopular, but... Dude, I'm kind of those poor people to which you refer. Unless I have any more children and can't manage otherwise, I won't be applying for food stamps because there are families with several children that could use them the most. Even if I ever get them, buying fancy food on stamps is abusing it. Fresh food ingredients are expensive, but they go a long way too. It really balances out. If it doesn't become the cheaper option to you, our anyone ever, then y'all seriously need to learn how to shop.. And, if that's the case, you ain't poor. If you're worried about food spoiling, then dehydrate and/or can the food. Easy and cheap to do. All this really is, is being angry because some conservative called the BS for what it is.

originally posted by: Aazadan
Could it possibly be because they have no commercial capability?

What the hell does that mean? As an individual what commercial capability did I have, or you have?

Look at the reservations, many of them still don't have electricity or clean water. They don't have commercially viable land, and in many they die of diseases that are considered wiped out in the rest of North America.

Thanks for proving my point that people will live the lowest level if free living (no matter how crappy it is) is offered...

I rest my case on your point.

Just about every commercial success from the Native Americans (most of it casinos) required special dispensations so that they could operate their business off of tribal lands.

I'm confused... are you saying that a Native American has no capability to do anything but work in a casino, or make jewelry, Indian bread? There is a 50 foot wall on their reservation keeping them in?

African Americans are similar. How much time have you spent in inner city slums? That's where most of their population lives. It's not as simple as just moving away. The culture of the area infests a person and holds them down and it has nothing to do with a subsidy.

Once again.... Thanks for proving my point that people will live the lowest level if free living (no matter how crappy it is) is offered...

I rest my case on your point, once again...

Or is it that those "blacks" they just do not have the capacity to do anything other than what people do in slums...

People aren't content with poverty lifestyles but there is simply nowhere to move up.

Ah..the silver spoon theory... I think my spoon was make of wood...

I look at my own life, I'm relatively well educated (though I still have a bit more schooling to go) and have quite a low income. I will die broke, likely on the street, and probably die young. I'm 30 now, I do not expect to make it to 40, if cuts to disability and food stamps don't get me it will be the extremely high murder and home invasion rate in my town. It's not because I don't want to do better, I've worked on that part... I hold 3 college degrees and going for another, my GPA is high, and I was even valedictorian for one of them. I'm competent on a list of development software longer than my arm, and can develop virtually anything. None of that is worth a damn. Want to know why? Employers don't hire poor people. Part of the employment process in any serious job involves a credit check, and when you're poor you're going to fail that credit check. Hence there is nowhere to move up to. Only low paying retail jobs that will be done by robots (that oddly enough, I could program) in 10 years.

Why do I make 200k a year and I didn't complete my BA until 30 years after high school?

Are you willing to move anywhere for the job? Sounds like your not due to you suggest that you live in a high risk area.

Luck most certainly played a part, but it wasn't the only part.

There is no thing as luck... Only the ignorant think that there is...

Anyone on top had to work for it, the luck was in obtaining the opportunity to perform that work in the first place.

Luck is actually having all the needed requirements to get your feet in the door, then it is all skill and capabilities.

Maybe one of your bosses took a liking to you, or you scored the right freelance job, or an investment paid off. There's lots of things that could happen but ultimately they involved others cutting you a break, and then you working and sometimes working very, very hard.

I manage about 40 people, I cut no one a break, I treat all the same, but some make it to management...

You are right about working very very hard... You know the typical small business owner works about 100 hours per week? How many people are willing to do that if the other choice is a crappy life but your needs are met...

Having talent, ability, and drive is a prerequisite for success, but those things on their own won't get you anywhere. Actually being successful takes the work of others like your bosses and more importantly your customers.

Hmm I have 20 people that work for me that are a lot smarter than me, and the other 20 have more skill... If I was to put forth attributes to get a head I would say drive and persistence....

I don't know about that. I see many who try and do better. I also see many who don't for a myriad of reasons. Some people like low skill work, others don't want to take the financial risk of school, others aren't school types, others don't know what they would do.

Most of what you talk about start life with poor life choices and end life with poor life choices...you can not get ahead with poor life choices...it is hard already when you make the right choices...

Low skill jobs are vital. I'm not saying you have to pay them ridiculous wages, but rather I challenge the idea that it should lead to a lifetime of suffering.

This is typically called the young that are low skill and under educated... As you gain skill/education you should do better...

90% have high school then only 43% have a BA/BS then only 12% have a master, and this just gets you in the door.