Food stamps

[Brent S]

I just never understood why a company would take perfectly good whole food, grind it up and then glue it back together. I’m thinking chicken nuggets here. Of course the reality is they aren’t using the good breastmeat in these things. More like the scraps you wouldn’t normally eat. So if you look at processed foods for what they really are, scraps and fillers and preservatives, then you really wonder why people eat them!
On a more positive note. I made a salad today in a big bowl. I used three fresh tomatoes cut up, a whole zucchini, a whole cucumber, an onion, a green pepper and a head of iceberg lettuce. The only processing I did was to wash everything with soap before cutting up. Now I have a large bowl of salad for the next few days. All I have to do is add a boiled egg, some shredded cheese, and I got a new Greek balsamic vinegar that’s awesome. If I get bored with that I like to dump some Wendy’s chili over the top of a bowl of salad occasionally. I also got a Walmart rotisserie chicken to go as a side dish to the salad since I can’t handle being a vegetarian.....

 

[TexasFreedom]

I don’t think,prisoners need to be tortured and abused by any means. I do however think they need to work, helping to provide for their own sustenance at the very least. I don’t see any difference between food stamps either. I have to work every day wether I like it or not, anyone receiving aid should too. I don’t care if it’s cutting grass, picking up trash, watching kids of others so they can work, etc. Most everyone is capable of something, and if not they could show up and be bored every day at least. Maybe then some might get a little more ambition in life.

Brent, thank you for the humor in your imaginary world.

While I agree that prisoners should learn to work and appreciate what it does, that is pure fantasy land. These inmates ended up in prison because they refuse to work a real job! And you think now that they're in prison that they will just start working? Really? And our liberal judges will allow it?

Now in all fairness I know these same judges wouldn't allow one bit of my previous ideas either.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm all for SNAP benefits for those who need it. Even the abuses, are a pretty small percentage overall, and the whole program is pretty small, in scope.

As mentioned, some states also have a cash assistance program that is also on the card, so that's likely what you saw. (for the cash back).

As for deli prepared meals (at least in my state), these are not eligible for SNAP benefits.

That all said, some reforms I'd like to see.....

Meats over a certain price per pound, not covered (effectively eliminating buying expensive steaks, seafood, etc. with benefits). Not those items entirely, just forcing more frugality in purchases.

Soda, sugary snacks, etc. not covered.

Code other items to be exempt (basically high cost food items in various departments).

Eliminate this "citizen by birthplace" nonsense. If you are born to an American citizen, you are one. But if you are not, doesn't matter where you popped out, you're not a citizen. This is actually what the Constitution means for natural citizen. Read the language of it. This is what is meant when someone states illegals get food stamps. Technically, they don't....but as the PARENTS of a (as things are now) citizen, they do, etc.

The whole idea of the program is to be a hand up, not a hand out.

 

[Gazrok]

Now I have a large bowl of salad for the next few days.

I can never eat a salad after the first day. It just loses all taste to me.

 

[Gazrok]

I just never understood why a company would take perfectly good whole food, grind it up and then glue it back together. I’m thinking chicken nuggets here. Of course the reality is they aren’t using the good breastmeat in these things. More like the scraps you wouldn’t normally eat.

That is of course, EXACTLY what they are. What do you think ground beef is? It's all the trimmings from the steaks, roasts, etc. put in the grinder. Better than it all going to waste.

The real nasty stuff? Goes into cat and dog food.

 

[Brent S]

I can never eat a salad after the first day. It just loses all taste to me.

Just don’t put any dressing on it until you put some in a smaller bowl to eat right then. I just use sera wrap, but any sealed container will keep it for a few days in the fridge. Tomatoes do go kind of soft after cutting though.

 

[Brent S]

That is of course, EXACTLY what they are. What do you think ground beef is? It's all the trimmings from the steaks, roasts, etc. put in the grinder. Better than it all going to waste.

The real nasty stuff? Goes into cat and dog food.

You’re right about hamburger being decent meat, but I was thinking about the chicken nuggets, hot dogs and bologna and sausages. I really don’t want to know what’s in a Vienna sausage!

 

[Gazrok]

Oh, you know....you just don't want to think about it....

 

[Gazrok]

On the salad, yep, even without dressing, etc.
I don't know, it all just tastes like nothing to me the next day.

 

[Kevin L]

Despite all this, there are certian times when food stamps are a good idea.

Several years ago, we had a bad hurricane down here in Florida and our region was declared a disaster area.

The government was giving out EBT cards for food (and being generous, I might add...although I declined because I prepped) because people lost their jobs, they couldn't access money in their banks, and so on.

It could have been me in the situation, so I'm glad that this cushion was there.

Even though I didn't get the EBT card, I ate food (I was invited to someone's house) from someone who used the EBT card.

Disaster relief should, maybe, be a special exception.

 

[tmttactical]

@Kevin L Your description falls under the "Helping Hand" vs the "Hand Out". Welfare should not and must not be allowed to become multi-generational life styles. I agree there are time when people may need a helping hand but there has to be a time limit and be non-reoccurring. People must become accountable for their actions OR inactions.

 

[Dani]

We had one of those major hurricanes happen in our area too years ago and I can only assume the card passed out is or was like the one you are talking about. Free money that could be used anyway they liked. We saw lots of shopping for clothes at Dillards. Anyone familiar with that store knows what high dollar merchandise is there. . . And before you go and say that they do have good sales, yes some did buy from those racks, others nope, went straight for name brand new merchandise. There are people with real needs and then there are abusers who stick out their hand just because they can get something for free. I did not get a card. . . Didn't need it. Yes we had damage, had to replace fencing and a new roof that year, but that wasn't as bad as it could have been because we were prepared.

 

[Maverick]

Just don’t put any dressing on it until you put some in a smaller bowl to eat right then. I just use sera wrap, but any sealed container will keep it for a few days in the fridge. Tomatoes do go kind of soft after cutting though.

For the ones the buy lettuce, don't buy the chopped lettuce in a bag, purchase the whole head, if you shred it yourself place it in a bowl (make sure lettuce is dry) with a paper towel on the bottom of the saladl and top of the salad and cover with lid or sera wrap, must be stored close to freezing 32 (33-34). It will store a week easily, same with home grown. If the crisper is above 35 the salad will only keep 2 or 3 days then it starts going soft.

 

[Kevin L]

We had one of those major hurricanes happen in our area too years ago and I can only assume the card passed out is or was like the one you are talking about. Free money that could be used anyway they liked. We saw lots of shopping for clothes at Dillards. Anyone familiar with that store knows what high dollar merchandise is there. . . And before you go and say that they do have good sales, yes some did buy from those racks, others nope, went straight for name brand new merchandise. There are people with real needs and then there are abusers who stick out their hand just because they can get something for free. I did not get a card. . . Didn't need it. Yes we had damage, had to replace fencing and a new roof that year, but that wasn't as bad as it could have been because we were prepared.

I'm sure what we had was similar, but it could only be used for food.

As I said, I prepped...but if my house and supplies were destroyed, I would have taken the card.

 

[DrPrepper1]

We had one of those major hurricanes happen in our area too years ago and I can only assume the card passed out is or was like the one you are talking about. Free money that could be used anyway they liked. We saw lots of shopping for clothes at Dillards. Anyone familiar with that store knows what high dollar merchandise is there. . . And before you go and say that they do have good sales, yes some did buy from those racks, others nope, went straight for name brand new merchandise. There are people with real needs and then there are abusers who stick out their hand just because they can get something for free. I did not get a card. . . Didn't need it. Yes we had damage, had to replace fencing and a new roof that year, but that wasn't as bad as it could have been because we were prepared.

This happened with Katrina as well. They gave 2K cash to people. Men were spending it on alcohol and strip clubs because it was more money than they had ever seen in their life at one time. They thought they were rich. Then they were poor again 2 seconds later. What I have seen most often with most poor people is their attitude. They live in the moment right now. There is zero planning and prepping in their lives. They lose money at every direction. Some examples: not making a lunch to eat at work, waiting until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts, shopping at small expensive grocery stores or convenience stores, not saving money for future higher utility bills ( winter/ summer depending on the climate).
Not waiting to buy needed items when they are on sale, but rather paying top dollar when they are in crisis. No car maintenance they just drive until the car stops running Etc etc

 

[Dani]

This happened with Katrina as well. They gave 2K cash to people. Men were spending it on alcohol and strip clubs because it was more money than they had ever seen in their life at one time. They thought they were rich. Then they were poor again 2 seconds later. What I have seen most often with most poor people is their attitude. They live in the moment right now. There is zero planning and prepping in their lives. They lose money at every direction. Some examples: not making a lunch to eat at work, waiting until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts, shopping at small expensive grocery stores or convenience stores, not saving money for future higher utility bills ( winter/ summer depending on the climate).
Not waiting to buy needed items when they are on sale, but rather paying top dollar when they are in crisis. No car maintenance they just drive until the car stops running Etc etc

I'm sure that stuff like that may have happened here too. Just so happened I was a manager there at the time so got to see it first hand. At that time in my life I only went there and the grocery store basically so didn't see it hear of much else that was bought. I love my sheltered life so much better. . . . If I didn't live in my "bubble world" I'm sure I would have an outrageous blood pressure. . . .

 

[DrPrepper1]

Perfect example, I have a cousin that has this mind set. I have never given her a penny ( although she has asked) and never will. She was telling me how one night she decided she wanted pizza for her and her family (5 kids). She had $50 left to her name until payday so she figured she could afford pizza ( umm no you can’t afford anything until payday) so she takes the husband and kids to a sketchy pizza place and they all eat pizza and get diarrhea. At home she acknowledges that she is out of toilet paper, Kleenex, and paper towels ( but yet, she bought pizza ) she gives her kids dirty socks to wipe with because they are out of everything. Smh... but right then and there at that moment it was all about her getting pizza.
She used to get food stamps by the way.

 

[brandx]

I--like Brent--believe in generosity and feeding the poor (I am a conservative with some liberal tendencies), but even I have a problem with the food stamp system.

When I was a medic, certian drug dealers would sell crack for food stamps (offering something like $0.10 on the dollar), and then turn around and sell the food stamps for $0.30 on the dollar...and make a profit both ways.

I believe that the debit card system has done a lot to curb such abuses, but I'm sure that sleazebags have found a way around this.

All you have to do is give them the card and pin number, they have to give the card back at some point though. Or you just go and get a new one, say you lost it.

 

[Maverick]

I'll stay away from the fast food joints, never buy meat from the supermarkets, chickens from the store are bland, too white and too much fat they taste like ****, I don't buy eggs at the store (white is not natural to me) if you have to buy veggies buy the frozen, to me veggies out of a can taste tinny to me. In my opinion food is to critical to trust processing plants and commercial growers with IMHO

 

[Kevin L]

All you have to do is give them the card and pin number, they have to give the card back at some point though. Or you just go and get a new one, say you lost it.

Thank you for clarifying.

I believe in feeding the needy, but--as liberal as I am compared to others on this forum--I don't believe in feeding peoples' drug habits with my tax dollars.

I think it would be great if regular drug testing was a requirement for public assistance.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I have no problem with helping the truly needy with very basic food rations. Just NOT with taxpayers money, ever. There are plenty of charities operating across the county where people can get enough food to keep from starving. Even my town of 500 has a food bank operated by one of the local churches. No taxpayer money needed.

 

[Brent S]

Thank you for clarifying.

I believe in feeding the needy, but--as liberal as I am compared to others on this forum--I don't believe in feeding peoples' drug habits with my tax dollars.

I think it would be great if regular drug testing was a requirement for public assistance.

I completely agree on the drug testing. If you’re rich enough to buy pot or alcohol then why would I care to feed you...

 

[Kevin L]

I completely agree on the drug testing. If you’re rich enough to buy pot or alcohol then why would I care to feed you...

100% agree.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I have no problem with helping the truly needy with very basic food rations. Just NOT with taxpayers money, ever. There are plenty of charities operating across the county where people can get enough food to keep from starving. Even my town of 500 has a food bank operated by one of the local churches. No taxpayer money needed.

We have food banks here as well. I used to give to a church food bank regularly ( not a church that I attended, but they had a large food bank). Then I found out through a social worker that all food banks in the area , you can only get food from them once every 3 months. You have to fill out paperwork, prove residency and qualify, then you can only get it once every 3 months. I stopped giving after that.
In a way it’s good to insure people don’t abuse, but on the other hand, how can they determine that with a one time visit that person will be back on their feet?
We had an elderly patient that ran into this very thing at my job. She’s on social security only, trying to afford medication, and needs help with food and sometimes utilities. She could only get food from the food bank once.

 

[Mountain trapper]

We have food banks here as well. I used to give to a church food bank regularly ( not a church that I attended, but they had a large food bank). Then I found out through a social worker that all food banks in the area , you can only get food from them once every 3 months. You have to fill out paperwork, prove residency and qualify, then you can only get it once every 3 months. I stopped giving after that.
In a way it’s good to insure people don’t abuse, but on the other hand, how can they determine that with a one time visit that person will be back on their feet?
We had an elderly patient that ran into this very thing at my job. She’s on social security only, trying to afford medication, and needs help with food and sometimes utilities. She could only get food from the food bank once.

I don't know what the criteria is for giving out food at our food bank. Our local senior center makes meals everyday for the poor. They will even deliver meals for those who can't make it in. In summer there's a community garden where people can pitch in and share the produce. The other churches in town will also give food for those who need it. If the government got out of the charity busines tomorrow, other charities would step up to fill the need.
Being poor should not be comfortable, or easy.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I don't know what the criteria is for giving out food at our food bank. Our local senior center makes meals everyday for the poor. They will even deliver meals for those who can't make it in. In summer there's a community garden where people can pitch in and share to produce. The other churches in town will also give food for those who need it. If the government got out of the charity busines tomorrow, other charities would step up to fill the need.
Being poor should not be comfortable.

I 100% agree with you. I have volunteered with several organizations. The one thing I find is people with good hearts that want to just give...and give...and give...and people just take...and take...and take.
For example, school is about to start up again here. They have school supply drives. A community group supplies new backpacks filled with appropriate supplies. People line up and get free backpacks for their kids. They have been doing this for several years now. People expect it. It cost them nothing. They invest nothing in it. How about charging something?..like at least $5.00. Or have kids complete summer reading programs for school supplies? But they just give. Another church here has a community garden. Kids from the church work the garden and turn the veggies over to a title 1 school ( school with mostly impoverished children). The kids at the school know nothing other than free food falls from the sky. Another community program where people donate school clothes by shopping with the kids. The kids only know that some stranger with money wants to buy them clothes... no investment on the kids part. The people that donate have their hearts in the right place, but they are making the problem worse by making the kids more dependent. They grow up to be dependent adults.

 

[tmttactical]

The value of what you got free, is the amount you paid for it. Free has no value, paid for by your efforts, now it has value.

 

[TexasFreedom]

I'm with ArticDude. End all forms of gov't welfare. Local charities will fill in where help is truly needed. Lots of others will get hungry & cry and the media will cover it.

Don't get wrong, I still 100% for cancelling it all and couldn't care less if it had TV/radio coverage 24/7/365.

At some point the freeloaders will realize their crying isn't working, get up and get a job. Reality will be a wonderful thing.

And yes, some of them will turn to crime, and an armed citizen will end that problem once and for all. Happy endings for everyone.

 

[tmttactical]

When welfare is ended, the slaves will be free. With freedom does come responsibility and accountability. Earn your daily bread and hold your head high. Beats the heck out of holding out your hand and whining about your troubles.