Once stigmatized, food stamps find acceptance

[rightwinger]

Thanks Namvet....

Good to see that people suffering from jobs lost in the George Bush Depression will still be able to eat.

then why is osama's pic on it ????

Its great to live in a country that is willing to take care of its less fortunate. It is an honor that namvet would be so considerate as to honor our President on a food voucher that allows those less fortunate to eat.

 

[Contessa_Sharra]

I believe unemployment insurance lasts almost forever these days.

No it doesn't and companies can dither and block and all for weeks, even months!

Or ooops, some companies didn't put in at all and the person never knows until they apply and the company has misteriously changed owners, nobody knows, and ooo, the taxes, FICA, and workman's comp isn't paid either! But the pauycheck said it was being taken out!

Those kinds of frauds are a lot more important in the long run...

In Michigan is for 59 weeks now.

and how long does it take from job loss to receipt of first check?

In california they decided everyone should do it on an 800 number, which takes about 2 weeks or so to get through to a live person, if the system doesn't shut down from overload, and then another two weeks or so before the telephone interview, another two weeks or so before you receive the paperwork to verify and confirm the telephone interview, and then time after that it goes to the company that you worked for, where it is a when they fuckin' well get around to it... and by that time, for those in low wage jobs, they are living in a shelter with kids and all, and lucky if they have a cell phone, because shelters are out by 8 AM and in at five, and no personal phone access...

 

[Douger]

Let's just make damn sure that none are given to any Republlicants.
They hate socialist policies.

 

[Contessa_Sharra]

Let's just make damn sure that none are given to any Republlicants.
They hate socialist policies.

That works for me! However, they are welcome to pick up poops on the street, starting with cat, must be separated and not mixed with dog or any other animal else the bag is confiscated and nothing paid, and maybe, when they actually learn to get it right, they can move up to small dog, then big dog, but since there will be a lot of competition for those jobs, the rate is now a penny for five, and OH, in the interest of FAIRNESS TO BUSINESS, any republicant can be bumped by any fraudulently documented alien...

 

[Cecilie1200]

I have no problem with people using food stamps. I wish they wouldn't allow them to be used for things like soda, candy and bubble gum, but the rules aren't the recipient's fault and most people I've seen use them don't take advantage of it. I'd think a lot less of parents on layoff or who had some other misfortune that let their kids go without decent food out of pride. In bad times people have to do what they have to do, no shame in it.

I agree. The woman in the article said she gets 147.00 a month. Certainly not enough to do excessive steak buying and throwing parties but it helps.

Not enough for steak and parties, but maybe enough to skip over the can of green beans, pack of ramen noodles and box of powdered mac and cheese for something with some actual nutritional value from time to time. I don't know about other states, but I've seen food stamps being used at the local farmer's market here too.

Farmers' markets are VERY popular with government food programs these days. The WIC program now allows its checks for fresh produce to be used at farmers' markets if one so chooses. It was part of the recent overhaul of the program and its guidelines. I suspect it's related to the interest in organic and natural foods.

 

[CMike]

Let's just make damn sure that none are given to any Republlicants.
They hate socialist policies.

As long as we don't have to pay for them either.

 

[Cecilie1200]

I am certainly the last person someone would call a supporter of Welfare. In fact, I would like to see it gone. Charities used to help with taking care of the poor but once the Govt got involved Welfare turned into the monster that it is today. Waste, fraud and abuse all over.

However. I wouldn't let anyone starve. The EBT card is something that I'm sure gets abused by many. But there are kids out there who have no say in the matter. Hell. I wouldnt' let a dog or cat starve, would I let a child. Nope. Just not me.

And one good thing about the EBT cards in place of paper food stamps is that they cut down in the instance of the food stamps being used for non-food items, which means that - theoretically, at least - more of that money is actually going into children's bellies instead of into their parents' nicotine and booze habits.

 

[Cecilie1200]

If we gave the poor flour, sugar, potatoes, etc most of them would starve.
Food preparation is a vanishing skill.

We are too lazy to even prepare our own food.

I agree...The poor used to be known for their ability to take basic foodstuffs and turn them into a lowcost meal. Inexpensive cuts of meat, cornmeal, flour, rice could all be cooked into a meal for the family at low cost. Many of the poor today are incapable of cooking a meal that isn't pre-prepared.

But before we put all the blame on the poor.....most middle class and wealthy can no longer cook a basic meal without takeout.

Cooking is a lost art

Much as it galls me to say it, I agree with you on this. It always floors me when I go to parties and socials where the attendees bring "share food", and most of the people bring something packaged, like a deli platter or bakery cake, and they ooh and aah over something I cooked like it's a gourmet banquet. The domestic arts - not just cooking - are dying out.

When I was working at a supermarket, you could always tell the recent immigrants from the born Americans if they were using food stamps. The Americans would be buying frozen food and prepared mixes (lots of hamburger), and the immigrants would be buying bags of produce and cuts of meat that I never even heard of or realized that we sold. The most prepared item of food they bought would be something like ice cream. I got in the habit of asking them how they prepared that stuff and what they made with it, because it just made me so curious.

 

[rightwinger]

If we gave the poor flour, sugar, potatoes, etc most of them would starve.
Food preparation is a vanishing skill.

We are too lazy to even prepare our own food.

I agree...The poor used to be known for their ability to take basic foodstuffs and turn them into a lowcost meal. Inexpensive cuts of meat, cornmeal, flour, rice could all be cooked into a meal for the family at low cost. Many of the poor today are incapable of cooking a meal that isn't pre-prepared.

But before we put all the blame on the poor.....most middle class and wealthy can no longer cook a basic meal without takeout.

Cooking is a lost art

Much as it galls me to say it, I agree with you on this. It always floors me when I go to parties and socials where the attendees bring "share food", and most of the people bring something packaged, like a deli platter or bakery cake, and they ooh and aah over something I cooked like it's a gourmet banquet. The domestic arts - not just cooking - are dying out.

When I was working at a supermarket, you could always tell the recent immigrants from the born Americans if they were using food stamps. The Americans would be buying frozen food and prepared mixes (lots of hamburger), and the immigrants would be buying bags of produce and cuts of meat that I never even heard of or realized that we sold. The most prepared item of food they bought would be something like ice cream. I got in the habit of asking them how they prepared that stuff and what they made with it, because it just made me so curious.

Its not picking on the poor either. The wealthy will buy a $5000 professional stove to put into their $75,000 designer kitchen. None of which will ever be used.
It amazes me that simple things like baking a cake or cooking your own Thanksgiving turkey are now beyond the capabilities of a large number of Americans.

 

[rightwinger]

Another thing that annoys me about most of the people on food stamps is they are not working. They have time to cook. They could bake their own bread, make soup from scratch, pancakes, oatmeal, stews ....all of which would cost less and taste better than prepared meals.
Flour, rice, potatoes, cornmeal, pasta are all inexpensive
Chicken, turkey and pork cuts can be bought cheaply
You can cook low cost, tasty and healthy meals for one quarter of what you pay for a frozen dinner

 

[PixieStix]

I think we have lost many of the mother to daughter cooking skills that used to be passed down through the generations.
Most are unaware you can bake your own bread, that pancakes do not come from a box, that soup does not come from a can..

I think the food stamp and any general welfare assistance, takes away any incentive to be creative. It is detrimental to a persons dignity. as well as to our economic success.

I was at a place of business last week that I frequent for products I need for my planned meals and the manager was on her phone trying to find out how much was left on a food stamp card that she had purchased from someone for $20. She was telling me about this as if it was legal or something It turns our her investment payed off. The card had $60 left on it for her to use for "buying her expensive spices" Her words. I just looked at her and thought, lady, you are committing a federal crime

and if you didn't turn her in you are a co-conspirator, and an accessory after the fact....... comitted a couple of your own crimes, too...

Number 1: how do you know that I did not?

Number 2: you are an idiot

 

[CMike]

Another thing that annoys me about most of the people on food stamps is they are not working. They have time to cook. They could bake their own bread, make soup from scratch, pancakes, oatmeal, stews ....all of which would cost less and taste better than prepared meals.
Flour, rice, potatoes, cornmeal, pasta are all inexpensive
Chicken, turkey and pork cuts can be bought cheaply
You can cook low cost, tasty and healthy meals for one quarter of what you pay for a frozen dinner

I agree with that.

Man, this is getting scary.

 

[johnrocks]

What irritates me is what I witnessed this morning, I go to the Dollar Store to buy some cat food and I get behind this woman with a bunch of valentine baskets filled with candy and paid for it with her food card, she then handed the cashier a $20 to change for 4 $5's, I could feel my blood pressure shooting skyward

 

[uscitizen]

I agree. The woman in the article said she gets 147.00 a month. Certainly not enough to do excessive steak buying and throwing parties but it helps.

Not enough for steak and parties, but maybe enough to skip over the can of green beans, pack of ramen noodles and box of powdered mac and cheese for something with some actual nutritional value from time to time. I don't know about other states, but I've seen food stamps being used at the local farmer's market here too.

Farmers' markets are VERY popular with government food programs these days. The WIC program now allows its checks for fresh produce to be used at farmers' markets if one so chooses. It was part of the recent overhaul of the program and its guidelines. I suspect it's related to the interest in organic and natural foods.

Also helps the local economy.

 

[CMike]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1zJzr-kWsI]YouTube - Dolly Parton - Coat of many colors[/ame]

 

[Contessa_Sharra]

I think the food stamp and any general welfare assistance, takes away any incentive to be creative. It is detrimental to a persons dignity. as well as to our economic success.

I was at a place of business last week that I frequent for products I need for my planned meals and the manager was on her phone trying to find out how much was left on a food stamp card that she had purchased from someone for $20. She was telling me about this as if it was legal or something It turns our her investment payed off. The card had $60 left on it for her to use for "buying her expensive spices" Her words. I just looked at her and thought, lady, you are committing a federal crime

and if you didn't turn her in you are a co-conspirator, and an accessory after the fact....... comitted a couple of your own crimes, too...

Number 1: how do you know that I did not?

Because you were too lazy to go through the process, LMOAO...

 

[California Girl]

I think the food stamp and any general welfare assistance, takes away any incentive to be creative. It is detrimental to a persons dignity. as well as to our economic success.

I was at a place of business last week that I frequent for products I need for my planned meals and the manager was on her phone trying to find out how much was left on a food stamp card that she had purchased from someone for $20. She was telling me about this as if it was legal or something It turns our her investment payed off. The card had $60 left on it for her to use for "buying her expensive spices" Her words. I just looked at her and thought, lady, you are committing a federal crime

and if you didn't turn her in you are a co-conspirator, and an accessory after the fact....... comitted a couple of your own crimes, too...

Number 1: how do you know that I did not?

Number 2: you are an idiot

Some posters can't get past their own narrow view of what other people do or do not do. They are incapable of thinking for themselves, seeing only that if one is conservative, then one is inherently evil and would eat a baby because that's what they are told to think. We should feel sorry for the intellectually incapable.

 

[California Girl]

Let's just make damn sure that none are given to any Republlicants.
They hate socialist policies.

I agree, and they shouldn't have to pay for those who do use them. That's fair. I know how much lefties love fair.

 

[PixieStix]

and if you didn't turn her in you are a co-conspirator, and an accessory after the fact....... comitted a couple of your own crimes, too...

Number 1: how do you know that I did not?

Because you were too lazy to go through the process, LMOAO...

Reporting a crime is not like signing up for a program you silly lefty. Lazy? how utterly idiotic of you

 

[CMike]

I said this before. What irritiates, well nauseates me, is all the people I have run into, that were crying how they were laid off, and can't find jobs.

I offer them a job doing door to door sales, exactly what I am doing, and they refuse to even try it.