Leilani, first I am sorry for your families loss. I think where I frustration comes from is when people make a "career" out of the welfare system. There are families out there that actually need help. But it is those people that just keep having more kids and get more money that pisses me off. I have a family friend that works under the table and his wife works for minimum wage to satisfy the state. They live in low income housing. 3 bedroom 3 bath new townhouse. They have 3 children and both drive nicer vehicles than my wife and I. My wife and I have 3 children also. How does the state not realize that they have to register their car every year. They are obviously hiding money. This is the type of stuff that drives me nuts!
Leilani - 8 years ago
I have read the numerous comments. I see pros and cons on both. Who decides what is junk food? Does buying a bag of sugar for baking constitute junk food? Is a processed meat also junk for its limited nutritional value? Bottled water isn't always a luxury in places where wells sometimes don't have the safest water. My well water is nasty, brown, and smells bad should I have to drink it? For the record I do receive food stamps. I do have two children. The reasoning that people on food stamps shouldn't have children they can't afford doesn't always apply. I didn't expect the children's dad to die of cancer at 42, eating away our savings. I do not receive TANF and am not overweight. That being said, who will control the choice of foods? I'm not totally against eliminating soda or chips but people say whole milk is bad? I'm just saying who decides?
Scott - 8 years ago
If we really want to eliminate the fraud of the EBT system we need deliver packages to each family that needs assistance. These boxes would have the essentials: Bread, veggies, fruits, healthy foods. For your perishable items you include free vouchers for milk that require an government issued ID to redeem. If someone has allergies to certain foods they notify the state and the state packs something else. Yes this would cost money to have someone drive around to deliver the food but I am sure that less people would be on assistance then because they couldn't buy whatever they wanted.
sean - 8 years ago
Jason, if you are worried about your electric bill ask the EPA why they assaulted the coal industry before their was a clean solution and now there isn't a surplus of electricity to give to other states and thousands of good jobs are gone. No car registration, how will you fix the crumbling infrastructure? Free college equals draft. No more people joining the military for the GI bill. I suggest some economics courses.
Jason Bennett - 8 years ago
I'm 135 lbs thank you.. I'm just saying we have a lot more important things to worry about. This world has become a giant judging pool. How about finding ways to reduce electricity costs. That one bill to most people would eliminate the need for food stamps altogether. Or the yearly car registration. I mean come on now. Its already in the system why register it twice... I could go on and on.
sean - 8 years ago
Jason, you get freedom of choice with your own money. My comments aren't judging, it is stating how supplemental food should be distributed. That is the problem with social programs, once you start one if anyone suggests it be reviewed or made more efficient they are a meanspirited, judging selfish person. People who love government only see adding to it and never changing anything established as options.
don - 8 years ago
I agree with Jean,,,,,i didn`t know that those items could even be perchased with the card,,,,thought my taxes were better controlled,,,,,have had my head under a rock I guess
Jeff - 8 years ago
Jason Bennett I think you dropped you EBT card at Walmart. You probably couldn't bend over sitting on your motorized scooter to pick it up.
Jason Bennett - 8 years ago
You people disgust me with all your judging!!!
Jason Bennett - 8 years ago
Unreal these comments. We have a lot more issues that need to be addressed. Blaming food stamp for obesity. That is all choice. The option is there for responsible people to make correct choices. All I really have to say about this is Mind your business. Taking freedom of choice away is wrong!
sean - 8 years ago
Government provided food should be primary staples, flour, grains, beans and rice, baking ingredients and fruits and vegetables. Maybe they could get a basic cooking class when they are approved for benefits. Don't expect the junk food and processed food manufa turners to agree with me. It is SUPPLEMENTAL food. Drink from the water faucet.
kim - 8 years ago
You are all correct! These parents buying all of this stuff, are all over weight, usually in jammies, and until we make the changes that need to be made its never going to change.
I do my weekly shopping before work at 6am, for 2 reasons, I cant stand seeing these people in the stores and we all know they are not up at that time of day and 2 because I do not know how much longer I can hold my tongue. They all need to find a job, dress for success, and change! Theres a lot of jobs out there, get up off you fat butts and look! Break the cycle!!!!
Scott - 8 years ago
MaryLouMcGraw how should we help them? Do they need to be told that milk is healthier than soda, or that an apple is better for them than a candy bar? Maybe I am taking this stuff for granted but this seems to be common sense stuff. No one even sat me down and taught me about nutrition. No one even sat me down and said don't have kids if you can't provide for them. Is the younger generation that naive?
MaryLouMcGraw - 8 years ago
It is so sad that soda is cheaper than milk. Maybe the grocery stores could sell milk at half price to people with these cards. A lot of these young parents have never been taught nutrition. Signs throughout grocery stores in the veggie; fruit and dairy sections offering advice and help. Instead of complaining help these people.
Linda - 8 years ago
It is sickening to see the misuse of money given to these people, to supposedly help them survive in their supposed time of need, thrown away on junk food. I work part time on a job, run two businesses and run my own household at 68 years old and see this daily. Children are not being trained to make good decisions on food, daily life decisions or personal care. We, the working force, are paying for this freebie to these individuals, some of whom believe they are entitled. There are some who use it properly and gingerly, because they are down on their luck. I am sure the individuals who have voted yes on this question are the abusers and have all day to do nothing but sit and answer this question. My only time getting i nvolved in this.
Al - 8 years ago
If SNAP recipients are buying junk food then they obviously don't need SNAP "benefits". Like the poster above, I see the abuse first hand. I also see people in real need using the different programs as they were intended.
Linwood - 8 years ago
As a store manager, I have repeatedly seen the abuse first hand. Over and over again I have seen mom or dad load up on soda, Redbull, chips, whoopie pies and slim jims while their young child is asking for some milk or fruit and the parent tells them "No" because they do not have enough on the card. You couldn't put enough credits on these cards to forefil the junk food demand from to many of these parents. Remember, the child goes out without much to often and they are the reason for the benefits, not the adult.
Jean - 8 years ago
This is a "no brainer" for me. Allowing those who receive this benefit to purchase items that have no nutritional benefit goes against the mission of this program. As a healthcare professional and tax payer in the state of Maine, I am astonished that we're even having this discussion.
Derwin Emerson - 8 years ago
I am more concerned with the qualifying to receive the assistance. Once qualified, I would rather depend on common sense of the user. That being said, I would hope the recipient understands this is a "leg up" during tough times and not an entitlement.
Leilani, first I am sorry for your families loss. I think where I frustration comes from is when people make a "career" out of the welfare system. There are families out there that actually need help. But it is those people that just keep having more kids and get more money that pisses me off. I have a family friend that works under the table and his wife works for minimum wage to satisfy the state. They live in low income housing. 3 bedroom 3 bath new townhouse. They have 3 children and both drive nicer vehicles than my wife and I. My wife and I have 3 children also. How does the state not realize that they have to register their car every year. They are obviously hiding money. This is the type of stuff that drives me nuts!
I have read the numerous comments. I see pros and cons on both. Who decides what is junk food? Does buying a bag of sugar for baking constitute junk food? Is a processed meat also junk for its limited nutritional value? Bottled water isn't always a luxury in places where wells sometimes don't have the safest water. My well water is nasty, brown, and smells bad should I have to drink it? For the record I do receive food stamps. I do have two children. The reasoning that people on food stamps shouldn't have children they can't afford doesn't always apply. I didn't expect the children's dad to die of cancer at 42, eating away our savings. I do not receive TANF and am not overweight. That being said, who will control the choice of foods? I'm not totally against eliminating soda or chips but people say whole milk is bad? I'm just saying who decides?
If we really want to eliminate the fraud of the EBT system we need deliver packages to each family that needs assistance. These boxes would have the essentials: Bread, veggies, fruits, healthy foods. For your perishable items you include free vouchers for milk that require an government issued ID to redeem. If someone has allergies to certain foods they notify the state and the state packs something else. Yes this would cost money to have someone drive around to deliver the food but I am sure that less people would be on assistance then because they couldn't buy whatever they wanted.
Jason, if you are worried about your electric bill ask the EPA why they assaulted the coal industry before their was a clean solution and now there isn't a surplus of electricity to give to other states and thousands of good jobs are gone. No car registration, how will you fix the crumbling infrastructure? Free college equals draft. No more people joining the military for the GI bill. I suggest some economics courses.
I'm 135 lbs thank you.. I'm just saying we have a lot more important things to worry about. This world has become a giant judging pool. How about finding ways to reduce electricity costs. That one bill to most people would eliminate the need for food stamps altogether. Or the yearly car registration. I mean come on now. Its already in the system why register it twice... I could go on and on.
Jason, you get freedom of choice with your own money. My comments aren't judging, it is stating how supplemental food should be distributed. That is the problem with social programs, once you start one if anyone suggests it be reviewed or made more efficient they are a meanspirited, judging selfish person. People who love government only see adding to it and never changing anything established as options.
I agree with Jean,,,,,i didn`t know that those items could even be perchased with the card,,,,thought my taxes were better controlled,,,,,have had my head under a rock I guess
Jason Bennett I think you dropped you EBT card at Walmart. You probably couldn't bend over sitting on your motorized scooter to pick it up.
You people disgust me with all your judging!!!
Unreal these comments. We have a lot more issues that need to be addressed. Blaming food stamp for obesity. That is all choice. The option is there for responsible people to make correct choices. All I really have to say about this is Mind your business. Taking freedom of choice away is wrong!
Government provided food should be primary staples, flour, grains, beans and rice, baking ingredients and fruits and vegetables. Maybe they could get a basic cooking class when they are approved for benefits. Don't expect the junk food and processed food manufa turners to agree with me. It is SUPPLEMENTAL food. Drink from the water faucet.
You are all correct! These parents buying all of this stuff, are all over weight, usually in jammies, and until we make the changes that need to be made its never going to change.
I do my weekly shopping before work at 6am, for 2 reasons, I cant stand seeing these people in the stores and we all know they are not up at that time of day and 2 because I do not know how much longer I can hold my tongue. They all need to find a job, dress for success, and change! Theres a lot of jobs out there, get up off you fat butts and look! Break the cycle!!!!
MaryLouMcGraw how should we help them? Do they need to be told that milk is healthier than soda, or that an apple is better for them than a candy bar? Maybe I am taking this stuff for granted but this seems to be common sense stuff. No one even sat me down and taught me about nutrition. No one even sat me down and said don't have kids if you can't provide for them. Is the younger generation that naive?
It is so sad that soda is cheaper than milk. Maybe the grocery stores could sell milk at half price to people with these cards. A lot of these young parents have never been taught nutrition. Signs throughout grocery stores in the veggie; fruit and dairy sections offering advice and help. Instead of complaining help these people.
It is sickening to see the misuse of money given to these people, to supposedly help them survive in their supposed time of need, thrown away on junk food. I work part time on a job, run two businesses and run my own household at 68 years old and see this daily. Children are not being trained to make good decisions on food, daily life decisions or personal care. We, the working force, are paying for this freebie to these individuals, some of whom believe they are entitled. There are some who use it properly and gingerly, because they are down on their luck. I am sure the individuals who have voted yes on this question are the abusers and have all day to do nothing but sit and answer this question. My only time getting i nvolved in this.
If SNAP recipients are buying junk food then they obviously don't need SNAP "benefits". Like the poster above, I see the abuse first hand. I also see people in real need using the different programs as they were intended.
As a store manager, I have repeatedly seen the abuse first hand. Over and over again I have seen mom or dad load up on soda, Redbull, chips, whoopie pies and slim jims while their young child is asking for some milk or fruit and the parent tells them "No" because they do not have enough on the card. You couldn't put enough credits on these cards to forefil the junk food demand from to many of these parents. Remember, the child goes out without much to often and they are the reason for the benefits, not the adult.
This is a "no brainer" for me. Allowing those who receive this benefit to purchase items that have no nutritional benefit goes against the mission of this program. As a healthcare professional and tax payer in the state of Maine, I am astonished that we're even having this discussion.
I am more concerned with the qualifying to receive the assistance. Once qualified, I would rather depend on common sense of the user. That being said, I would hope the recipient understands this is a "leg up" during tough times and not an entitlement.