Food stamps

[Guest]

The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, is proud to be distributing the greatest amount of free
meals and food stamps ever.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S.
Department of the Interior, asks us to "Please Do Not Feed the
Animals."
Their stated reason for the policy is because the animals
will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of
themselves.



:22yikes:

[Guest]

What's your point?

[Guest]

Obvious point well-taken.:smiley:

[Guest]

Not funny. On Medicare or pension - you are on a handout buddy

[Guest]

Not funny. On Medicare or pension - you are on a handout buddyWhat you said is true, but not completely. The situation of "handouts" is undoubtedly not funny. As for Medicare and pensions, they are handouts, but most definitely not in the case of where recipients either contributed toward or worked for what they receive! For them it's called "earned benefits," not "handouts"!

[Guest]

Not funny. On Medicare or pension - you are on a handout buddy

Maybe, but mostly not. I paid 51 years into Social Security and from the very beginning into Medicare. Yes they will probably be a good deal, but I didn't have a choice. It was a tax forced on me by our government. So it is not a handout now that they are giving me back my money. And if I live another 12.8 years I will finally break even. Then I will collect something if I live past 79 years old.

As for food stamps. If someone really needs help I completely support them getting the help. However I can go to any grocery store in our area and find someone selling food stamp cards for 60 cents on the dollar to buy things not paid for by food stamps. Usually beer, cigarettes or drugs. The next time your in line and someone pays with food stamps, follow them to the parking lot and see what car they drive. It's an eye opener. IMHO it is one of the most abused welfare "handouts" we have.

So I agree with original poster, point well made.

[Guest]

Maybe, but mostly not. I paid 51 years into Social Security and from the very beginning into Medicare. Yes they will probably be a good deal, but I didn't have a choice. It was a tax forced on me by our government. So it is not a handout now that they are giving me back my money. And if I live another 12.8 years I will finally break even. Then I will collect something if I live past 79 years old.

As for food stamps. If someone really needs help I completely support them getting the help. However I can go to any grocery store in our area and find someone selling food stamp cards for 60 cents on the dollar to buy things not paid for by food stamps. Usually beer, cigarettes or drugs. The next time your in line and someone pays with food stamps, follow them to the parking lot and see what car they drive. It's an eye opener. IMHO it is one of the most abused welfare "handouts" we have.

So I agree with original poster, point well made.

This thread started in the joke thread, but it isn't a joke. I have to agree with l2rdhd.

This probably should be in political but to me it is a general issue. I bet the people who could write books are the check out clerks at the grocery.

[Guest]

Like 12ridehd and so many millions more we paid into both programs for better than 50 years without any say in the matter.

This could have been a good thing because many people in both programs lacked the effort or lack the opportunity to do any savings or carry medical coverage at all. Corporations use to do a adequate attempt at providing benefits but somewhere along the line they stopped and reversed course. This left quite a few workers in dire straights.

Many like my wife and me never place trust in relying on others and so banked every penny we could deferring compensation for retirement years.

I said both these programs coud have been a good thing however our greedy representatives misrepresented themseves so as to have the opportunity to avail themselves to our funds because they felt "entitled" to do so . Then they played the political game and called these programs "entitlements" giving them the option to pull them from us. Well I mad as ----and I am not going to take it.

Food stamps on the other hand are an entitlement but for some a need. However there are so many abuses and undeserving beneficaries in the program because the government lacks the will to clean up their mess .

You have to know the program is failing many when many generation after generations continue on this program. It is morally repugnant to keep these folks in such bondage making them "in effect" addicted to this program.
I am not talking about the individual that needs a hand up to get back on their feet. I am talking about those that find this is the righteous way of life. so muc so that they feel good about buying $42 ice cream cakes as was explained in an article on the subject in WSJ. Heck I can't afford nor would pay that amount for an everyday cake.

Finally I wish the liberals would stop using the same old argument that conservatives argue against entitlements but collect their social security checks every month. It is disingenious of liberals and they know it. Better they use their intellect and energy to push elected officials into getting some of these food stamp beneficiaries out of servitude

[Guest]

Remember we have to take care and feed the children. Some may abuse the system but you do not deny anyone because of them. Follow someone from a store to a nice car in the parking lot,people have been using that line for 50 years. Whats your point?...

[Guest]

[QUOTE=paulandjean;511927]Remember we have to take care and feed the children. QUOTE]

I disagree!! WE should not have to take care of someone elses children. They need to take care of them. It's time WE stopped paying people for having more children.

[Guest]

Do those among you that see SS as a "handout" send your checks back every month?

[Guest]

Remember we have to take care and feed the children. Some may abuse the system but you do not deny anyone because of them. Follow someone from a store to a nice car in the parking lot,people have been using that line for 50 years. Whats your point?...The point is pretty simple!. The system is abused and it's obvious! Some politicans and their supporters look the other was so the system can be played. Welfare could be a wonderful thing... if it weren't used and abused for purposes other than what it's intended for!

[Guest]

In a perfect world we should not have to take care and feed someones else children.,However we do not live in a perfect world,so you do the right thing.Not to sure of this taxpayers money to have children theory. Just think of it as a church collection baskets for the needy.

[Guest]

Just remember what. Rodney king said " help i can't swim!!


Or Elvis sang the best song the way our country should be run....."only the strong survive!!" now we got a bunch of wimps!
When Hillary is President this will be a scarey place

[Guest]

[QUOTE=paulandjean;511927]Remember we have to take care and feed the children. QUOTE]

I disagree!! WE should not have to take care of someone elses children. They need to take care of them. It's time WE stopped paying people for having more children.

What? Let them starve? There but by the grace of God go you? :(

[Guest]

[quote=getdul981;511929]

What? Let them starve? There but by the grace of God go you? :(

It isn't that simple. We tried to arrange ourelves to plan to have as many children as we could take care of ourselves.

In the old days children were sometimes placed in orphanages when their parents weren't able to care for them and sometimes when I read of the abuse and neglect and even murder of some children, I wonder if that wouldn't be better.

No one wants a child to go unfed, but the way the system is set up it looks like some of the parents getting food stamps can allow their children to go unfed while they feed their drug habit.

I respect you mightily for your kind heart and good mind DaleMN, but the system is flawed when it comes to welfare in my opinion.

[Guest]

[quote=getdul981;511929]

What? Let them starve? There but by the grace of God go you? :(

So DaleMN...what exactly is your solution?

Do we allow those who have been receiving food stamps for generations to continue doing so?

What would be YOUR answer to the problem?

I am sure you have something in mind....you obviously have some thoughts on political matters since you reply to almost every political post.

I, for one, would like to see a meaningful, substantial post on what you feel is a solution to our country's problems, especially the food stamp entitlement.

Please...enlighten me.

Mr. Admin...I am not attacking....just would like a real answer from DaleMN.

[Guest]

chicago92, sorry pal, my pension is no handout. I worked for 36 years for a company who promised my pension as a benefit, and I'm about to collect it. You are wrong about pensions. About Medicare, there is a half truth there. Yes, it is a benefit from the government, even though we've all contributed part of the cost. But not all of it. Frankly, I think you are a troll, who just throws some **** in the game to get people upset.

[Guest]

It's been reported in the media that many food stamp recipients are the elderly and veterans. Now there's a move to reduce the amount from $135 a month down to $90. Somebody on TV broke this down to $1.50 a meal.

[Guest]

and if the federal government would crack down on the food stamp fraud and eliminate those who do not qualify and are abusing the system, there would be no need to reduce those that really need them.

But in our permissive, pacifist, don't upset any potential voting block disease, nothing gets done. Hence the number getting on the band wagon continues to grow and as the original post alludes.....the care and feeding goes on...and on....and on.

Lack of enforcement is the name of the disease. Tolerating it is worse than the disease.

btk

[Guest]

:BigApplause::BigApplause:I can't tell you how many times, I'm in line at check-out and the customer in front of me is using his Food Stamp card, and they have tatoos, false fingernails, gold teeth, wearing brand name shoes and clothes and buying beer...Ugh!....How do you fix such a broken system when our congressman have no guts! (really wanted to say something else but cleaned it up!)



Maybe, but mostly not. I paid 51 years into Social Security and from the very beginning into Medicare. Yes they will probably be a good deal, but I didn't have a choice. It was a tax forced on me by our government. So it is not a handout now that they are giving me back my money. And if I live another 12.8 years I will finally break even. Then I will collect something if I live past 79 years old.

As for food stamps. If someone really needs help I completely support them getting the help. However I can go to any grocery store in our area and find someone selling food stamp cards for 60 cents on the dollar to buy things not paid for by food stamps. Usually beer, cigarettes or drugs. The next time your in line and someone pays with food stamps, follow them to the parking lot and see what car they drive. It's an eye opener. IMHO it is one of the most abused welfare "handouts" we have.

So I agree with original poster, point well made.

[Guest]

What you said is true, but not completely. The situation of "handouts" is undoubtedly not funny. As for Medicare and pensions, they are handouts, but most definitely not in the case of where recipients either contributed toward or worked for what they receive! For them it's called "earned benefits," not "handouts"!

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

[Guest]

".....In the political language of today, people who want to keep what they have earned are said to be "greedy," while those who wish to take their earnings from them and give it to others (who will vote for them in return) show "compassion."

A political term that had me baffled for a long time was "the hungry." Since we all get hungry, it was not obvious to me how you single out some particular segment of the population to refer to as "the hungry."

Eventually, over the years, it finally dawned on me what the distinction was. People who make no provision to feed themselves, but expect others to provide food for them, are those whom politicians and the media refer to as "the hungry."

Those who meet this definition may have money for alcohol, drugs or even various electronic devices. And many of them are overweight.

But, if they look to voluntary donations, or money taken from the taxpayers, to provide them with something to eat, then they are "the hungry."

I can remember a time, long ago, when I was hungry in the old-fashioned sense. I was a young fellow out of work, couldn't find work, fell behind in my room rent -- and, when I finally found a job, I had to walk miles to get there, because I couldn't afford both subway fare and food.

But this was back in those "earlier and simpler times" we hear about. I was so naive that I thought it was up to me to go find a job, and to save some money when I did. Even though I knew that Joe DiMaggio was making $100,000 a year -- a staggering sum in the money of that time -- it never occurred to me that it was up to him to see that I got fed....


Thomas Sowell: A Political Glossary (http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell062612.php3)

[Guest]

".....In the political language of today, people who want to keep what they have earned are said to be "greedy," while those who wish to take their earnings from them and give it to others (who will vote for them in return) show "compassion."

A political term that had me baffled for a long time was "the hungry." Since we all get hungry, it was not obvious to me how you single out some particular segment of the population to refer to as "the hungry."

Eventually, over the years, it finally dawned on me what the distinction was. People who make no provision to feed themselves, but expect others to provide food for them, are those whom politicians and the media refer to as "the hungry."

Those who meet this definition may have money for alcohol, drugs or even various electronic devices. And many of them are overweight.

But, if they look to voluntary donations, or money taken from the taxpayers, to provide them with something to eat, then they are "the hungry."

I can remember a time, long ago, when I was hungry in the old-fashioned sense. I was a young fellow out of work, couldn't find work, fell behind in my room rent -- and, when I finally found a job, I had to walk miles to get there, because I couldn't afford both subway fare and food.

But this was back in those "earlier and simpler times" we hear about. I was so naive that I thought it was up to me to go find a job, and to save some money when I did. Even though I knew that Joe DiMaggio was making $100,000 a year -- a staggering sum in the money of that time -- it never occurred to me that it was up to him to see that I got fed....


Thomas Sowell: A Political Glossary (http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell062612.php3)

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

[Guest]

".....In the political language of today, people who want to keep what they have earned are said to be "greedy," while those who wish to take their earnings from them and give it to others (who will vote for them in return) show "compassion."

A political term that had me baffled for a long time was "the hungry." Since we all get hungry, it was not obvious to me how you single out some particular segment of the population to refer to as "the hungry."

Eventually, over the years, it finally dawned on me what the distinction was. People who make no provision to feed themselves, but expect others to provide food for them, are those whom politicians and the media refer to as "the hungry."

Those who meet this definition may have money for alcohol, drugs or even various electronic devices. And many of them are overweight.

But, if they look to voluntary donations, or money taken from the taxpayers, to provide them with something to eat, then they are "the hungry."

I can remember a time, long ago, when I was hungry in the old-fashioned sense. I was a young fellow out of work, couldn't find work, fell behind in my room rent -- and, when I finally found a job, I had to walk miles to get there, because I couldn't afford both subway fare and food.

But this was back in those "earlier and simpler times" we hear about. I was so naive that I thought it was up to me to go find a job, and to save some money when I did. Even though I knew that Joe DiMaggio was making $100,000 a year -- a staggering sum in the money of that time -- it never occurred to me that it was up to him to see that I got fed....


Thomas Sowell: A Political Glossary (http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell062612.php3)

:BigApplause: :BigApplause:

I agree with Skyguy that this is a brilliant post to this thread, and should probably be the intellectual end of it.

Like that'll happen.

[Guest]

I think we should let them all go hungry and die.

[Guest]

They obviously have no redeeming value. :( :grumpy: :mad:

[Guest]

Some think the fraud is just fine,Either they don't believe because never lived in a major city,or are fine putting their children in debt for years to come because that's the way they live. ,But in chicago everyday your offered a deal on food.This has been the way for last 30 yrs.If these systems were cleaned up the needy could be taken care of a lot better then they are.I just do not understand why some on the left don't want anything cleaned up.I

[Guest]

...that however generous and obligated we feel about caring for those less able to care for themselves, we can only do what we can afford.

We have lots of government programs, from defense to social welfare programs. For a variety of reasons, the government isn't taking in enough money to pay for everything that people want them to spend money on. So we borrow to continue to enable such spending. In fact, we borrow a lot--about 42 cents of every dollar spent by the federal government is borrowed money.

As much as we might like to, we can't afford to continue spending as much as we do. In the end we will have to establish agreed upon national priorities. A real basic one that has been mentioned for years is "guns or butter?". Another choice we'll have to make is how we can continue to fund Social Security and Medicare entitlement programs as we have. Some combination of cuts in those program benefits, cuts in other government spending, or increased taxes will be the choices we'll eventually face.

[Guest]

"I can't tell you how many times, I'm in line at check-out and the customer in front of me is using his Food Stamp card, and they have tatoos, false fingernails, gold teeth, wearing brand name shoes and clothes and buying beer...Ugh!...."

You say you live in the Village of LaZamora and you see this a lot of times? What food stores do you shop at? Beer is not one of the items that can be bought with food stamps. I have lived in The Villages for 3 years and do shopping both in and out of The Villages. I have never seen people as you describe buying beer with food stamps.

I have seen a man or a woman with a small child buying things like milk, cereal, hamburger, and spaghetti with their food stamps from time to time. Shall we turn them away?

Lots of the Conservatives who are posting about the poor people having too many children and we have to pay for their welfare are the same ones who do not want Pro-Choice and to let a woman terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

[Guest]

Most people that stand so strongly against food stamps, and who characterize them all as tatooed, stinky, fat people who buy beer and cigarettes with them, probably have never really known anyone who was on food stamps. While it is true that there are abuses, as there are among bankers, doctors, hospitals, farm corporations, and every other occupation you can name, there are many people who have legitimate and proper needs for the program. There was a program on this week (I beleive it was 20/20) which focused on several families that had been middle or upper middle class professionals, lost their jobs, had been unable to find employment, and were now on food stamps among other subsistence. For the most part they professed embarassment for having to use food stamps, but not so much for other government assistance they received. Why? because other people, who might be judgemental could possibly see they were using food stamps, while no one knew about where the money they were receiving came from. Before you judge others too harshly, you may want to consider the circumstances that they may have fallen into.

[Guest]

"I can't tell you how many times, I'm in line at check-out and the customer in front of me is using his Food Stamp card, and they have tatoos, false fingernails, gold teeth, wearing brand name shoes and clothes and buying beer...Ugh!...."

You say you live in the Village of LaZamora and you see this a lot of times? What food stores do you shop at? Beer is not one of the items that can be bought with food stamps. I have lived in The Villages for 3 years and do shopping both in and out of The Villages. I have never seen people as you describe buying beer with food stamps.

I have seen a man or a woman with a small child buying things like milk, cereal, hamburger, and spaghetti with their food stamps from time to time. Shall we turn them away?

Lots of the Conservatives who are posting about the poor people having too many children and we have to pay for their welfare are the same ones who do not want Pro-Choice and to let a woman terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

I wondered myself where the poster shops so I can avoid that store. Conservatives are all about the babies, until they're born, then they want nothing to do with them such as abolishing food stamps, defunding Planned Parenthood for their mothers, ending Head Start, no school lunch program. Once you're born, you're on your own.

[Guest]

"Once you're born, you're on your own."

Some of us had a mother and father.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

btk

[Guest]

"Once you're born, you're on your own."

Some of us had a mother and father.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

btk


...and does the baby have any choice of having a mother and a father? By not having a mother and a father, a baby should suffer hunger? Nice Christian attitude.

[Guest]

what I read here are some posters who have everything they need and are not willing to give a little to help some who don't. These are the same people who also preach to us about christian values and the value of life.

[Guest]

...and does the baby have any choice of having a mother and a father? By not having a mother and a father, a baby should suffer hunger? Nice Christian attitude.

None of what was posted here was in the thought or intent. Once again you twist, spin, distort or out and out invent your interpretation or intents. Unfortunately, as usual, none of your quote is even close to accurate.

When you want to espouse the quality of "christian attitude" perhaps a long hard look in the mirror might help you.

And you post also delves into the isolated, by comparison, example to apply to a general condition. Some of you should feel inadequate quoting application of onsey twosey incidents when we are discussing impacts of millions.

You are entitled to your interpretation and opinion, but as requested time and time again....don't try to pass it off as what I said or intended.

btk

[Guest]

what I read here are some posters who have everything they need and are not willing to give a little to help some who don't. These are the same people who also preach to us about christian values and the value of life.

And these are the same people who applaud our getting involved in the two longest wars in US history, which costs a trillion dollars. No problem with the cost of unpaid-for wars or the unpaid-for Medicare Part D.

[Guest]

Why is it you on the left are against cleaning up the voting rolls,food stamp programs and other government programs,You call names you change subject and never address the issue.Just what are you afraid of?Could it be you are part of the problems?I would think any sane and normal person would want these government programs to be ran honestly.

[Guest]

Why is it you on the left are against cleaning up the voting rolls,food stamp programs and other government programs,You call names you change subject and never address the issue.Just what are you afraid of?Could it be you are part of the problems?I would think any sane and normal person would want these government programs to be ran honestly.

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

[Guest]

Liberals have it easy because all their propaganda can be situated on bump stickers "Feed the hungry and all those feel good sayings. However it is not accompanied byany real deep thinking.

Histronics aside tell me where in America children are going hungry, other than the occasional parent that has his children tied up in the basement.
Poverty as measured by America still leaves the poor with cars, AC, TV DVD, etc.

The Food Stamp program now provides for 1 of 7 americans. Does the old saw go something like feed a person fish and you will always feed that person. However teach them to fish and..... corny, perhaps

Obama is on a big campaign to increase the Food Stamp program in Texas, Californa North & south Carolina, New York and Ohio. Hmmmm wonder why?

And finally count on liberals always to stop any serious discussion on these programs with either "so you want childen to starve" or then why don't you stop collecting your social security and medicare. And the answer is obvious but liberals can't deal with that fact because it causes them confusion "that does not compute" "that does not compute"

[Guest]

Notice that none of the leftists have mentioned food stamps and all welfare assistance is supposed to be a temporary safety net....NOT a permanent lifestyle in which one can develop a "pay increase" by purposely having more children!

Some of you need to work/volunteer at a county social services office or hospital ER, where 2-3 generations of a family come in who've never seen even one of their parent(s) get up every day and go to work and show the kids a paycheck they earned.

And then people wonder why the kids give up in junior high and decide about finishing school: "What FOR??"

[Guest]

what I read here are some posters who have everything they need and are not willing to give a little to help some who don't. These are the same people who also preach to us about christian values and the value of life.

For the last 20 years I worked 6 days a week.I would put 20 dollars in my pocket every week for lunch money and would order off the dollar menu.While others would spend more and always complain they are broke.But they would find money for their $5 starbucks every day.We also sent are kids to school and paid for it.My daughter is a lawyer and has been on a senators staff and happens to be very left and feels she is entitled also.But I blame that on being in Washington to long.My question to you is why should us or anybody else pay for those who go thru life keeping up with the jone's because they were to stupid to plan for their old age?One thing I have learned in my 61 years is more of my friends that lean left are broke then the ones to the right.And that is not because of making less money..Most were just dumb and lived and spent it all.Now they think they are owed by the rest of us.I for one think not.

[Guest]

For the last 20 years I worked 6 days a week.I would put 20 dollars in my pocket every week for lunch money and would order off the dollar menu.While others would spend more and always complain they are broke.But they would find money for their $5 starbucks every day.We also sent are kids to school and paid for it.My daughter is a lawyer and has been on a senators staff and happens to be very left and feels she is entitled also.But I blame that on being in Washington to long.My question to you is why should us or anybody else pay for those who go thru life keeping up with the jone's because they were to stupid to plan for their old age?One thing I have learned in my 61 years is more of my friends that lean left are broke then the ones to the right.And that is not because of making less money..Most were just dumb and lived and spent it all.Now they think they are owed by the rest of us.I for one think not.

Lots of good old common sense and clear eyed observation in your post.

Nobody's pulling the wool over your eyes. Bravo.

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

[Guest]

Food Stamps were originally sold. Cost was based on person's income and financial status. Pres. Ford changed that to just give them the difference in Food Stamps. So that were, for example, sold for $50 for $100 dollars food stamps, they just gave out $50 food stamps. Then the recepients now can spend the $50 not on foodm but beer and smokes, And then they cry $50 is all they have for food where they were supposed to put up $50 of their own money too.

If the birthrate had not dropped, there would be more young people paying into pension funds.

[Guest]

that is a sad tale but a fact of life for many. And an even more fact of life for many, many, MANY more in years past in a similar or worse predicament who had to go out and get any job that would bring money in the front door. When I was growing up there was no menu of freebies one could ride on forever.

Yup , I think the guy you are making an example needs to go get a job or two or three.

I know and remember some who had no choice but to ride the back of trucks to get to the farms to pick what ever was in season.

Can you see any of today's "needy" doing that? Of course not...they have the federal government to take care of them......

btk

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

waynet: Perhaps. I lost my job at the age of 48 years. The unemployment rate was horrible and it took me nine months to find another job. I literally had to start all over again. I paid my bills and refused unemployment insurance. You know why? I have pride but then my wife and I never ask anyone, including our parents for one red cent. We paid for our wedding, our honeymoon our fueniture our homes, our education, etc. and my wife and I had the sense not to mortgage ourselves to the hilt. We set money aside for such an event as unemployment without raiding my 401k, etc.

waynet: some people are just plain bad money mnagers. they want it all and they want it now. and those are he type that many taxpayers object to supporting. CA-BISH

[Guest]

waynet: Perhaps. I lost my job at the age of 48 years. The unemployment rate was horrible and it took me nine months to find another job. I literally had to start all over again. I paid my bills and refused unemployment insurance. You know why? I have pride but then my wife and I never ask anyone, including our parents for one red cent. We paid for our wedding, our honeymoon our fueniture our homes, our education, etc. and my wife and I had the sense not to mortgage ourselves to the hilt. We set money aside for such an event as unemployment without raiding my 401k, etc.

waynet: some people are just plain bad money mnagers. they want it all and they want it now. and those are he type that many taxpayers object to supporting. CA-BISH

Rubicon,
I can understand what you are saying but I do not agree with all of it. Lots of people do not have the recommended 6 months of emergency money and that is not due always to a spendthrift lifestyle.

As you know, I volunteer at the Christian Food Pantry in Lady Lake. There are some who get food and are gaming the system, I know. However, there are also some old folks who are getting only a few hundred dollars on Social Security and that goes for rent and utilities. We have to have compassion on those people, don't we? A few bags of groceries and a few dollars of food stamps keeps these people alive.

I am not preaching to you or anyone else. Villagers are known for their compassion towards others.

[Guest]

Back in the day we didn't need food stamps, we had families. I remember as a kid every Sunday visiting Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents, some had money... some didn't but there was always "enough". Sometimes it was not so good, one Aunt specialized in what we kids called "Aunt Teresa's Spaghetti with Depression Balls"-kind of like meatballs with LOTS OF BREAD-but nobody left hungry. People helped one another, if someone was out of work they stayed with us till they got back on their feet.

Today, my friends and family have children with whole lists of what they don't like. Having these people around turns me into a short-order chef. As a child I wouldn't have dared say I didn't like something.

A few months ago at Publix there was a group collecting food donations, I always try to donate something until I looked at the list... fruit rollups? Jar spaghetti sauce? Prepared foods? I'd say these people don't know what hungry is. I could make a huge pot of pasta fazool for the price of those fruit rollups. Maybe they should lay off the prepared foods and learn how to cook.

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

Wow, glad you libs can always make the Large Corporation as part of your mantra, as if someone can't get laid off from a small business.

Probably BIG oil too.

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

I still want to help people,But clean up the fraud,which those on the left do not want to do anything at all.They just think it's fine the way it is.That is just crazy.If you think those on the right here wants to throw people on the street your dead wrong.All I want is the system fixed which Dems don't want,Why?Maybe because the might lose so votes?I don't mine paying my share.Just don't waste it.

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

Maybe you're talking about a guy who worked for 30 years, kept himself in late model cars which he drove in the latest designer clothes, took great vacations every year without really making any attempt to provide for his future.

This could be the guy you're crying about.

[Guest]

Rubicon,
I can understand what you are saying but I do not agree with all of it. Lots of people do not have the recommended 6 months of emergency money and that is not due always to a spendthrift lifestyle.

As you know, I volunteer at the Christian Food Pantry in Lady Lake. There are some who get food and are gaming the system, I know. However, there are also some old folks who are getting only a few hundred dollars on Social Security and that goes for rent and utilities. We have to have compassion on those people, don't we? A few bags of groceries and a few dollars of food stamps keeps these people alive.

I am not preaching to you or anyone else. Villagers are known for their compassion towards others.

Buggyone, re-read what I said its the. Its the reckless and feckless we are talking about. No one would begrudge a person truly in need that made every attempt to care for themselves. However we have some folks who believe feeding at the government trough is a civil right generation after generation. When will it stop...when we all go under because some people refused to fend for themselves

Look at the situation in Rochester New York wherein a school monitor gets bullied and what do we do donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to her so she can retire. Please I begging someone to bully me on the golf course. That same mentality is allowing a number of people to breed just to get more of a handout. I guess the Pilgrims had it wrong when they sailed over here. They should have demanded a stipend for each family member from the King

[Guest]

The poor here in US need to see how really poor people have to live in places like India, Eqypt, Cambodia and Brunei. They would be thankful of what they had.

As for me, I give to reliable charities.

[Guest]

The way food stamps can be used to get a sandwich at a C store burns me up. The food trucks should arrive on set days. Dry milk, cheese, flour, ground meats and canned veggies etc. Folks can cook it and pack a lunch when they are out looking for work.

[Guest]

HDH,to say people on the left don't want to prevent fraud in the food stamp program or any other program is just wrong. It's like me saying the right doesn't want to clean up corporate fraud. No one wants fraud in any program period.

[Guest]

Richie,you are unbelieveable. I am talking about my next door neighbor whose wife is still working. Yes,he did take vacations with his children,no he didn't have the latest car and no designer clothing. He worked hard and took care of his family. He has saved for his retirement 401K and some other savings. Try helping put 3 kids through college,clothing them,feeding them.Next you'll tell me they shouldn't have kids. Please don't respond to what you think I'm talking about. If you dont want to help people just say so.

[Guest]

so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

Richie,you are unbelieveable. I am talking about my next door neighbor whose wife is still working. Yes,he did take vacations with his children,no he didn't have the latest car and no designer clothing. He worked hard and took care of his family. He has saved for his retirement 401K and some other savings. Try helping put 3 kids through college,clothing them,feeding them.Next you'll tell me they shouldn't have kids. Please don't respond to what you think I'm talking about. If you dont want to help people just say so.

Get off it Wayne.

In your post you say "A man or woman works 30 years...blah, blah, blah"

This doesn't sound like anybody you know and appears to be a fable to make some point about.......whatever.

Now it's a guy you know who's wife is still working. (who was the woman in the first post?)

Sorry, I don't believe you in your second post. I think you're making this family up out of whole cloth.

[Guest]

HDH,to say people on the left don't want to prevent fraud in the food stamp program or any other program is just wrong. It's like me saying the right doesn't want to clean up corporate fraud. No one wants fraud in any program period.

Wrong i doubt it,just look at the posts on this site they call names say the other side is lying ,watch the news every time its brought up they say the problem is a very small % which is crap.I can go back north and 5 mins can get you steaks or what ever at 50% from some moron selling to raise money for some vise.Everyone wants to blame corps,who owns them?all of us if you are getting a pension its because of their earnings of stock in your plan even if from the public sector.You fall for that crap that their are these big evil corps and need to take more from them.All you are doing taking it from yourself in one way or another.less return in your 401k or pension or they raise price of product to keep profit levels and you pay more.The left just wants to tax and spend and build their base,Corps pay to much taxes now.So they move off shore and we lose if we had tax rates on par with the rest of the free world their might be more jobs. You know why union jobs are going away?because they did to them self.When you have janitors in uaw making 80 to 100k a year something is wrong.This I know they were paid same rate as anyone in plant.when times were good would make over 100k cleaning johns. We bring up voters fraud,the left say they are trying to stop people from voting.Here they say we are profiling hispanic's well i ask you how many illegal swedes are in south fla.some times you need to have a little common sense which seems to be lacking when it comes to the left.When they compared drivers license data to voters roles it flagged about 180k that might be illegal.The left says bs.Are people that dumb to believe that the republicans in the state could make this up and not get caught?Never once have I heard people on this site or on the news on the left say maybe we should look in to it.All they say is we are trying to stop people from voting.When it comes to obama care most on the left love it,They don't have a clue what its done to working family's in last 2 years,some are paying 300 to 500 a month increases in ins prem.a in employee plans and get far less t coverage. When I see or hear 1 person on the left say maybe we ought to look at voters fraud or welfare fraud of some sort then I will agree with you.But have not heard that in my adult life and never will.All they care about is their base and creating more of it.Ann Coulter the loon on the right wrote a book titled If the liberals had brains they wood be republicans.I'm starting to think she may be right.

[Guest]

Have you heard the radio ads promoting people to go on food stamps. Put out by the USDA.

[Guest]

Have you heard the radio ads promoting people to go on food stamps. Put out by the USDA.

Not until you posted. Here is a rundown on it.

Stuart Varney Sounds off on Radio Ad Pitching Food Stamps to Seniors As a Health and Beauty Aid - YouTube

Don't know why Varney has a dog in the fight though.

[Guest]

Richie,you are unbelieveable. I am talking about my next door neighbor whose wife is still working. Yes,he did take vacations with his children,no he didn't have the latest car and no designer clothing. He worked hard and took care of his family. He has saved for his retirement 401K and some other savings. Try helping put 3 kids through college,clothing them,feeding them.Next you'll tell me they shouldn't have kids. Please don't respond to what you think I'm talking about. If you dont want to help people just say so.

How about those 3 well educated, well fed and well dressed children helping out their parents?

[Guest]

This is one of those political topics that in another thread I mentioned that liberals would use their trick political words (fair and compassionate). See the previous responses from liberals. How can one make alegitimate point because when you try you are labeled either unfair or non-compassionate. and so the political enablers continue to keep many receipients unnecessarily in servitude. And of course all of these "com pasionate politicians want from receipients is their vote.

[Guest]

why do the supporters ever not want to talk about the cheaters, the fraud, the illegals, the illegitimates that are not supposed to be getting food stamps in the first place.

Just once I would like to hear from any of the supporters that they AGREE there are folks who should not be getting food stamps and something should be done about it.

I do know one thing for sure. With no real up close personal investment in the issue it is easy to pontificate about only the good and ignore the bad, the broken and wrong. Now if, like raising the amenity fees here in TV, the supporters had to cough up more of their hard earned money to continue supporting those who don't deserve it....I am sure there would be a different tune.

It is so easy when an issue is not in ones backyard or affect their lives personally. That's why politicians do what they do.

btk

[Guest]

Richie a new low for you. Now you have no response so you call me a liar. Nice.

[Guest]

what I read here are some posters who have everything they need and are not willing to give a little to help some who don't. These are the same people who also preach to us about christian values and the value of life.
For those of you who challenge people who oppose ongoing giving as being something other than Christian, I suggest you read the writings of Maimonides, arguable the greatest scholar in the history of Judaism, on charity.
Maimonides' Eight Degrees of Charity (http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker/rmbmzdkh.html)

He is clear that the greatest act of charity is helping the person to the point where he/she no longer needs charity. The lowest level of charity is the one who gives to the poor unwillingly. This clearly describes the taxpayer who does not wish to pay more in taxes for someone he/she has never met.

I suggest that those of you who describe people as not being Christian because we oppose permanent handouts follow the instructions of Christ and give directly to the poor 10% or more of your income. Giving to the church or working a few hours a week at your local food pantry does not equal the requirement.

[Guest]

For those of you who challenge people who oppose ongoing giving as being something other than Christian, I suggest you read the writings of Maimonides, arguable the greatest scholar in the history of Judaism, on charity.
Maimonides' Eight Degrees of Charity (http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker/rmbmzdkh.html)

He is clear that the greatest act of charity is helping the person to the point where he/she no longer needs charity. The lowest level of charity is the one who gives to the poor unwillingly. This clearly describes the taxpayer who does not wish to pay more in taxes for someone he/she has never met.

I suggest that those of you who describe people as not being Christian because we oppose permanent handouts follow the instructions of Christ and give directly to the poor 10% or more of your income. Giving to the church or working a few hours a week at your local food pantry does not equal the requirement.


BBQ-

I certainly am not a scholar of the Bible nor do I pretend to be one - nor am I a good Christian although I try my best. I know that my few hours a week at the food pantry is not my way to Heaven nor do I pretend it is a great contribution to anyone.

I did look up tithing and found on Wikipedia (not a wonderful source for the truth) something interesting that may be true or not.

"Many Christians support their churches and pastors with monetary contributions of one sort or another. Frequently these monetary contributions are called tithes whether or not they actually represent ten percent of anything. Some claim that as tithing was an ingrained Jewish custom by the time of Jesus,but no specific command to tithe per se is found in the New Testament."

Giving to others through charity is clearly a personal choice. Who are we to judge others motives or choices?

[Guest]

Richie a new low for you. Now you have no response so you call me a liar. Nice.

You're either that or a lousy story teller.

Patty55 has a good comment for you above, also.

[Guest]

Richie sorry,neither...as for pattie their oldest has a job,a good one. His college loans are about $200,000,he has a car payment and rent on an apartment and must work with clothes on and also eat. The other two boys are still in college trying to better themselves. They both work in the summer and neither boy has a car. I just don't think the two of you have a clue. You've got yours the heck with everyone else.

[Guest]

If the kid has loans that high I hope his degree is in a high paying field.If not his parents can't be to smart to let him do something that stupid.Thats another problem letting kids get in debt for so much they can never get out.

[Guest]

Richie sorry,neither...as for pattie their oldest has a job,a good one. His college loans are about $200,000,he has a car payment and rent on an apartment and must work with clothes on and also eat. The other two boys are still in college trying to better themselves. They both work in the summer and neither boy has a car. I just don't think the two of you have a clue. You've got yours the heck with everyone else.

Oh, I have a clue-LOL, I worked for a while at DSS. When your friend was laid off he could collect about 2 years worth of unemployment benefits, should have been enough time to find employment-don't ya think? The boys work in the summer? What about the rest of the year? I put myself through school waitressing ALL YEAR. #1 son has $200,000 in student loans-sorry not buying that one, maybe he should have went to a state school-lots of people did you know. Then #1 son gets an apartment and a car loan? Why? Sorry, just not buying it.

As for your final comment, "You've got yours the heck with everyone else" that is an obscenely big assumption on your part. You have no idea what people have or how they got it.

Tell me, since your friends children are unwilling/unable to lend a helping hand, what have you done?

[Guest]

both waynet and HDH have to agree that there is abuse in the Food Stamp system....No one is cold hearted and wants a family in need to go without, just give them help over the bumps in the road but NOT a lifestyle.




so HDH a man or woman works for 30 years gets laid off by a lage corporation and cannot find work to support he and his mate. He's got 5 years to payoff the mortgage,a small car payment,and maybe a home improvement loan. I guess you want him to starve and lose everything right? You are cold

[Guest]

and I'm sure, as we all know, that the purchase of beer was seperate from the staples , I was very judgemental, but we all make choices, and my choices obviously can be wrong also, I should have listened to the smart jbartle, the one with the filter that says "Think b4 you speak"...IN answer to your question, I do a lot of my grocery shopping at Walmart..and yes, I see this a LOT!...



"I can't tell you how many times, I'm in line at check-out and the customer in front of me is using his Food Stamp card, and they have tatoos, false fingernails, gold teeth, wearing brand name shoes and clothes and buying beer...Ugh!...."

You say you live in the Village of LaZamora and you see this a lot of times? What food stores do you shop at? Beer is not one of the items that can be bought with food stamps. I have lived in The Villages for 3 years and do shopping both in and out of The Villages. I have never seen people as you describe buying beer with food stamps.

I have seen a man or a woman with a small child buying things like milk, cereal, hamburger, and spaghetti with their food stamps from time to time. Shall we turn them away?

Lots of the Conservatives who are posting about the poor people having too many children and we have to pay for their welfare are the same ones who do not want Pro-Choice and to let a woman terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

[Guest]

Gosh these folks complaining about the fraud, abuse and entitlement mentality found in the food Stamp Program apparently have not viewed the USDA's videos on how going on the "Food Stamp Program" can lead you to looking amazing, Nor have they viewed the "Party With Food Stamps" video.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Guest]

In my experience one of the biggest problems with all the programs is they are not reaching the deserving poor. We would get in elderly people, sometimes men on an extended strike and you could tell they were so humiliated just to be there. They didn't/wouldn't/couldn't lie, even if you told them the lie to say they'd say something like "That's not true."

The lifetime customers on the other hand, they knew the rules, they knew how to get what they wanted. The children getting their own grant was like a rite of passage. I think all the social programs have contributed to the breakdown of the family.

Maybe they can't buy beer with their foodstamps, but guess what they get with their WIC, baby formula that is being used to manufacture crack.

Now, my personal pet peeve-"Obama phones".:ohdear:

[Guest]

In my experience one of the biggest problems with all the programs is they are not reaching the deserving poor. We would get in elderly people, sometimes men on an extended strike and you could tell they were so humiliated just to be there. They didn't/wouldn't/couldn't lie, even if you told them the lie to say they'd say something like "That's not true."

The lifetime customers on the other hand, they knew the rules, they knew how to get what they wanted. The children getting their own grant was like a rite of passage. I think all the social programs have contributed to the breakdown of the family.

Maybe they can't buy beer with their foodstamps, but guess what they get with their WIC, baby formula that is being used to manufacture crack.

Now, my personal pet peeve-"Obama phones".:ohdear:

patty55 you describe so well by example what many of the members are complaining about. Personally, I efused to apply for VA benefits becaise 1) I had satisfacotry medical car and 2) I served only 4 years state side. The Navy changed my life for the better. I therefore did not feel entitled to VA benefits like some and also believed that theguys more deserving were those guys directly affected the injured, long serving, etc. In short I felt I was not entitled and it would have been dishonest to apply.

I do feel for those folks who have to swallow their pride and submit.

My daughter coordinates care for children up to 6 years old and it is heart breaking to hear her speak of some situations (of course without identifying anyone). I do then understand there are folks in need....It is the reason i feel so strongly against the big time offenders.

[Guest]

In my experience one of the biggest problems with all the programs is they are not reaching the deserving poor. We would get in elderly people, sometimes men on an extended strike and you could tell they were so humiliated just to be there. They didn't/wouldn't/couldn't lie, even if you told them the lie to say they'd say something like "That's not true."

The lifetime customers on the other hand, they knew the rules, they knew how to get what they wanted. The children getting their own grant was like a rite of passage. I think all the social programs have contributed to the breakdown of the family.

Maybe they can't buy beer with their foodstamps, but guess what they get with their WIC, baby formula that is being used to manufacture crack.

Now, my personal pet peeve-"Obama phones".:ohdear:

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::b igbow::bigbow::bigbow: Some just do not want to believe the truth

[Guest]

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::b igbow::bigbow::bigbow: Some just do not want to believe the truth

hdh1470: I may or may not agree with what you have stated. However I can not say until I know to whose "truth" you refer?

[Guest]

Patty and the rest....father has been collecting for close to a year. Still no job in his field or anyhting else close to his expertise. Maybe you can tell him why corporations with record profits aren't hiring......son#1..worked hard in school and earned a right to go to a top flight private school which he was attending when his dad lost his job. To ask him to transfer is total nonsense. We all talk about working hard,this is what this kid did. You want the kid to live in the street and how do you propose he get to work,magic carpet? As for the other 2 kids don't know if they work during school year,I do know they work during long breaks from school. No they do not go to spring break. The wife has a full-time job. To say that the kids are unwilling/unable to help is just stupid on your part. As for what I do to help that is none of your business. This is a family that needs help,they are not looking for a handout,they need temporary help and for you and others to question their motives is wrong,period.

[Guest]

Patty and the rest....father has been collecting for close to a year. Still no job in his field or anyhting else close to his expertise. Maybe you can tell him why corporations with record profits aren't hiring......son#1..worked hard in school and earned a right to go to a top flight private school which he was attending when his dad lost his job. To ask him to transfer is total nonsense. We all talk about working hard,this is what this kid did. You want the kid to live in the street and how do you propose he get to work,magic carpet? As for the other 2 kids don't know if they work during school year,I do know they work during long breaks from school. No they do not go to spring break. The wife has a full-time job. To say that the kids are unwilling/unable to help is just stupid on your part. As for what I do to help that is none of your business. This is a family that needs help,they are not looking for a handout,they need temporary help and for you and others to question their motives is wrong,period.

Okey Dokey, if the father has been collecting for close to a year he still has quite a way to go till his benefits run out.

If the wife is working full-time and the husband is collecting unemployment benefits and they have a 25 year old mortgage they are probably way over the threshold to collect much of anything anyway.

In your last scenario #1 son was graduated with a good job, now he can't transfer. The other two don't go to spring break? What a shame.

Whatever, this alleged situation has run the gamut from insipidity to absurdity. :ohdear:

[Guest]

In my experience one of the biggest problems with all the programs is they are not reaching the deserving poor. We would get in elderly people, sometimes men on an extended strike and you could tell they were so humiliated just to be there. They didn't/wouldn't/couldn't lie, even if you told them the lie to say they'd say something like "That's not true."

The lifetime customers on the other hand, they knew the rules, they knew how to get what they wanted. The children getting their own grant was like a rite of passage. I think all the social programs have contributed to the breakdown of the family.

Maybe they can't buy beer with their foodstamps, but guess what they get with their WIC, baby formula that is being used to manufacture crack.

Now, my personal pet peeve-"Obama phones".:ohdear:


Patty55,

Maybe you should do a tad more research on things. 1. You stated that baby forumula is being used to manufacture crack. It is used as a stretching agent as is powdered milk so not as much cocaine is needed. Do you actually want to not allow powdered milk and baby formula to needy families just because it is sometimes used in making crack? Why not just outlaw powdered milk and baby forumula since they are used in making an illegal product? Totally ridiculous part of your post.

You also mentioned "Obama phones". They are free cell phones with 250 minutes per month and are funded by the Universal Service Charge on cell phone bills. This is part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which was way before Pres. Obama took office. In fact, I believe George W. Bush was president at that time. Why not call them "Junior Bush phones"?

[Guest]

Patty55,

Maybe you should do a tad more research on things. 1. You stated that baby forumula is being used to manufacture crack. It is used as a stretching agent as is powdered milk so not as much cocaine is needed. Do you actually want to not allow powdered milk and baby formula to needy families just because it is sometimes used in making crack? Why not just outlaw powdered milk and baby forumula since they are used in making an illegal product? Totally ridiculous part of your post.

You also mentioned "Obama phones". They are free cell phones with 250 minutes per month and are funded by the Universal Service Charge on cell phone bills. This is part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which was way before Pres. Obama took office. In fact, I believe George W. Bush was president at that time. Why not call them "Junior Bush phones"?

I guess I could call them the "Jr. Bush" phones if I were psychic, but I believe it was Bill Clinton who signed off in 1996. The telecommunications act of 1996 did not provide free cell phones, that was brought in by the present administration and is part of his Connect America program. I'm just working from memory, but I believe the 1996 act in addition to setting up the USF deregulated the Bells. (Could be wrong, after all I am STOOPID & Clueless as established upthread). I did not name the free cell phone "Obama Phones", that is what they are commonly called.

Oh the drama, outlawing baby formula and powdered milk to the poor. I don't see how using it as a stretching agent in the manufacturing of crack is any different than saying it is used in the production of crack. I would never suggest outlawing the WIC program because some parents choose to resell baby formula to a crack house rather than nourish their children. I do think that is abuse, you don't?

[Guest]

What can the average citizen do to crack down on this food stamp abuse? Should we put everyone we see using food stamps under citizen's arrest? Should we follow them home and put them under surveillance? Should we call our congressman every time we see somebody suspicious using food stamps?

[Guest]

There is nothing the average person can do, it's got to come from within the agency. In upstate NY there has been a crackdown in some counties where the abusers are actually prosecuted.

When I worked for DSS if someone was convicted of welfare fraud they were usually made to make restitution from their grant. How absurd is that?

It's a prevailing mindset within the multi-generational recipients that they are entitled to these benefits. I really don't think they think they are doing anything wrong.

[Guest]

There is nothing the average person can do, it's got to come from within the agency. In upstate NY there has been a crackdown in some counties where the abusers are actually prosecuted.

When I worked for DSS if someone was convicted of welfare fraud they were usually made to make restitution from their grant. How absurd is that?

It's a prevailing mindset within the multi-generational recipients that they are entitled to these benefits. I really don't think they think they are doing anything wrong.

Think maybe you were in the wrong line of work.

[Guest]

Think maybe you were in the wrong line of work.

I don't think that kind of comment is needed on this forum.

[Guest]

Richie sorry,neither...as for pattie their oldest has a job,a good one. His college loans are about $200,000,he has a car payment and rent on an apartment and must work with clothes on and also eat. The other two boys are still in college trying to better themselves. They both work in the summer and neither boy has a car. I just don't think the two of you have a clue. You've got yours the heck with everyone else.

You are really deeply involved with all your "friends" problems, considering all the intimate details of their finances that you privy to.

I'm not sure why you made it sound like a hypothetical case in your original posting on this struggling family.

I got mine? Did you get yours? Did you give them any of it?

You give to your charities, and I'll give to the ones I choose.

[Guest]

Think maybe you were in the wrong line of work.

Absolutely