Living on Food Stamps for a week

[Madelaine Amee]

Newark Mayor Booker To Live On Food Stamps For A Week Beginning Tuesday « CBS New York (http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/02/newark-mayor-booker-to-live-on-food-stamps-for-a-week-beginning-tuesday/)

This is a link to a story on Mayor Booker of Newark NJ who has taken a pledge to live on food stamps for a week starting this Tuesday. His allowance for each meal is $1.40.

It may be interesting to those of us who are so fortunate to follow and see how he does and what he can afford to eat for that sort of money. This is certainly the right time of the year to find out how the other half lives and to remember that our local food pantries help to feed so many people in need!

[villagerjack]

The other HALF should not be on Food Stamps. Actually it is about 50 Million people growing way out of control this last 4 years.,

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The average monthly food stamp benefit was $133.26 per person in New Jersey in fiscal year 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Isn't the idea of food stamps to "supplement" your food budget?

[graciegirl]

She can afford a computer and internet service but she can't afford food?



I feel for the people truly in need and would do anything to help them. But I don't feel for able bodied people who can work and who live off the system.

Now it takes the Wisdom of Solomon to figure out what to do about this problem, but it is a problem.

And I guess the term " truly in need" is different for many of us. I didn't answer on another thread about my memory of early Christmas. I remember getting one gift and that gift was a coloring book and crayons that had some pictures colored in it. I guess we were poor, but it never seemed we were. we had a home and food and heat and love. Never had steak until I was out of the house. We are colored by our own experiences.

I don't know the answer but I feel bad for folks who truly need help and mad at folks too lazy to do for themselves.

[Golfingnut]

:popcorn:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I feel for the people truly in need and would do anything to help them. But I don't feel for able bodied people who can work and who live off the system.

Couldn't agree more. And I think that is villagerjack meant when he said that HALF the people shouldn't be on them.
When he states that 50 million people are receiving Food Stamps, I don't know if that means there are 50 million people including family members of those who receive them or 50 million families. Either way, it represents a very large number of people. 50 million is approximately one out of every six of us. I have a hard time believing that one sixth of the people in this country need food stamps.

[Taltarzac725]

Newark Mayor Booker To Live On Food Stamps For A Week Beginning Tuesday « CBS New York (http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/02/newark-mayor-booker-to-live-on-food-stamps-for-a-week-beginning-tuesday/)

This is a link to a story on Mayor Booker of Newark NJ who has taken a pledge to live on food stamps for a week starting this Tuesday. His allowance for each meal is $1.40.

It may be interesting to those of us who are so fortunate to follow and see how he does and what he can afford to eat for that sort of money. This is certainly the right time of the year to find out how the other half lives and to remember that our local food pantries help to feed so many people in need!

That's a step in the right direction to be able to walk in others' shoes. I believe this is a significant thing for a politician to do. Not sure how much though he can really understand how the other people live just from a week on food stamps knowing that he can get off them with a phone call or in just a few days time.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Like I said, food stamps are supposed to supplement your food budget not be your entire budget for food for a month.

This sounds like the same argument that people make when they say that you can't feed a family of four on minimum wage.

[eweissenbach]

Are there people on food stamps and other forms of welfare who job the system? Absolutely! Are there millionaires and billionaires who benefit from tax loopholes, offshore accounts, subsidies, and other government gifts? Absolutely! It seems to be the nature of many people to take whatever they can get, no matter what their economic status. By the way, which of the two categories I mention cost the American system the most?

[graciegirl]

Are there people on food stamps and other forms of welfare who job the system? Absolutely! Are there millionaires and billionaires who benefit from tax loopholes, offshore accounts, subsidies, and other government gifts? Absolutely! It seems to be the nature of many people to take whatever they can get, no matter what their economic status. By the way, which of the two categories I mention cost the American system the most?

Do you try to find exemptions when you fill out your taxes?

My dear newly graduated and happily employed granddaughter called to say that she had to work three days of three weekends this month and that she would be paid time and a half and that she would have to pay 25% to the government. I said ...are you bragging or complaining? Be grateful that you have a job and that you can pay taxes. However.... she is beginning to shift over a bit in her philosophy.

At least the CEOs are employed and heavens they may have worked a lot and made a lot of sacrifices to get to that position. Nothing...NOTHING is either completely right or wrong.

But if you are lazy you are lazy.

[eweissenbach]

Do you try to find exemptions when you fill out your taxes?

But if you are lazy you are lazy.

I do take the exemptions I am due, but I still pay a far higher percentage of my income in taxes than most wealthy people do.

Lazy and greedy are both character flaws IMO.

[perrjojo]

I have lived on a food stamp budget when my husband was in college. However we had NO food stamp programs then. It was our money that we scraped up for food. We didn't have a telephone, cable TV, cell phone, computer and often walked because we didn't have gas money for our one car. We lived in a two room house which was NOT government subsidized. Oh, and there were NO student loans or Pell grants then. We didn't download to our iPod, go to movies or much of anything else. Did we think someone was supposed to provide these things for us? NO! Did we work hard and become successful? YES!

[eweissenbach]

I have lived on a food stamp budget when my husband was in college. However we had NO food stamp programs then. It was our money that we scraped up for food. We didn't have a telephone, cable TV, cell phone, computer and often walked because we didn't have gas money for our one car. We lived in a two room house which was NOT government subsidized. Oh, and there were NO student loans or Pell grants then. We didn't download to our iPod, go to movies or much of anything else. Did we think someone was supposed to provide these things for us? NO! Did we work hard and become successful? YES!

Good for you! We did pretty much the same when I was in college and when I was teaching and coaching we actually qualified for (but did not use) reduced lunches for our kids. I know a lady who my wife and I have helped from time to time, who is on food stamps. She has MS which requires expensive treatments on a regular basis, she tries to work, but because of her condition often misses and thus has been fired. Her husband works hard but makes little more than minimum wage and they are raising his three kids from a previous marriage. Her daughter, who we gave a laptop computer, was last year valedictorian at the local high school and is currently working and making all As at a community college where she is on scholarship. Another typical welfare family I guess.

[perrjojo]

Good for you! We did pretty much the same when I was in college and when I was teaching and coaching we actually qualified for (but did not use) reduced lunches for our kids. I know a lady who my wife and I have helped from time to time, who is on food stamps. She has MS which requires expensive treatments on a regular basis, she tries to work, but because of her condition often misses and thus has been fired. Her husband works hard but makes little more than minimum wage and they are raising his three kids from a previous marriage. Her daughter, who we gave a laptop computer, was last year valedictorian at the local high school and is currently working and making all As at a community college where she is on scholarship. Another typical welfare family I guess.


I hope that they are a typical welfare family but many are not. I have a niece who won't take a promotion because she will lose food stamps. She and her husband go to college, have 3 children. They lived in subsidized housing, get grants for school, receive food stamps and pay no income tax. They do however get back 12,000 dollars per year in earned income credit. They have been doing this for 9 years now. They have 2 cars, 3 TVs, cable TV, iPhones, and the children have all of the computer game players. Last year they used the money they got back from IRS to take a cruise.

How do we sort out these people? I don't know but it is becoming a larger problem each year.

[Taltarzac725]

Do you try to find exemptions when you fill out your taxes?

My dear newly graduated and happily employed granddaughter called to say that she had to work three days of three weekends this month and that she would be paid time and a half and that she would have to pay 25% to the government. I said ...are you bragging or complaining? Be grateful that you have a job and that you can pay taxes. However.... she is beginning to shift over a bit in her philosophy.

At least the CEOs are employed and heavens they may have worked a lot and made a lot of sacrifices to get to that position. Nothing...NOTHING is either completely right or wrong.

But if you are lazy you are lazy.

Not sure if it is that easy. Other things might come into play for those not working. The US has a very good governmental system compared with many other governments around the world but it is very far from perfect. We still have innocent people in prison for instance for any number of reasons some of these though are the corruption, incompetence and/or laziness of people who are working. We may have people who are not mentally ill stuck in mental hospitals for the same reason as the innocent in prison.

Other countries probably have many more innocent people in prison and/or "troublemakers" for the powerful in mental hospitals where they do not belong.

[eweissenbach]

I hope that they are a typical welfare family but many are not. I have a niece who won't take a promotion because she will lose food stamps. She and her husband go to college, have 3 children. They lived in subsidized housing, get grants for school, receive food stamps and pay no income tax. They do however get back 12,000 dollars per year in earned income credit. They have been doing this for 9 years now. They have 2 cars, 3 TVs, cable TV, iPhones, and the children have all of the computer game players. Last year they used the money they got back from IRS to take a cruise.

How do we sort out these people? I don't know but it is becoming a larger problem each year.

As I said before there are welfare cheats as well as those who have legitimate needs. What I have tried to say, probably ineloquently, is that it is not only welfare recipients who bleed the economy, but many (not all, probably not most) wealthy people too. To demonize all the poor as lazy and taking advantage of the system is simply unfair and mean spirited.

[eweissenbach]

Not sure if it is that easy. Other things might come into play for those not working. The US has a very good governmental system compared with many other governments around the world but it is very far from perfect. We still have innocent people in prison for instance for any number of reasons some of these though are the corruption, incompetence and/or laziness of people who are working. We may have people who are not mentally ill stuck in mental hospitals for the same reason as the innocent in prison.

Other countries probably have many more innocent people in prison and/or "troublemakers" for the powerful in mental hospitals where they do not belong.

Good points Tal. My wife has volunteered two days a week for almost ten years at a local charity thrift store and a food pantry. She has gotten to know many of the recipients and their stories, and many would break your heart. She watches for childrens clothing to come in and she brings it home to wash, then takes it back and sets it aside for impoverished children whom it will fit. She is not a saint, and gets back as much as she gives, but don't tell her that all, or even most, welfare cases are lazy no-accounts.

[quirky3]

As I said before there are welfare cheats as well as those who have legitimate needs. What I have tried to say, probably ineloquently, is that it is not only welfare recipients who bleed the economy, but many (not all, probably not most) wealthy people too. To demonize all the poor as lazy and taking advantage of the system is simply unfair and mean spirited.

I agree! :agree:

[villagerjack]

Are there people on food stamps and other forms of welfare who job the system? Absolutely! Are there millionaires and billionaires who benefit from tax loopholes, offshore accounts, subsidies, and other government gifts? Absolutely! It seems to be the nature of many people to take whatever they can get, no matter what their economic status. By the way, which of the two categories I mention cost the American system the most?

What is a TAX LOOPHOLE? Either it is part of the tax law or it s not. Perhas it is a loophole only because you and I do not qualify to deduct it and someone else can? In that case perhaps my mortgage interest deduction can be considered a LOOPHOLE by someone who does not own a home.

[eweissenbach]

What is a TAX LOOPHOLE? Either it is part of the tax law or it s not. Perhas it is a loophole only because you and I do not qualify to deduct it and someone else can? In that case perhaps my mortgage interest deduction can be considered a LOOPHOLE by someone who does not own a home.

Well, I would not consider that a loophole -- for you, but perhaps for people who own 5 or 6 multi-million dollar properties, on which they carry mortgages, not because they need to, but because they want the tax deductions, I might. How about the tax break included in the 2008 farm bill, which allows accelerated, three-year depreciation for racehorses, which are all owned by multi-millionaires? I might consider that a loophole.

[graciegirl]

The bottom line is that a person who does not pay taxes pays nothing. A typical person pays about 25%.

A person with a huge salary pays, for sake of argument..10%

So if a person is earning 250K a year, he will be paying a lot of taxes.

A person earning 50K a year not as much. but a lot to him.

A person who doesn't work, pays nothing.

Now...not all people on welfare are losers and not all people who make a lot of money are losers either.

[eweissenbach]

The bottom line is that a person who does not pay taxes pays nothing. A typical person pays about 25%.

A person with a huge salary pays, for sake of argument..10%

So if a person is earning 250K a year, he will be paying a lot of taxes.

A person earning 50K a year not as much. but a lot to him.

A person who doesn't work, pays nothing.

Now...not all people on welfare are losers and not all people who make a lot of money are losers either.

I am ABSOLUTELY in agreement with your last statement and did not mean to imply otherwise.

I don't want to take this in the direction of tax rates and fairness, because that is a long discussion for another forum (which does not exist on TOTV any longer). I was trying to make a fairness distinction for those who would seemingly demonize all welfare and food stamp recipients. There is at least an equal argument that far more money is wasted in questionable tax benefits to the wealthy than is spent on welfare in general, and welfare fraud in particular. There are a lot of tax frauds among wealthy people as there are many who job the welfare system, not that either is morally right. But, I find multi-millionaires who defraud the medicare and medicaid system for millions of dollars for example, to be a level up in moral degredation from some person in subsidized housing who refuses to work.

[rubicon]

The topic from the OP was Booker was going to live on food stamps for a week. IMHO its one of those populists stunts politicians like to play. Booker needs to lost the weight anyway..

As to the food stamps program the bigger issue isn't who or who isn't entitled but rather should the program be permanent for a receipient?
In otherwords should we be giving people a permanent hand out or a temporary hand up?

In my view it is immoral to allow people to become slaves to entitlement....and yes I know there are some folks out there that need help. This may sound callous by some but the problem with Americans todays is that they emote too much and ignore critical and rationale thinking. So we need to get a grip. Like many of you who responded I have been fiercely independent and never accepted a handout even when it was tempting. Unfortunately if you research the stats that mentality is no longer in a majority

To illustrate how ridiculous we have become a journalist wrote an article sometime ago about helicopter parents. This morning she wrote about helicopter pet owners. One of her comments was that it use to be that dogs guarded people but today people are advised to guard dogs against risks even if there fenced it. Ugh!

[Mikeod]

Back to the topic of the thread. I see this as little more than grandstanding. As pointed out earlier, food stamps are not intended to be the sole source of nutrition for recipients. Rather, they augment the funds already received through work or other social programs. There is no valid conclusion to be reached by this act. If the mayor shows the difficulty in living on only food stamps, my response would be "So what else did you expect?". That is not their intent.

[eweissenbach]

[QUOTE=rubicon;588965]The topic from the OP was Booker was going to live on food stamps for a week. IMHO its one of those populists stunts politicians like to play. Booker needs to lost the weight anyway..
QUOTE]

Clearly, it is a stunt and I suspect Booker would admit as much. The shot at his weight is rather cheap however.

[applesoffh]

People living on food stamps are often inadquately nourished. Meals tend to be high on carbs and fat and very lean (no pun intended) on protein, fruits and vegetables, which are not readily available in the bodegas of many neighborhoods were food stamp usage is great. The challenge of food stamps is to make a nutritious and filling meal. It is possible that the stamps become the main focus of meal planning because the cash is spent on items such as soap, toiletries, toilet paper, etc. I'm not interested in posts that I know will state that people eat crappy stuff. I will not sit in judgment of others in this regard. The intent is well grounded, and many, many struggle to provide meals with almost nothing. Food stamps may be found in neighborhoods you'd least expect. Many years ago, one of my sisters was on food stamps...her husband worked minimum wage at the time, they had 2 kids, she worked, also, and lived on Long Island, one of the most expensive places in the country. I helped her, as did my parents. She was so embarassed she shopped in different neighborhoods so no one would know. Things turned around for them, and everything turned out OK in the end, but I determined at that point not to judge. There but for the grace of God...

[eweissenbach]

People living on food stamps are often inadquately nourished. Meals tend to be high on carbs and fat and very lean (no pun intended) on protein, fruits and vegetables, which are not readily available in the bodegas of many neighborhoods were food stamp usage is great. The challenge of food stamps is to make a nutritious and filling meal. It is possible that the stamps become the main focus of meal planning because the cash is spent on items such as soap, toiletries, toilet paper, etc. I'm not interested in posts that I know will state that people eat crappy stuff. I will not sit in judgment of others in this regard. The intent is well grounded, and many, many struggle to provide meals with almost nothing. Food stamps may be found in neighborhoods you'd least expect. Many years ago, one of my sisters was on food stamps...her husband worked minimum wage at the time, they had 2 kids, she worked, also, and lived on Long Island, one of the most expensive places in the country. I helped her, as did my parents. She was so embarassed she shopped in different neighborhoods so no one would know. Things turned around for them, and everything turned out OK in the end, but I determined at that point not to judge. There but for the grace of God...

From your keyboard to God's ears!

[Trish Crocker]

As I said before there are welfare cheats as well as those who have legitimate needs. What I have tried to say, probably ineloquently, is that it is not only welfare recipients who bleed the economy, but many (not all, probably not most) wealthy people too. To demonize all the poor as lazy and taking advantage of the system is simply unfair and mean spirited.

I agree. There are many people that cheat the system but there are many, many more that have legitimate needs. My granddaughter just turned 18 in September, a month before her daughters first birthday. Should she have gotten pregnant?? Of course not!! I have the feeling that a lot of people reading this forum had pregnancies that weren't at the most convenient time. She went to social services for assistance and was told that she would be given food stamps and medicaid but if she wanted money she would have to work for it. They provided a job for her and are helping with child care costs. Is she using tax payers money? Yes. Is she learning skills? Yes. Is she learning responsibility? Yes! Is she doing the best she can to take care of the beautiful child she brought into the world? You bet. I am very proud of how she is handling this and very grateful to the State of Michigan for helping her but not enabling her. Now is she brings another child into this...I will personally kick her butt!

[Golfingnut]

eweissenbach :beer3::BigApplause::bigbow:

I have read all the post on this thread very carefully and Iweissenbach, You have my vote for correctness, and the most humane of them all. I salute you.

[applesoffh]

I agree. There are many people that cheat the system but there are many, many more that have legitimate needs. My granddaughter just turned 18 in September, a month before her daughters first birthday. Should she have gotten pregnant?? Of course not!! I have the feeling that a lot of people reading this forum had pregnancies that weren't at the most convenient time. She went to social services for assistance and was told that she would be given food stamps and medicaid but if she wanted money she would have to work for it. They provided a job for her and are helping with child care costs. Is she using tax payers money? Yes. Is she learning skills? Yes. Is she learning responsibility? Yes! Is she doing the best she can to take care of the beautiful child she brought into the world? You bet. I am very proud of how she is handling this and very grateful to the State of Michigan for helping her but not enabling her. Now is she brings another child into this...I will personally kick her butt!

All the best to your grandchild and her child. Assistance is supposed to be just that - a hand up not a hand out.

[Bucco]

To the direct thread, yep...it is a publicity stunt. My opinion which means very little is that americans do not in any way want to turn their back on the poor. Mostly they are upset by the ATTITUDE that is generated in this country about the money being spent.

Should those considered rich in this country NOT have loopholes...YEP...but notice that nobody will discuss those loopholes...only want to raise the rates...those loopholes are so close to so many constituents they do not want to talk about them !!!!

This country is in trouble when we cannot even determine why folks are upset about the money being paid out to help others...it is not the money...it is the facilitating of it and that goes both ways and watch our leaders run from both.

[Villageshooter]

Was at Walmart the other day gal bought huge birthday cake and 2tubs of ice cream with food stamps....made me so proud.. I

[mrfixit]

Was at Walmart the other day gal bought huge birthday cake and 2tubs of ice cream with food stamps....made me so proud.. I

Hope the cake and ice cream was for a birthday party for children.

I remember my favorite day of this past summer....
...was delivering a BUNCH of watermelons to a local (Villages area)
food bank.....a sweet little girl walked up to me and said...
" thank you mister...this is gonna be my best birthday ever..."
Think about it...
..just TWO watermelons for "her" party made it the "best birthday ever"....

....... PLEASE share with those in need......ESPECIALLY the children.
Yes, we live IN The Villages.....the Melon Patch is OFF Campus.
I'm just glad the lady you saw in WalMart didn't go to one of the special "PARTY" stores and sell the EBT $$ balance for 35 cents on the dollar.... and then go buy illicit drugs with the cash.

[Indydealmaker]

I agree. There are many people that cheat the system but there are many, many more that have legitimate needs. My granddaughter just turned 18 in September, a month before her daughters first birthday. Should she have gotten pregnant?? Of course not!! I have the feeling that a lot of people reading this forum had pregnancies that weren't at the most convenient time. She went to social services for assistance and was told that she would be given food stamps and medicaid but if she wanted money she would have to work for it. They provided a job for her and are helping with child care costs. Is she using tax payers money? Yes. Is she learning skills? Yes. Is she learning responsibility? Yes! Is she doing the best she can to take care of the beautiful child she brought into the world? You bet. I am very proud of how she is handling this and very grateful to the State of Michigan for helping her but not enabling her. Now is she brings another child into this...I will personally kick her butt!

A perfect example of one who wants a "hand up" instead of a "hand out".

[twinklesweep]

The other HALF should not be on Food Stamps. Actually it is about 50 Million people growing way out of control this last 4 years.,

While it is true that an enormous number of Americans screened for food stamps do qualify, to suggest that it is only the last four years is downright inaccurate, as this table will show (unless, of course, the writer is commenting on issues other than food stamps...):

http://www.trivisonno.com/wp-content/uploads/Food-Stamps-Monthly2.jpg

According to this chart, the most recent sudden spike was in Sept 2008, after the beginning of the tanking of the economy, and the increases since then have been significant. But it certainly didn't START four years ago. Our economy took many, many years to "walk into the woods," and we're not going to be able to walk out in four months or four years.

The stock market crash that took place in October 1929 took a couple of years to manifest itself into the Great Depression. It took President Roosevelt many years to get us out of the situation that he inherited, finally ending with the onset of World War II, and even then it took years. I guess wars are good for the economy. Certainly major corporations benefit greatly from war!

As another poster pointed out, what's the difference between those of us who qualify for food stamps versus those of us who use loopholes, sometimes questionable, on our tax returns, and even more questionable "corporate welfare" issues. At first I opposed the bailouts in the auto industry, feeling business should float or sink according to supply and demand principles, but now I look back and eat my words, seeing an industry with thousands of jobs having been saved and is back to profitable.

[twinklesweep]

Are there people on food stamps and other forms of welfare who job the system? Absolutely! Are there millionaires and billionaires who benefit from tax loopholes, offshore accounts, subsidies, and other government gifts? Absolutely! It seems to be the nature of many people to take whatever they can get, no matter what their economic status. By the way, which of the two categories I mention cost the American system the most?

I cannot answer the last question but I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere. I am in agreement with the poster who wrote that this poster (eweissenbach) has been the fairest and most impartial commenter on this thread. My compliments to your parents who must have raised you with such values!

Of course a "tax loophole" is part of the tax code. That's why it's called a tax loophole. (Duh.) The question should be how and when these loopholes became part of our tax law. There are people who are quick to criticize those on the lower end like food stamps and (hope I get this name right) earned income credit. However, they completely ignore the point made that the wealthy (using the $250,000/year guideline) pay a lower tax rate percentage-wise and even at times dollar-wise than the middle class, an economic status which has made great strides toward disappearing, with goodness knows how many decent American jobs having been sent overseas--the greed factor mentioned earlier.

I received a tax cut in the early part of this century on my comfortable income that netted me just about $10/month. There were others who received disproportionately enormous tax cuts. Yes, this became tax law, but is there any decency, morality, or validity to it?

I am grateful to my working class parents who raised me with the values I have today. I have been fortunate in having been way more successful financially than they were (a goal of parents that in the last quarter century has been disappearing). My parents would spin in their graves if my successes resulted in my losing these values, in effect for "thirty pieces of silver"!

[Moderator]

The topic is about a current events news story.... A mayor attempting to live on food stamps.

Please restrict your comments to this topic and refrain from any political statements, name calling, or partisan discussion.....or, the thread will have to be closed.