40 million Americans on food stamps

[BrianFromWA]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_daily_ration You can feed someone for $2 a day. (2200 cal)
With an MRE, it goes up to $7 a meal (1200 cal, but not great for you if you're not crawling through the boonies burning calories)

 

[BrianFromWA]

wait, it's gone up 33% since Obama was elected?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Have you ever actually MET any people that think the way you are describing, or are you just regurgitating broad, hate-filled, probably racist stereotypes bleated by the right wing media? Don't bother, I know the answer.

Oh I have. Many of them. My sister was a "welfare mama" for years. Any possible was to cheat and fraud the system, she used.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Oh I have. Many of them. My sister was a "welfare mama" for years. Any possible was to cheat and fraud the system, she used.

Then people like that need to be identified and cut off. I don't think any "liberal" in the country believes that she should continue that unchallenged.

 

[maxiep]

Then people like that need to be identified and cut off. I don't think any "liberal" in the country believes that she should continue that unchallenged.

I respectfully disagree with your contention about it being "unchallenged". I think there is a political class that views its path to power as making as many people as possible reliant on government subsidies, and most of those folks would describe themselves as "liberals".

 

[Wheels]

I'm all for programs like WIC and food stamps...if people really need food, they need food. Abusers of the program should be put into work gangs. There's plenty of highway around Seattle that needs to be cleaned up, and graffiti that needs to be painted over.

As someone who works with the programs I agree... but I wish they wouldnt let them use it on crap like Doritos and Junk food and all that crap. WIC is good in how it can be used for necessary sustinence.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I respectfully disagree with your contention about it being "unchallenged". I think there is a political class that views its path to power as making as many people as possible reliant on government subsidies, and most of those folks would describe themselves as "liberals".

If that is a stated position and purpose of this "political class", then I would agree with you. I think you tend to see what you want to see sometimes in the intentions of well-meaning people who may unfortunately be trying to make the best of and attempt to improve an admittedly broken system. I don't think there are any Dr. Evil type maniacal power-hungry cretins out there rubbing their hands together at the prospect of making more people dependant on the welfare state. It's the difference between a "white/black" worldview, and a "infinite shades of grey" worldview.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

As someone who works with the programs I agree... but I wish they wouldnt let them use it on crap like Doritos and Junk food and all that crap. WIC is good in how it can be used for necessary sustinence.

Should they be able to buy stuff at Whole Foods?

 

[blazerboy30]

Should they be able to buy stuff at Whole Foods?

I agree with your "pre-determined rations" idea. Going on the foodstamp program is a choice. If you don't like the rations, nobody is going to force you to use the stamps.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

WIC is good in how it can be used for necessary sustinence.

WIC is a fantastic example of how the food stamp program should be run.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. FTW!

Oh, snap!

 

[BlazerWookee]

I'm all for having a strong and effective safety net.

My problem is with people who use that safety net as a hammock.

 

[Natebishop3]

Then people like that need to be identified and cut off. I don't think any "liberal" in the country believes that she should continue that unchallenged.

Seems like most liberals believe illegal immigration should "continue unchallenged." How is that any different than food stamps? It's people illegally receiving benefits from the United States, the only difference is that the illegal immigrants are receiving things like education and health care.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Seems like most liberals believe illegal immigration should "continue unchallenged." How is that any different than food stamps? It's people illegally receiving benefits from the United States, the only difference is that the illegal immigrants are receiving things like education and health care.

EXCUSE ME? From my perspective, big business wants that cheap-ass labor to keep their factories running and non-skilled labor force inexpensive. That's the REAL reason immigration reform hasn't been pushed. Because there's too much money in it. And unfortunately, that's neither an exclusive liberal or conservative issue. Both sides get paid.

 

[Wheels]

Should they be able to buy stuff at Whole Foods?

not sure what that is. Just a more expensive place?

 

[Wheels]

WIC is a fantastic example of how the food stamp program should be run.

agreed

 

[Paxil]

So the fact that Obama has encouraged Americans to think of the federal government as the solution for every problem

Really? Does he encourage that or is that just the republican party line?

 

[Natebishop3]

EXCUSE ME? From my perspective, big business wants that cheap-ass labor to keep their factories running and non-skilled labor force inexpensive. That's the REAL reason immigration reform hasn't been pushed. Because there's too much money in it. And unfortunately, that's neither an exclusive liberal or conservative issue. Both sides get paid.

And yet when you ask most liberals about illegal immigration, most of them are in favor of letting those people stay.

 

[mook]

As someone who works with the programs I agree... but I wish they wouldnt let them use it on crap like Doritos and Junk food and all that crap. WIC is good in how it can be used for necessary sustinence.

I wasn't really aware of this program. Thanks for pointing it out. Seems pretty smart to me:

The WIC check/voucher is a specially designed check that is compatible with retail point-of-sale check readers and printers. The front of the check displays the recipient’s name and recipient number, a begin use- and an end-use date, a list of allowable items to be purchased with the check/voucher, including the quantity and/or maximum weight of the allowed items listed. The WIC recipient can choose if they want only some or all of the items listed on the check. The check also has an area for the cashier to enter the sale total, and an area for the recipient to sign the check/voucher at the time of use.
Alternately, many States (notably Texas) have moved away from a paper system of checks and vouchers. The conversion of the WIC program to EBT cards has automated a great deal of the process and provides better care for the children and mothers currently using WIC. The cards are similar to consumer credit/debit cards but are exclusively used for purchasing WIC-approved items.


The food items provided by WIC are juice (single strength), milk, breakfast cereal, cheese, eggs, fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread, fish (canned), legumes (dry or canned), and peanut butter. [5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIC

 

[chris_in_pdx]

And yet when you ask most liberals about illegal immigration, most of them are in favor of letting those people stay.

That's because there are segments of the American economy and industries that would be DESTROYED if you just picked 20 million working people off the streets of America and bussed them across the border. You think the economy is bad now? Not to mention the human element of uprooting folks, some who have been here almost as long as they have been alive, and shipping them to a place where they have no family, no resources, no chance. In my viewpoint, these people are here because they are trying to earn money to keep their familiies from starving. I don't blame them. They are simply taking advantage of a broken system. If you REALLY, REALLY want to make a dent in illegal immigration, make it illegal and HARSHLY PUNISHABLE for companies to employ them. Corporations and other medium to large businesses are the real devil in the illegal immigration issue.

 

[blazerboy30]

If that is a stated position and purpose of this "political class", then I would agree with you. I think you tend to see what you want to see sometimes in the intentions of well-meaning people who may unfortunately be trying to make the best of and attempt to improve an admittedly broken system. I don't think there are any Dr. Evil type maniacal power-hungry cretins out there rubbing their hands together at the prospect of making more people dependant on the welfare state. It's the difference between a "white/black" worldview, and a "infinite shades of grey" worldview.

I disagree with this. I think Pelosi pushing through Obamacare, behind closed doors for example, was an example of a power-hungry woman looking for something to have as her legacy. She was taking the gamble it would turn out to make her look good.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

The outrage over the increase in produce and other farming related food prices would be hilarious.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The outrage over the increase in produce and other farming related food prices would be hilarious.

most of the farming is done by Migrant workers.

 

[blazerboy30]

The outrage over the increase in produce and other farming related food prices would be hilarious.

Why? Because people believe they are entitled to a cushy, high-paying job? Thank you for proving the earlier claims about people and their entitlement thoughts.

 

[maxiep]

That's because there are segments of the American economy and industries that would be DESTROYED if you just picked 20 million working people off the streets of America and bussed them across the border. You think the economy is bad now? Not to mention the human element of uprooting folks, some who have been here almost as long as they have been alive, and shipping them to a place where they have no family, no resources, no chance. In my viewpoint, these people are here because they are trying to earn money to keep their familiies from starving. I don't blame them. They are simply taking advantage of a broken system. If you REALLY, REALLY want to make a dent in illegal immigration, make it illegal and HARSHLY PUNISHABLE for companies to employ them. Corporations and other medium to large businesses are the real devil in the illegal immigration issue.

This is your second post where you admit the system is "broken", yet your alternative is either to do nothing or to do more of the failed policy. Odd.

 

[maxiep]

The outrage over the increase in produce and other farming related food prices would be hilarious.

I'd pay $4.00 for a head of lettuce if I knew someone wasn't being subjected to what amounts to unofficial slavery. One of the parts about illegal immigration that's never discussed is how these illegals are taken advantage of by their employers because they have no recourse.

Making sure every person that is in this country is in here legally and is catalogued not only benefits the government and our citizens, but the immigrants as well.

 

[Denny Crane]

That's because there are segments of the American economy and industries that would be DESTROYED if you just picked 20 million working people off the streets of America and bussed them across the border. You think the economy is bad now? Not to mention the human element of uprooting folks, some who have been here almost as long as they have been alive, and shipping them to a place where they have no family, no resources, no chance. In my viewpoint, these people are here because they are trying to earn money to keep their familiies from starving. I don't blame them. They are simply taking advantage of a broken system. If you REALLY, REALLY want to make a dent in illegal immigration, make it illegal and HARSHLY PUNISHABLE for companies to employ them. Corporations and other medium to large businesses are the real devil in the illegal immigration issue.

How about we make it illegal to pay people, "illegals" or not, below the minimum wage? Let the workers complain to the authorities and stick it to the man that way.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If that is a stated position and purpose of this "political class", then I would agree with you. I think you tend to see what you want to see sometimes in the intentions of well-meaning people who may unfortunately be trying to make the best of and attempt to improve an admittedly broken system. I don't think there are any Dr. Evil type maniacal power-hungry cretins out there rubbing their hands together at the prospect of making more people dependant on the welfare state. It's the difference between a "white/black" worldview, and a "infinite shades of grey" worldview.

When I lived in Klamath Falls the feds started a free breakfast program in the public schools. It was marketed and all kids were encouraged to come and get a hot breakfast before school. So most kids showed up and had the food. Come to find out the feds were considering every kid who showed up to be below the poverty line with parents too poor to feed them and they officially went on the rolls of families too poor to afford food. But the program was never presented that way to the people. We all found out about it later. So although 70% of the kids showed up for chow, only about 5% came from families too poor to feed them (as later determined by a local analysis). Those figures were used to promulgate social programs and spending by a certain political party...

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Why? Because people believe they are entitled to a cushy, high-paying job? Thank you for proving the earlier claims about people and their entitlement thoughts.

Something like that. I just don't think a lot of people understand that if you remove many illegals that farming jobs are going to have to increase their wages since a lot of legal citizens think farm work is below them especially at the current pay for the hard labor involved. Which means food prices go up, probably a lot.

I too have no problem, as maxie said below, paying 4 dollars for a head of lettuce to know that someone is being fairly compensated and treated well in terms of being covered for the work they do. I just don't think a lot of people will really like it once it becomes reality, if it does.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'd pay $4.00 for a head of lettuce if I knew someone wasn't being subjected to what amounts to unofficial slavery. One of the parts about illegal immigration that's never discussed is how these illegals are taken advantage of by their employers because they have no recourse.

Making sure every person that is in this country is in here legally and is catalogued not only benefits the government and our citizens, but the immigrants as well.

While I could make a very pointing post about how "illegals" are treated, they also are trained by activists on how to commit various types of fraud. I know as I have personally been at some of these 'meetings'. Most collect unemployment while working, get food stamps when they probably do not qualify, are taught how to rotate cars and properly elude arrest/convictions when they get drunk and hit a car or person (they have a fairly elaborate system of false testimony for each other...).

It's an unusual situation.