Monkeypoxfighter said:

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JB!98 said:

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When I was young, 70's-80's the people who were on food stamps were ashamed of being on food stamps. The folks who lived in the "projects" were ashamed to be living in the projects and worked to get out of them. Kids getting free lunch were ashamed of getting free lunch. We were poor by most standards and the absolute last thing our family would do is to go on some kind of government assistance. Get a side job, cut wood in the summer, sell it in the winter, whatever it took to get by without the shame of government assistance.

Times have really changed.

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I had the same experience - sacked, checked, stocked groceries 40+ years ago. I'm convinced we've raised multiple generations now who don't know any better. Public housing and public assistance is all they know, and the concept of planning a menu and shopping accordingly is foreign.

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They have a great concept. Get the bennies, buy the best cuts and premium brands, then biatch 'cause it ain't enough, while getting in the new Escalade.

While I agree with the sentiment expressed in many/most of these comments, I caution everyone to get ALL the facts before rushing to judgment in these cases.

Example in point: years ago, I pulled up at a shopping center of some kind and witnessed a guy cussing out a lady who had parked (legally) in a handicapped parking spot. The lady wasn't handicapped and either the guy was, or was with someone who was. I watched carefully in case the incident escalated. The lady just walked away without saying a word (which was good on her part). Anyway, I happened to follow the lady for a minute or so since we were going the same direction. She was picking up what appeared to be her adult (barely) obviously handicapped child who was in a chair of some sort. The kid (I think a boy, but it was difficult to tell for sure from my distance) was SO happy to see his mom, I was almost brought to tears. I don't recall what type of place she was picking him up from -- I wish I did, but I've forgotten that part of the story.

Anyway, the point is, that jerk of a guy in the parking lot never thought to entertain the notion that the lady had a handicapped plate not for her, but for her child, and it wasn't any of his damn business WHY she was parking where she was.

Most of the stories here are representing what is really going on compared to what my story represented to the guy in the parking lot. However, be sure you KNOW what is actually going on before you go Rambo on anyone. We don't need anyone going hungry in this country. Perhaps the people borrowed the car; maybe they bought it and lost their job, and now they can't get out of the car note (upside down); maybe 1000s of other reasons. We all make mistakes and we all make bad decisions. Too many of us KEEP making bad decisions. But I think there are better ways of dealing with this issue than to stop handing out food.

I am sure there are those instances, but they are not the norm.

The Escalade I referenced in my post before yours......

I had been laid off many years ago. As such, I told my wife she had nothing she'd be responsible except her career. I took on every household/yard chore on the list. Cleaning, washing, yard stuff (which i did anyway), cooking, and....grocery shopping.

I brought back the recent grad mentality of sales/coupons/whatever. It would take me twice the time of a regular trip to the grocery store, but I would save up to 25%. Beef was bought on "reduced for quick sale" etc.

So, one day I am in the HEB, hitting the instore coupon board (that's how long ago it was), and then making my way through the store using available coupons that met every need possible, buying HCF items when possible for what we needed etc. In the checkout line, a couple was in front of me with two baskets. I had seen them earlier at the meat counter having custom cut steaks done and thought nothing of it. Until the checkout line. One basket was full of the custom cuts from the meat counter, name brand everything else, and the back basket was full of beer and wine. Wife on the front basket whipped out the "lonestar card/WIP/whatever. The cashier said "you can't pay with that for the second basket" and her man whipped out a roll of cash at least an inch in diameter full of hundreds, fifties and twenties and paid for the beer and wine in cash. Well, I checked out and went to the lot to load my HCF and reduced for quick sale meat basket, and beside me was that couple loading their newish Escalade.

By their conversation, it would have been clear it did not meet the situation you described in kind. This is the NORM, not the one or two off you described.

Gaming the system is the NORM.

People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

Texasclipper said:

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Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

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Agreed. It's political though. The food companies benefit from the government largesse headed their way through feeding programs. They will defund any pol who tries to change it. Plus those pols would be primaried or face opponents accusing them of starving the poor.

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With the obesity epidemic in this country, we definitely need more people to go hungry.

We need to provide food to people to prevent them from starving. The problem today is people use those two terms interchangeably…

I used to help with tax returns for folks at a local parish who had no other means to get their stuff filed and get a refund. We had to discontinue the service as it became a shopping mart for folks looking for their Earned Income Credit. Folks would get mad at me when they had too much income to qualify.

Texasclipper said:

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Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

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EBT is already set up that way, no immediate consumables snacks are eligible and no candy should be eligible. Users can buy large bags of chips that are take home sized though. If you see people buying candy and things at a register it is possible they also receive AFDC funds and they are using the Lonestar card as a debit card with those funds which can be used for whatever they want.

Y'all should cut a break to some of these "new car" folks. Food banks might be the only option to feed themselves due to the bad financial/career decisions they've made.

There is a difference between broke and poor. Broke is temporary. Poor is a mindset.

You've got to remember this board is largely compromised of men and women that graduated from one of the better universities in the country and have the networks, intelligence, and ability to achieve high paying careers.

bonfarr said:

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Texasclipper said:

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Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

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EBT is already set up that way, no immediate consumables snacks are eligible and no candy should be eligible. Users can buy large bags of chips that are take home sized though. If you see people buying candy and things at a register it is possible they also receive AFDC funds and they are using the Lonestar card as a debit card with those funds which can be used for whatever they want.

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That is not true

You can buy Laffy Taffy, a big red, and hot Cheetos with EBT.


You cannot buy hot fried chicken or rotisserie chickens or ribs though

Old Sarge said:

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I am sure there are those instances, but they are not the norm.

The Escalade I referenced in my post before yours......

I had been laid off many years ago. As such, I told my wife she had nothing she'd be responsible except her career. I took on every household/yard chore on the list. Cleaning, washing, yard stuff (which i did anyway), cooking, and....grocery shopping.

I brought back the recent grad mentality of sales/coupons/whatever. It would take me twice the time of a regular trip to the grocery store, but I would save up to 25%. Beef was bought on "reduced for quick sale" etc.

So, one day I am in the HEB, hitting the instore coupon board (that's how long ago it was), and then making my way through the store using available coupons that met every need possible, buying HCF items when possible for what we needed etc. In the checkout line, a couple was in front of me with two baskets. I had seen them earlier at the meat counter having custom cut steaks done and thought nothing of it. Until the checkout line. One basket was full of the custom cuts from the meat counter, name brand everything else, and the back basket was full of beer and wine. Wife on the front basket whipped out the "lonestar card/WIP/whatever. The cashier said "you can't pay with that for the second basket" and her man whipped out a roll of cash at least an inch in diameter full of hundreds, fifties and twenties and paid for the beer and wine in cash. Well, I checked out and went to the lot to load my HCF and reduced for quick sale meat basket, and beside me was that couple loading their newish Escalade.

By their conversation, it would have been clear it did not meet the situation you described in kind. This is the NORM, not the one or two off you described.

Gaming the system is the NORM.

People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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Your post reminded me of a story that Dr. Steven Picou told in our sociology class at A&M. He was doing graduate work and he and his wife had just had their first baby. They were on some sort of assistance, food stamps or something, and he had gone to buy groceries and supplies. He had a second basket that was full of alcohol (beer, wine, something) behind him. That basket was for some sort of Sociology Club party or get together. Cashier didn't notice it.

So, he puts on the conveyor things those teeny tiny diapers, formula, other baby stuff and the cashier, an older woman "says, oh, how adorable, so you have a new baby I see" or something to that effect. He said yes, they had a newborn. He said she carefully counted out his food stamps and his small amount of money, not wanting to overcharge the new father. Got it squared away, then he said "and I need to pay for this too" pulling the liquor cart forward and pulling out cash money to pay for it, money the organization had given for him to make the purchase. He said her tone changed immediately, she became somewhat short with him, gruff. He laughed in class and said he thought about trying to explain to her what the situation was, but just didn't bother, lol.

Tanya 93 said:

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bonfarr said:

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Texasclipper said:

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Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

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The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

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EBT is already set up that way, no immediate consumables snacks are eligible and no candy should be eligible. Users can buy large bags of chips that are take home sized though. If you see people buying candy and things at a register it is possible they also receive AFDC funds and they are using the Lonestar card as a debit card with those funds which can be used for whatever they want.

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That is not true

You can buy Laffy Taffy, a big red, and hot Cheetos with EBT.


You cannot buy hot fried chicken or rotisserie chickens or ribs though

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Which is a bit of a conundrum. A rotisserie chicken is a good bang for the buck……

B-1 83 said:

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Tanya 93 said:

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bonfarr said:

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Texasclipper said:

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Old Sarge said:

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People that receive the dole, ought to get rice, beans, flour, whatever, not a card. If that were the case, the gaming would reduce significantly.

---

The purpose of these programs should be to keep people from starving. While I think the above is a little too restrictive, significant limitations should be made on what can be purchased. For instance no snacks, no candy, no prepared foods of any kind, etc.

---

EBT is already set up that way, no immediate consumables snacks are eligible and no candy should be eligible. Users can buy large bags of chips that are take home sized though. If you see people buying candy and things at a register it is possible they also receive AFDC funds and they are using the Lonestar card as a debit card with those funds which can be used for whatever they want.

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That is not true

You can buy Laffy Taffy, a big red, and hot Cheetos with EBT.


You cannot buy hot fried chicken or rotisserie chickens or ribs though

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Which is a bit of a conundrum. A rotisserie chicken is a good bang for the buck……

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Especially at Sam's & Costco. $4.99.