Before you Judge what a person buys with an ebt card Consider this

[rbrnmw]

unemployment and child support go to ebt cards in many states now so someone you see buying beer with an EBT card may be a single mother who finally got back support from her worthless tea bagger ex She probably works fulltime and spends all her money supporting her kids.




http://usaunemploymentbenefits.com/ebt-cards/

http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Children/ChildSupport/ChildSupportPayments/ReceivingPayments/tabid/377/Default.aspx

http://www.azdes.gov/main.aspx?menu=24&id=2684


http://www.acs-inc.com/health-and-human-service

[dkf]

1. Ah so it's her kids who need cigarettes, candy, soda and beer? Gotcha.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Try again. Can't buy those with food stamps.

[dkf]

8. It's the OP who was talking about buying beer with an EBT card.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. And you just had to perpetuate the lie?

[kestrel91316]

30. Yes. That DUer is always quick with the RW talking points. ALWAYS.

If you get my drift.

[laundry_queen]

54. Lots have noticed. nt

[liberalhistorian]

81. No shit. Truly disgusting,

I've often wondered why he even bothers to be here.

[Zalatix]

88. Because we're the big tent party, we can't expect people to march in lock step, blah blah blah

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. And you actually KNOW that beer is actually

pretty nutritious, right? It has been around humans for 10K years, and beer, believe it or not, is not empty calories.

I don't drink it, but if for some reason our water quality goes down the drain, like it was in the 18th century, we will all go back to drinking beer, weakened and all, aka small beer... the alcohol makes it safer.

[Mariana]

68. I remember a story back in the 1990's

about some small brewer that had to recall a bunch of its product, because they had put food-style nutrition labels on the packaging. As I recall, the labels were accurate, but it's not allowed to put them on any alcoholic beverages. Because alcoholic beverages are EEEEEEEEEVIL, I guess.

I know it's chock full of some of the B vitamins, for starters.

I don't drink it, either, but only because I'm allergic - it makes me break out in hives.

[nadinbrzezinski]

74. I guess I could try rice beer

I am allergic to wheat, (gluten to be specific).

But yeah, B Vitamins, some protein (from the wheat)...

Here

http://beer.about.com/od/beernutrition/a/beernutrition_2.htm

[Fla_Democrat]

79. Of course it is

that's why they have the same bureau* that regulates tobacco, firearms and explosives, regulating alcohol..... because they all are 'EEEEEEEEEVIL'.



* http://www.atf.gov/

[niyad]

4. pretty sure one cannot purchase cigarettes with ebt.

and, seriously, you would deny someone using ebt candy or soda? reallllly?

[dkf]

11. Well do we really want them obese and diabetic? I would prefer not.

[niyad]

14. wow, you parade your desire for controlling them as concern for their health. nice try, but

no cigar.

seriously, where do people come up with the idea that they have a right to dictate other people's food choices? how would you like it if people were in a position to dictate yours? this attitude, on a supposedly progressive board, is sickening.

[HiPointDem]

24. 'do "we" want "them"..."

[NutmegYankee]

26. Oh, I see. Everyone who buys candy or soda is or will be obese.

Well now...

[cali]

37. "them"? your posts have reached the nadir, honey

I don't give a shit what you want. Your endless callousness disgusts me.

[hfojvt]

48. isn't "them" the pronoun used when talking about a group?

What is so callous about nutritious food?

[niyad]

71. no, what that poster is whining about is being able to determine other people's food choices,

because they are, gasp!! getting some assistance. this sort of argument is beyond disgusting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. It's none of my, or your business, what she buys

and she could also be very well to do, and still get child support.

You simply do not know that.

But hey, your attitude goes back a long time, before there was a United States. In the old country they were called "Poor Laws."

They were just as badly constructed and carried out, and they came to be from attitudes like yours.

[Whisp]

12. +1

[dkf]

13. If her health is adversely affected then maybe so.

Maybe we do need a sugar tax after all. All this crap we eat is killing us.

[Whisp]

15. what if your mean words affect MY health?

right now my blood pressure is a bit up there because of your insensitiveness.

what about That?

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. That enters into policy

but it has nothing to do with EBT, but CHEAP FOOD POLICY and supporting corn over other healthy crops, and encouraging the use of corn instead of sugar, from beats or sugar cane.

EBT and poor laws is NOT the place to make that stand... but in a higher level FOOD POLICY. You may want to look at the show every five years called the AG bill... not EBT.

[Bluerthanblue]

20. amen

this kind of intollerance and bigotry really makes me sad.

Who the hell has the right to tell other people how to spend their money?

[hfojvt]

49. isn't it OUR government which is giving her the money

If she is getting child support - mandated by the courts, presumably she is supposed to get that money in order to provide for her children.

Of course, child support is odd. It does not just provide for a child - it seems to take a percentage of a parent's income. Thus, if a parent makes lots of money, then the child support allows the child to be raised in luxury. Which often translates into the ex-spouse being able to live in luxury.

[niyad]

69. wow, trotting out this variant of the "welfare queen" argument? seriously? absolutely disgusting

on what is supposedly a progressive board.

[cbrer]

70. Mr./Ms. Nadinbrzezinski I agree with 99% of your posts

But this one, not so much.

IMHO if I'm being required to buy it, I have business in it.

Don't get me wrong I'd rather buy groceries for this lady than support the MIC.

But I'm not given a choice. I just send a check every April...

[niyad]

72. no, you don't have a right to whine about other people's food choices, even if your taxes

are going to support some of these programs. don't forget, too, that a lot of people who USED to have jobs, USED to pay taxes as well.

and, if your money gives you a right to whine, ARE you, in fact, whining about the mic? earmarks? bailouts for the ultra rich? if not, then you certainly have NO business whining about purchases made with ebt.

[cbrer]

78. Having business with = Whining?

Being aware of, discussing, and becoming more educated of issues isn't whining. I don't understand your stridence on this issue. I'm not begrudging anyone the ability to get themselves or their families food. It's a simple fact that this nation is wealthy enough to take care of its people.
But that doesn't mean we can't cut waste, and excess. Improving something doesn't equate to whining. And the only reason I'm not talking about MIC... is because that's not the issue here. Simply making a comparison. Those subjects ARE being covered elsewhere. And I AM a contributor to those forums.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. When you start whining about banks

and the MIC we will talk.

Reality is, once again, that if you receive child support, it goes into the EBT card. You have no idea of the rest of the income for that person.

And if you are going to pick a fight, do so at the CHEAP FOOD POLICY, like the AG bill

[cbrer]

80. So your objection is that I didn't include other issues?

Man, discussions about the problems we face is what fills these pages.

Limiting my response to THIS subject during this discussion makes my opinion less valid?

All child support isn't put on an EBT. So commenting about this particular case might contain that limitation. But discussions about improving the program are wide open.

Do you think I was advocating throwing someone in the streets, or having "Food Nazis" following people around with a camera and a radio? Dude...let's stay on THIS side of reality!

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. Yes it is, at least in Califiornia

And on this side of reality yes, cheap food policy has a tad to do with it.

If your potatoes are more expensive than your chips, and you got to keep a full tummy, what do you think you are going to buy?

I have actually had this discussion with people on food stamps. and I have actually bought them the fresh vegies and milk they can't afford.

[cbrer]

85. *Insert plug for local farming* nt

[coalition_unwilling]

9. That's it. I've had enough of you for one lifetime. - n/t

[kestrel91316]

27. As usual, we can ALWAYS count on you to give us the RW viewpoint on things.

Why is that, I ask myself??

[etherealtruth]

31. Ah I get it ....

She's poor .... therefore, she is not allowed any of life's pleasures or vices. she is poor so those of us that are well fed, well housed and well shoed have every right to scrutinize her every purchase.

Frankly, I work way too hard and have a much too complicated life to worry if a person that is impoverished makes a few purchases of nonessential items.

[Igel]

44. Two points.

1. There are always those who sit back and criticize people for getting too much $ at "their" expense or making improper use of it. The difference between criticizing a poor person buying inappropriate stuff and a rich person buying inappropriate stuff misses the point that it's really somebody sitting back and saying, "You only have that because of me, so I'm your boss when it comes to how you can deal with what the law says is yours."

2. I do this in only one class of cases: When taxpayer money is going to help a person feed or clothe or shelter dependents, the money is being used for a purpose it's not intended for, and the dependents are getting no or vastly substandard food, clothing, and shelter. Then I'm not so much criticising the use of the money as the negligence behind the use.

When a young woman "sold" her money and used it for dressing up nicely and buying luxuries for her birthday while her child is in day care with the day care workers coughing up their own money to buy the kid formula, she's committing fraud as far as I'm concerned. The response? Step 1: Have DPS take her kid away from her and declare any relative with the same address to be automatically unsuitable as an "interested person" when it comes to custody of the kid unless they reported her. 2. Try her, convict her, and sentence her to juvy for child abuse/neglect and defrauding the US treasury. 3. Find the shopkeeper who let her buy stuff for somebody else, if he knew it was happening, and revoke his business license.

We can quibble if a steady child diet of beans, hotdogs, and Ho-hos while mother is using the money to pamper her spoiled ass to the extent possible is appropriate.

[niyad]

73. please cite links for this particular instance of yours, and show us just how often this sort of

thing happens. quite frankly, it sounds like a variant on the non-existent "welfare queen" argument.

[etherealtruth]

77. How does one even determine where these squandered resources have come from?

Can you determine from a purchase if someone is "picking things up" for someone else? Did this person receive a birthday gift of cash and if so, because he receives some sort of aide, do "we" dictate how he spends that?

The safety and welfare of children is paramount. Child welfare laws apply to all regardless of socioeconomic "class" ... I have a penchant for expensive shoes, handbags, scents and cosmetics ... if I choose to feed my children hot dogs, packaged macaroni and cheese, lunch meat and Wonder bread in order to indulge my habits, my actions would certainly be morally reprehensible but not criminal and would remain none of your business. The habits of the poor are no more your business than how I conduct myself ... perhaps you are above reproach ... but I doubt that. We all tend to have our own indulgences and foibles.

If I chose not to feed my children in order to indulge myself, my actions would be criminal ... just as they are for a welfare parent ...

My first career was in nursing (I "retired" to raise my three children) .... most of my career was spent as a Hospice nurse ... my territory included several generally low income and impoverished areas ... I entered people's homes and lives ... I learned a lot about poverty ... the biggest thing I learned is that we do not provide nearly enough to the most economically fragile among us ... there is a little bit of gaming the system. This is usually done simply to meet basic needs or provided a tiny little extra something to a child.

I've lived 50 years and have seen so little of the "welfare queens" or single mom's that live the high life while their children have nothing (I have witnessed affluent parents more willing to see their own "wants met" vs the needs of their children).

I would much rather let the one scammer slip in so that 99 can be fed ... than I would catch every scammer and have one person that could be helped go without.

[blogslut]

38. What a mean-spirited and totally ignorant thing to say

I hope you think better in the future.

[niyad]

75. unfortunately, this is not uncommon for this particular poster, as many of us know.

[KG]

43. dumbass.

[backscatter712]

46. +1!

Let me rec this post before it gets hidden.

Because I have little respect for the people who say "Poor people are not allowed to have fun! They must live monastic existences so we can look down our noses at them."

[backscatter712]

47. Free Republic is that way ->

Take your racist dog-whistling elsewhere.

[JHB]

63. When Romney put the FDIC on the hook for $10million...

...it cost the taxpayers as much as over 1420 single mothers with 2children on welfare payments and food stamps.


But your concern is whether any of those mothers bought cigarettes, candy, soda or beer? Thank you for expressing your priorities.

It's like a storekeeper who's obsessed with petty pilferage in front of the registers and ignores embezzlement by his accountant and the guy in the store room helping big ticket merch walk out the back door. And who then looks at his losses and vows to pay ever-more vigilant attention to the pilfering!

[suffragette]

64. Always about controlling the choices of the poor and working poor- never about regulating banks

and financiers.

I'll give you this: you are consistent.

[Marrah_G]

94. You cannot buy tobacco or alcohol with an ebt card

[_ed_]

96. Nice right wing lie

You can't buy those things with an EBT card. Next time you post right wing talking points, please be more complete and include a "welfare queen" or "cadillac" in your screed.

[niyad]

2. I don't judge what they spend it on, it is not my place to dictate how or what they eat, or what

their circumstances are. and I didn't think you could buy alcohol with an ebt card.

it is an endless source of fascination to me to see what is in people's grocery carts, not to judge, but just to see the myriad of different ways of doing things.

[rbrnmw]

7. There are Cash and Food Assistance EBT cards

one only buys food the other is like a check card and you can use it for anything

[niyad]

17. sorry, I forgot about that.

[quinnox]

6. That is not my place to judge

Anyone who is concerned about this issue is usually either a right winger or a moron.

Its none of my business.

[niyad]

10. I remember a while back that there were a number of very heated discussions here on DU about

whether people on food stamps should be ALLOWED to buy candy, soda, etc. I was appalled by some of the responses on what is supposed to be a progressive board.

[bigwillq]

16. Some DUers are the most judgmental, critical and obnoxious folks

I have ever read about. Many here are far from progressive, sensitive and generous based on some of their responses.

[smokey nj]

33. Indeed, bigwillq.

[hfojvt]

53. it seemed to me, and I said so at the time,

that the people objecting to using food stamps for soda were LESS judgemental than those wanting to allow it.

Like your post here, those supporting food stamps for cigarettes and soda were very judgemental, critical and obnoxious towards those who disagreed with them.

Myself, I am not that generous. I have usually been fairly poor and thus not really free with giving away my money. And I am certainly not gonna be generous about things I consider foolish. If somebody tells me they NEED help, I am expecting it does not mean they need money so they can buy some smokes or a beer. If that is what they think they need, then do not expect any help from me, becuase I don't believe anybody really needs a thneed.

In fact, I usually suspect that people who are asking for help do not really NEED it, because of the presence of so many scammers.

[laundry_queen]

59. Bull-poopy.

And I am certainly not gonna be generous about things I consider foolish.

That is the issue. What you consider foolish with your one-off judgement at the person in front of you may be way off base. What if that person buying 4 bottles of soda with her card is doing so because her child's teacher decided to throw a party and sent out newsletters over who brings what - and the mom is too embarrassed to say, "I can't afford to bring 4 bottles of soda" and doesn't want to have her child be the only one without something to bring.

Don't believe it? It happened to me. The teacher expected me to bring crackers and cheese. For 20 kids. My own kids rarely eat crackers and cheese because of how expensive both are where I live (cheese is like 3 times the price here in Canada than in the US). Not to mention, I couldn't bring it in the middle of the day like the teacher wanted because I was AT SCHOOL myself! I asked the teacher if she could find someone else for crackers and cheese. She did, but then told me I needed to bring the dessert or some soda. My daughter begged me to bring at least cookies because she didn't want to be the only kid without SOMETHING. So I made cookies, and winced when I put a $2.50 bag of chocolate chips that I had planned for banana bread for my kids for a treat into those cookies. Shit, I'm glad I'm not on food stamps and had someone gripe about those chocolate chips.

Or how about if you see someone loading up on candy bars with their card, and think, 'wow, what a waste of money, why should MY taxpaying dollars pay for that?' when someone is trying to potty train their toddler because it costs an extra $40/month at daycare for a non-potty trained child and you have a child that is late potty training. This also happened to me - luckily my daughter was potty trained quickly with the bribing (the traditional means I used with my other 3 kids didn't work for her).

BTW, I'm not on any kind of 'assistance' but I do get a child tax benefit here in Canada. I'm glad the Canadian government doesn't monitor my bank account to make sure I spend that money directly on the kids every month. It goes towards my bills and my government trusts me to use it for that. Does everyone? No, but that is the price of living in a civilized society that cares for each other and values each member. If you don't want to live in a civilized society, then by all means continue your judgements on what each individual may or may not do with 'your tax dollars TM'.

[hfojvt]

67. oh bull hockey

for every exception that you can name like that there are probably 999 just buying soda because they want a cold, sugary drink.

Perhaps if the freeloader "cares for each other and values each member" then they wouldn't do so much splurging with other people's money. And by freeloader, I mean those who can work, but do not. Those who always have their hands out, looking at what they can get for free.

Seems to me like it is a bit of a two way street when it comes to "caring and valuing" in much the same way that you do not seem to care for, or value, my opinions.

We can care for each other and value each member by making sure people get what they NEED, even if that means, oh boo hoo hoo, that they cannot always get what they want, or if some other people end up getting more.

[laundry_queen]

89. Gosh, so many right wing talking points...

so little time....

[liberalhistorian]

83. I sincerely hope that if you're ever in a position

to need help (and you WILL be at some point, unless you're Bill Gates or Donald Trump), that you don't encounter people who are anywhere near as cynical, mean-spirited, cruel and judgmental as yourself. Really, I do.

[hfojvt]

91. what is mean spirited?

I have helped lots of people, sometimes indirectly, and I have been helped myself many times, and I have been refused help many times, most notably in Verona, Wisconsin. Many other times, it does not feel like there even is anybody to ask for help, so I have toughed it out.

Again though, I don't see what is cruel about saying "I am not gonna help you buy cigarettes".

[LeftishBrit]

86. 'I usually suspect that people who are asking for help do not really need it'

Last edited Tue Sep 4, 2012, 04:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Sorry, but that attitude is as far as I am concerned the ESSENCE of what I am fighting against as a left-winger.

As far as I'm concerned, the most fundamental difference between left and right, Democrats and Republicans, Labour and Tories, etc., IS that the left assume that those who ask for help really need it unless proved otherwise, and the right assume that those who ask for help are scammers unless proved otherwise, and base their policies accordingly. Of course, there should be checks for fraud, but making the assumption that most people in need are scammers or idlers is just the attitude, promoted by Thatcher and Reagan, that can cause INDESCRIBABLE suffering, both practical and emotional, to people who are already on the margins. E.g. my government at the moment are so keen to get people off disability and sicknessbenefit that a number of people have been kicked off benefits as 'fit to work', who were literally dying.

[hfojvt]

93. probably you would not like the way I pronounce "schedule" either

I don't think there is any clear litmus test dividing left and right. I, at least, am a member of the Democratic Party, unlike yourself. I have at least as much business on this board as you do, considering this is not even the politics of your own country. I'm on the board, because I wanted to team up with fellow leftists after the defeat of Kerry (and after Republicans continued to control the House and Senate after the 2004 elections.

[LeftishBrit]

95. I apologize for the way that I put it, and will edit that part of my post

I should not have implied anything about your eligibility for the board; it is not my business. I lost my temper.

I do feel very strongly about harshness toward people who need or seek help (whether financially or in other ways), and became actively left-wing largely because of Thatcher's promotion of such views, and now we are dealing with the ever-increasing horror of a government and RW media that assume, for example, that disabled and chronically sick people are mostly workshy scroungers. I do not apologize for my reactions on this front! FWIW, I would have reacted MUCH more strongly and angrily if you had been someone from my own country.

I have many personal and family connections with the USA and can pronounce 'schedule' both ways. I also find that there is an ever-increasing link between the British and American Right (and possibly elsewhere), and that it is increasingly important for people to combat it.

[Brother Buzz]

18. I'm good as long as their cart really has ten or less items in the "10 Items or Less" line

[smokey nj]

19. Am I the only person who doesn't pay attention to what other people buy and how they pay for it?

[tammywammy]

21. That's what I'm wondering.

If I'm at the checkout I'm more concerned with getting my own products onto the belt and getting my wallet out to pay. I don't stare down the person in front of me. And since it's a card they slide themselves, how would I know if it's an EBT card or just any other debit card?

[SheilaT]

22. You're not quite the only one.

I don't pay attention to how other people pay for their groceries either.

And lots of people make poor decisions about food and alcohol and tobacco. So?

[Bluerthanblue]

25. not sure that I don't notice what others purchase, or

how they pay-

But to judge others or even think that I had the right to publicly criticize or condemn others for their choices or situation.... that seems to me to be far beyond what I as a liberal progressive person should be doing.

[Nikia]

28. Although I occaisionally notice items of the person in front of me,

I don't think that I have ever noticed what card the person ahead of me was using.

[etherealtruth]

34. No ...

.... these threads seem to attract jack asses that have nothing better to do with their time than monitor what other folk buy, how they pay for it ... and whether they "deserve it"

[gollygee]

56. I don't either. Not my business. n/t

[riderinthestorm]

58. Count me in. Its a completely foreign idea - to monitor someone else's groceries OR the payment type

I'm pretty appalled that so many food nannies ARE watching. At my grocery story you can't even tell how someone's paying because of the way the card reader is positioned (not that I've ever even THOUGHT to look).

[barbtries]

61. no.

i don't pay attention to that.

[HappyMe]

97. No, you aren't.

I don't care what people buy or how they pay for it. It's really none of anybody's business.

[kdmorris]

99. I don't care what they buy or how

Although I can't help but notice when the people in front of me use WIC. I was on WIC and food stamps for most of the 1990's and WIC is just a total pain in the ass. I appreciated the help, but try as I might, as smart as I am, I could never get the right foods. Seemed like I always had something wrong.

WIC checks look like they were printed by the military:

---18OZ CEREAL OR---
---12OZ CEREAL AND 6OZ CEREAL OR---
---20OZ CEREAL AND---
---12OZ FROZEN FRUIT JUICE OR---
---6OZ FROZEN FRUIT JUICE AND
---6OZ FROZEN FRUIT JUICE OR---

Seriously folks, next time you see somebody using WIC vouchers... they didn't get it wrong because they are idiots. They got it wrong because it's confusing as shit. I celebrated the few times I managed to actually get it right

[Kalidurga]

29. Thanks for this...

I saw someone in another thread on the same issue ask this: "its tax payer money, shouldn't we expect them to spend the money efficiently and on nutritious food". I paraphrase and my version isn't quite as obnoxious, I can't remember it word for word, just that it was a worse question even than that.

Anyway, did some check out work a while back and sometimes those cards would be nearly but not quite empty and that caused all kinds of a ruckus. If there is 98 cents on the card and the purchase product is 1.00 the card won't work. It won't just take the 98 cents and tell us that the customer needs to pay 2 more cents. If you want to do that you have to enter 98 cents and then you can do it. But, it's a pain and I forget exactly how that was done. Other than that I never really paid much attention to the way stuff was paid for, I really didn't care unless there was a problem.

[zuzu98]

52. I think that was me. Sorry if you thought it was "obnoxious."

Apparently I didn't do a very good job of posing a question for discussion. It's not like I stand in the check out line peering at people's groceries or how they pay. I just thought it was an interesting angle on how (and if) we care about how public money is used (I have had similar discussions about why "my" tax dollar should pay for things like the death penalty and nuclear weapons, or why other people object to federal funds being used for abortion).

[MineralMan]

32. How anyone pays for the stuff they buy is not my business.

I don't inquire into it, or look to see. The only time I care is if I'm the one selling something. Then, I insist that the payment be real. That is all.

[brewens]

35. Whatever she spends it on does go to support businesses. So it's not like that money

just get flushed down the toilet. I know a few alcoholics on disability. I hate to see them spending so much money drinking and needing our support but I don't want them anywhere near my job or my sideline business.

I have np problem with working poor partying a little. Many of them wouldn't need any help if things were run right.

[mzteris]

36. Another thing people don't know

Children in the foster care system who qualify due to their birth parent's status, have "food stamps" or "wic vouchers" (now probably EBT cards) - issued to the foster parent. While the foster parent may buy food for the child with the voucher, they may also be buying things for themselves and other family with OTHER means of payment besides the vouchers.

People probably used to think I was one of those "welfare queens" (I'd get that look) - with my small throng of children of a different color than myself, buying food (and OMG she had BEER on the counter!). Using "the foodstamps" - actually WIC vouchers, but most don't know the difference - but only for the kid's approved items & using my own money for the other stuff (which included a whole lot of damn food NOT covered by the vouchers for the children) - then going out and getting into my new van (which was necessary to transport multiple children . . . ) and driving to my nice house which we could afford and were happy we could share our home with children who needed one.

People rarely know the full circumstances so they should just butt the hell out.

[Aeroette]

42. Amen

There are many different circumstances in which "food stamps" are used that for someone to assume they know what is going on and to judge people that use assistance is just asinine.

[laundry_queen]

60. + a million zillion nt

[Glitterati]

98. They DO know it.

They simply do not care. These people are up on their high and mighty horse and have no intention of coming down.

I posted in the other thread about a family member much like you. They ignore the LEGITIMATE reasons someone may be doing this, because they simply do not care.

These people NEED to feel superior to others. They're entire lives are centered about that behavior.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

40. How dare poor attemt to enjoy life!! The must be humiliated and punished for their greed!

[ibegurpard]

45. I only pay attention to someone's means of payment...

...when it's a check...because it holds up the line and I can't believe people still think they can pay for things in stores with checks and I can't believe there are stores that will still take them.

[Luminous Animal]

87. Using a check (if you update the balance regularly) or cash is the best way to control spending.

[Tom Ripley]

50. Hell, I wouldn't care if they bought drugs

[Herlong]

65. A lot of people on welfare are addicted to drugs, and drug abusers with children have hell to pay!

Republicans can choose to marinade on those deadbeats exclusively, but this has never been what

our safety nets were meant for. Democrats must stand for the poor, the

elderly, and our children in America. History has proven, this is what we as Democrats have stood

for from the beginning. I doesn't matter to me where you fall on a political scale, but at least Democrats

want to give children and the elderly and the a fighting chance!

[valerief]

51. I don't give a shit what she buys with it. I care that the very rich don't pay taxes. And I care

that most of our tax money goes to WAR, and a big chunk of that buys planes and shit we don't need. Granted, that part is just a jobs program for defense workers, but I'd rather it be a jobs program for something useful, infrastructure, perhaps. Which would help corporations. Well, only if they chose to once again invest in America. Which they're not.

[DJ13]

55. "unemployment and child support go to ebt cards in many states now"

My wife had surgery, and here in Ca even temporary state disability payments go on a BofA debit card now.

[barbtries]

62. so BofA

gets part of your benefits i assume? jeez.

[FarCenter]

57. The purpose of food stamps is to support agriculture

So as long as it benefits tobacco farmers, barley raisers, hops growers, and producers of high fructose corn syrup, it's all good.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. No, not quite, it is to prevent the high number of 4F recruits

for the military. The origin of Food Stamps is that high number during WW II due to malnutrition.

[FarCenter]

90. The first food stamp program was before WW II. And farm surpluses were the motivating factor.

First Food Stamp Program (FSP) (May 16, 1939—Spring 1943)

The idea for the first FSP has been credited to various people, most notably U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace and the program's first administrator, Milo Perkins. Of the program, Perkins said, "We got a picture of a gorge, with farm surpluses on one cliff and under-nourished city folks with outstretched hands on the other. We set out to find a practical way to build a bridge across that chasm." The program operated by permitting people on relief to buy orange stamps equal to their normal food expenditures; for every US$1 worth of orange stamps purchased, fifty-cents' worth of blue stamps were received. Orange stamps could be used to buy any food; blue stamps could be used only to buy food determined by the Department to be surplus. Over the course of nearly four years, the first FSP reached approximately 20 million people at one time or another in nearly half of the counties in the U.S. at a total cost of $262 million. At its peak, the program assisted 4 million people simultaneously. The first recipient was Mabel McFiggin of Rochester, New York; the first retailer to redeem the stamps was Joseph Mutolo; and the first retailer caught violating program rules was Nick Salzano in October 1939. The program ended when the conditions that brought the program into being (unmarketable food surpluses and widespread unemployment) no longer existed.

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

[Herlong]

66. Children still have to be fed

Are you trying to create animosity toward the welfare woman?