DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Should the government bar food stamps from being used to buy sugary and fatty foods?

**Dynasty** · 06-27-2012, 10:53 PM

Yes, clearly no one would engage a system they've never dealt with before in order to get $133 a month in benefits that they truly need. As opposed to just showing up in a church basement, having to wait for 4 hours and getting your food no questions asked? It's hard. Don't believe, me, try it sometime. Talk to the folks who are there.

Who knows how people acquired experience with the system in the first place- maybe it's genetic. Generally they have the support system willing to help them including things like a fixed address, etc.

Also, clearly if you give food stamps to people who already can afford to eat, food prices will rise somehow- even though apparently they're only using it to buy food that they would have otherwise bought with their own money???? Scarce resources. Give people the money to buy the things that they are already likely to buy, and they are more likely to buy more than if they never received that money in the first place. Good for the merchants, since the government is essentially paying to buy their food at their prices. Under a proper market, if these groceries increase in price, the demand for them drops. With food stamps, this isn't the case.

06-27-2012, 10:53 PM	#17
Dynasty Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 419 Senior Member	Yes, clearly no one would engage a system they've never dealt with before in order to get $133 a month in benefits that they truly need. As opposed to just showing up in a church basement, having to wait for 4 hours and getting your food no questions asked? It's hard. Don't believe, me, try it sometime. Talk to the folks who are there. Who knows how people acquired experience with the system in the first place- maybe it's genetic. Generally they have the support system willing to help them including things like a fixed address, etc. Also, clearly if you give food stamps to people who already can afford to eat, food prices will rise somehow- even though apparently they're only using it to buy food that they would have otherwise bought with their own money???? Scarce resources. Give people the money to buy the things that they are already likely to buy, and they are more likely to buy more than if they never received that money in the first place. Good for the merchants, since the government is essentially paying to buy their food at their prices. Under a proper market, if these groceries increase in price, the demand for them drops. With food stamps, this isn't the case.
	Quote