[mikelangr]

On one hand, the government does claim an interest in promoting healthy food, especially with the health care legislation, and especially where the government is paying for it. On the other hand, it could be construed as an invasion of privacy, and it would probably increase the cost of the program due to increased monitoring requirements.

What do you think?

I believe the WIC program already functions like this, and I don't think its administrative costs are greatly in excess of the food stamp administrative costs.

A secondary benefit to restricting the foods available for purchase with food stamps is that it will also help to limit the ability of recipients to sell their food stamps. Ohio (and I think most other states) uses a card rather than physical stamps which in theory would make it more difficult for people to sell them, but in practice this meant that people would wait outside of grocery stores and solicit people to pay them cash for use of their stamp card (typically you'd get $2 worth of groceries for each $1 in cash you paid the food stamp recipient).

[Hmntezmb]

Are we supposed to have tears in your eyes and pain in your heart when we hear that Walmart shoppers are basically buying crud?

[Pdarassenko]

No. Unhealthy people die faster and collect less social security.

[bribiaLaubysdggf]

I didn't think juice was that bad. Is it in lieu of milk, or something like that?

It has just as much sugar and calories as pop. It is bad for you, more so if you are an 18 month old.

[Nikitka]

There are some truly needy folks that are being helped with food stamps.

Then there are the folks selling their stamps. The folks handing them out should go to the grocery store with a sign (will pay cash for food stamps), and keep track of everyone who accepts the offer. Then cut them off and charge them with fraud. Then there's the restaurants that accept food stamps. Fraud from the recipient is bad. Fraud from the merchant is something else altogether.

[oyymoss]

WIC's restrictions are a pain in the rear. Generally we end up buying the stuff we would have bought anyway and ignoring the stuff we wouldn't, like juice and whole wheat bread. Yes, I'm sure whole wheat bread is better for you in some way than white bread, but it tastes like arse.

[beloveds]

You are just getting the wrong whole wheat bread. The good stuff is mildly sweet and nutty.

[Elelaytet]

[Lapsiks]

Part of me says yes but the reality is the more restrictions you put on this the more people will just start breaking the rules.

[triarmarm]

Sometimes things are not that black and white. I read about a case where a family was selling their food stamps so they could buy much needed medicines. And then you have folks that sell their food stamps to buy medications which they then sell and repeat the process each month. Make a tidy profit that way.

Prosecuting fraud helps, not hurts the needy, by helping to ensure that the aid actually gets to the people that need it.

[Efonukmp]

Food stamp fraud happens when people "lose" their card and request another one from the government, which really doesn't have much to do with whether they actually need assistance to buy food. In fact, I would expect the neediest to be more likely to try to get extra cards and sell them. If you actually need assistance buying food, you still have an incentive to get additional cards through fraud.

[arindiruppyr]

I didn't think juice was that bad. Is it in lieu of milk, or something like that?

all-natural, no-sugar-added fruit juice FTW

[soSldI4i]

He's actually right about that - given two people who are without food, the one who refuses to accept food assistance will be needier than the one who does accept food assistance, and thus will be "truly" needy.

In the same vein, if two people break their arms, then the one who refuses to have a cast put on will have a "truly" broken arm.

[metropropuskruww]

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. Who knows how people acquired experience with the system in the first place- maybe it's genetic. 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????

[AromeWahmaron]

What definition of the word "reluctant" are you using? Not knowing about a program is not equivalent to being reluctant to utilize a program. Not being willing to jump through the hoops to get into the program is reluctant.

[wCYvMKAc]

The truly needy are willing to work for minimum wage or maybe less to get the food they need to live, but they sure as hell aren't going to fill out no stinking government paperwork!

[Dynasty]

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.

[Lxbsvksl]

Please describe these hoops, because I think you must be talking about a different program. Maybe it's different in Texas?

Anyways, SNAP:

SNAP applications are available at any Social Security office. If you and everyone in your household are applying for or already getting SSI payments, any Social Security office will help you fill out the SNAP application and send it to the local SNAP office for you.

All others, including those applying for or getting only Social Security, must take or send their SNAP applications to the local SNAP office or to any Social Security office where a SNAP representative works.

When you are interviewed, you also should have:
•Identification such as a driver's license, state ID, birth certificate or alien card;
•Proof of income for each member of your household, such as pay stubs or records that show if Social Security, SSI or a pension for each member of your household is received;
•Proof of how much you spend for child care;
•Rent receipts or proof of your mortgage payments;
•Records of your utility costs; and
•Medical bills for those members of your household age 60 or older, and for those who receive government payments such as Social Security or SSI because they are disabled. Does this sound like a program designed to provide food for homeless people?

[usacomm]

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.

I would certainly have difficulty getting food stamps. However, that does not make me believe you.

Generally they have the support system willing to help them including things like a fixed address, etc. Yes, I know it's hard to understand how a truly needy person could have a fancy fixed address. I guess you've defined "needy" so that only homeless people are needy.

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. So it DOES cause people to buy more food- but you have an arbitrary conception of what level of food expenditure people "need". And this is somehow a great benefit for merchants, who you apparently think are able to raise prices for reasons other than higher costs, even though retail is competitive and profit margins for supermarkets are tiny.

[abouthotels]

It's very similar in Illinois but don't bother Ben with facts.