Food Stamp Perspective

[Penny_Lane]

Maybe someone can give me a different perspective on this issue. Several times I have gotten in line at the grocery store behind a few immigrants. Their two shopping carts are usually overflowing with items. Then they pay with an EBT card, foodstamps in Georgia. Someone I know who works as a cashier once said that out of curiosity she looked at the balance on the receipt of an immigrant customer's EBT account. It was a bit over $1700.00.
Let me say this: I don't give a damn what color your skin is. I do give a damn that people come here for a better life and do not pay taxes, but still reap the benefits our citizens work their asses off for. I would love the opportunity to have a thousand dollars to buy all the food we need at the store. Wouldn't it be great if the government allowed several hundred dollars per month ATLEAST to each family in the United States as a food allowance?
Like I said, I would love anyone else's take on this. I am a bit pissed at having to buy Great Value while people who have not worked their lives to pay taxes are using my money to buy Kellogg's. Thing is: it isn't their fault. Hell, if I could move to another country and get great benefits, I would. I blame it all on the fucked up system of these great United States. There are people in this country starving because they cannot afford enough food to go around---people who were born here and pay taxes here.

[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]

Well I used to get food stamps, for myself my ex-wife, and my son we got about $175 a month. That did not roll over. Anything not spent by the end of the month was lost. If someone is getting that much, either they have a HUGE family to support, or there is a scam involved, or Georgia pays a lot more than Wisconsin did.

[LIBRA]

They go by your income so unless those people had one big ass family, it more then likely said $170.00 not 1700.00. plus you have to be a legal citizen to recieve them anyway.

[Heresy]

I have to say this,
Thank god they went to that EBT card and got rid of those horrible stamps. I used to work at a big grocery store in MA, in a pretty well to do town, and you could tell how much the most of the people HATED whippin out that book and tearing those stamps out. The card is far less humiliating, I'm sure most people don't even notice.

In terms of who is right and who is wrong in this situation...I don't care if they're blueblooded americans, mexicans, indians...whatever. If their income does not allow them to put food on the table, they SHOULD get government help...and if it IS $1700 and they have a huge family, then I'm glad that our government is able to help that huge family out, citizens or not.

If you have "brand envy" because someone on government assistance is able to get the box with Tony the Tiger and you have to settle for Timmy the Tomcat, then your perspective certainly needs to be adjusted. It sounds to me as if you're being both a bit judgemental and a bit racist...neither of witch should have a place in this world, but I guess you really only know what you're taught.

[LIBRA]

I have to say this,
Thank god they went to that EBT card and got rid of those horrible stamps. I used to work at a big grocery store in MA, in a pretty well to do town, and you could tell how much the most of the people HATED whippin out that book and tearing those stamps out. The card is far less humiliating, I'm sure most people don't even notice.

In terms of who is right and who is wrong in this situation...I don't care if they're blueblooded americans, mexicans, indians...whatever. If their income does not allow them to put food on the table, they SHOULD get government help...and if it IS $1700 and they have a huge family, then I'm glad that our government is able to help that huge family out, citizens or not.

If you have "brand envy" because someone on government assistance is able to get the box with Tony the Tiger and you have to settle for Timmy the Tomcat, then your perspective certainly needs to be adjusted. It sounds to me as if you're being both a bit judgemental and a bit racist...neither of witch should have a place in this world, but I guess you really only know what you're taught.

well said, I cant beleive this came outta your mouth, are you an imposter??lol.
And I worked for a grocery store in highschool, and I hated those stamps they were a pain in the ass and people were always very embarresed about them too, So I bet lots of people are glas they did away with them.

Have a great 4th!!!

[PEACE FROG]

I am presently working in a retail job. I live in California where there is no shortage of Mexican Americans or Mexican Mexicans. What I truely have noticed is that its the Imigrant people that are willing to lay out for the big ticket purchases, we dont carry "Tony the Tiger" but we have "John Deer" and "DeWalt". These folks are courtious and polite and my god people I wish everyone was. I think with the food stamp thing it might be a Cain and Able kinda thing, check yourself out on that one. I, by the way, have never seen a Mexican come into the store stretched into a 3xxx tee, flip flops, orange toe nails, oily hair, cigarette reaking ass leaving their two day old nasty ass "big gulp" cup on one of my shelves, trying to return something used up or trying to manipulate policy to get something for nothing. You want outrage... how bout those damn peace-nick freedom loving CANADIANS!!!!!

[Unkle_John]

Here in Tejas we have the Lone Star card. When I was out of a job for almost a year, my wife and I got like $300 in "emergency funds". When I got a good paying job we got off of food stamps. Here's this kick in the teeth on this issue. I make $1215 a month. The cap is les than $1000 a month. Most of my money goes to paying a mortgage, phone, utilities, and a huge credit card debt (yes it is my fault, but I am in a debt consolidation program). With what money we have left over it's to pay for gas (thankfully I only work 7 miles from my home and have a car that gets great gas mileage), and what little food we can get.. bread, cheese, some meat, the bare essentails. I work in agriculture now (I used to do computer graphics for 10 years, so you know there is agreat price reduction in pay).

This state is the worse for welfare/food stamps unless you are an illegal immigrant. Yes I said it, and it is also echoed by the hispanic americans I work with who work hard as I do. It's rediculous that someone who is in a dire need for assistance can't get it because he/she makes too much. Now if we had a child we could qualify for foodstamps and WIC, but that's no reason to have a child. Hard working people like myself and my wife cannot get an even break. Infact the only work she does is the Paisley Days business because no one around here will hire someone who isn't a family member. The homebusiness barely brings in any money, though we advertise and promote it still might pull atleast one order in a month or two. So we really can't count that as income, like you can't a garage sale.

In a way I look forward to the winter when I'm off work. I get unemployment and we get back on food stamps. but then again I don't look forward to it. Not because of the TWC office making me look for 3 jobs a week and getting back on food stamps, it's because no matter how hard we try, the money flow gets tighter. And usually if I find a job that will pay good, it's too late and we have exhausted our resources. Oh well, I guess I'll have to give up my peaceful job to take a higher paying more stressful one to get teh bills payed. It's not really how I wanted to get to our ultimate goal in life. I had hoped I got the job stress out of my life when we moved here.

[Penny_Lane]

I think the bigger picture is being missed in my post when I am accused of being racist and having "brand envy". That is just blatant stupidity, and judgemental. When did I ever mention race?
Unless the laws have recently changed in Georgia, one did not have to be legal to receive assistance.
I, too, am happy that America has the resources to assist--however, it is angering that Uncle Sam will beat down your door in a heartbeat over tax money, but when assistance is needed it is hard to get because THEY think you have enough money to live off of.
I am elated that some have a picturesque life so as to never encounter families who cannot afford to pay their electric bill or even food to eat. But when people come into this country with nothing, America gives them everything...shouldn't the "American dream" be worked for and not handed out?
I do not expect anyone with a deadbeat agenda who cannot even spell to discuss this on an adult level. Funny that the race card is often played when a viable statement cannot be made because of lack of understanding. Far too often do people pick something apart because they have nothing of merit to say. Many points in my post were missed because of one track minds reading what I DID NOT say. An open mind is the key to understanding. Hence my invitation to other perspectives. To claim to be so liberal and to take a dig at one's upbringing is not only childish, but also hypocritical. Parting your hair down the middle does not make you a hippie.

[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]

You have a valid point. However, isn't "the ameriican dream" just a weak defense for free market and supply-side economics?

[PEACE FROG]

Blatant stupidity? jugmental? You mean like when you said on the other thread you would'nt be interested in anything Al Gore has to say? Live by the sword die by the the sword. You did say in this thread however Like I said, I would love anyone else's take on this.Other people's take was given. Do your parents know you use the computer? ;)

[Heresy]

I think the bigger picture is being missed in my post when I am accused of being racist and having "brand envy". That is just blatant stupidity, and judgemental. When did I ever mention race?
Unless the laws have recently changed in Georgia, one did not have to be legal to receive assistance.
I, too, am happy that America has the resources to assist--however, it is angering that Uncle Sam will beat down your door in a heartbeat over tax money, but when assistance is needed it is hard to get because THEY think you have enough money to live off of.
I am elated that some have a picturesque life so as to never encounter families who cannot afford to pay their electric bill or even food to eat. But when people come into this country with nothing, America gives them everything...shouldn't the "American dream" be worked for and not handed out?
I do not expect anyone with a deadbeat agenda who cannot even spell to discuss this on an adult level. Funny that the race card is often played when a viable statement cannot be made because of lack of understanding. Far too often do people pick something apart because they have nothing of merit to say. Many points in my post were missed because of one track minds reading what I DID NOT say. An open mind is the key to understanding. Hence my invitation to other perspectives. To claim to be so liberal and to take a dig at one's upbringing is not only childish, but also hypocritical. Parting your hair down the middle does not make you a hippie.


Ok, #1...I'm not a hippie. I never claimed to be. My life much more closely resembles a yuppie. I work on Wall Street, pay 2200 a month for my tiny little 1000 square foot apartment on Amsterdam Avenue. My wife is at Columbia getting her PhD, and my biggest personal finance problem is based on the value of the Dollar vs the Euro. Now I want you to know that I really hate doing that, I just thought it was only fair that you knew you weren't dealing with a "hippie wanna-be".

Now, before you attempt to lob more thinly veiled insults my way, maybe you should read my post again, and this time don't be on the defensive while you read it. You instantly thought I was attacking you and this was not the case. Also...come on...are you really going to take off points for spelling? If that's the case, and you're looking to bust me because I may have spelled a word or 2 wrong, you obviously are not looking into the content of my post. And to answer your first question, involving Immigrants in the discussion instantly involves race.

I did not take a shot at your upbringing; I took a shot at our inherently racist society. I'm just as racist as you are, but I'm not attempting to deny it. If you are white in America, you benefit from racism. Unless you spend the bulk of your time and energy combating this injustice, simply due to the fact that you benefit from it, you are part of it. Sorry, but that is the case. There is much more to racism than "I don't like black people". You can see now, that me calling you a racist is not judgmental of you, it is more of an indictment of our society.



I am a bit pissed at having to buy Great Value while people who have not worked their lives to pay taxes are using my money to buy Kellogg's.

That looks to me a lot like brand envy my friend, your words, not mine. I don't feel I have to defend my statement here any further. If you would like to clarify what you meant...feel free.


Other than that, the quoted post is just so full of nonsensical inaccuracies I don't really even know where to begin. I guess the final paragraph is really where I'm having a hard time...
let's begin with this...

I do not expect anyone with a deadbeat agenda who cannot even spell to discuss this on an adult level.
ok we've already been over the spelling bit, and how it essentially shows that you have no valid argument with me and are attempting to undercut my content filled arguments by accusing me of being childish due to a lack of spelling aptitude.

But what I'm interested in is what you call my "deadbeat agenda"...please, tell me what my agenda is. I have no idea what it could be, so enlighten me. Also, that accusation is in the passive tense...if you're looking to make a strong statement, perhaps you should use a more aggressive grammatical structure.


Funny that the race card is often played when a viable statement cannot be made because of lack of understanding. Far too often do people pick something apart because they have nothing of merit to say.
Funny, a well respected member, Libra, who has no love loss for me I assure you, agreed with my post emphatically. It is difficult to either agree or disagree with anything if nothing of merit was said. Just because you disagree does not strike the merit from the statement.


An open mind is the key to understanding.
Take your own advice my friend. The fact that you have an issue with this, without knowing all the facts is proof that you need to take your own advice. Do you know for a fact that they were immigrants and not citizens?
Do you know how much money they make? Do you know what they pay in taxes? There are so many unknowns here, and your closed mindedness is leading you to have feelings that may not be entirely justified. You don't want to jump to conclusions.

How did I not maintain an adult discussion...did I call you names...did I troll about...did I swear repeatedly, did I post dirty or silly questions. If you must make accusations, please be accurate. There are many things you could accuse me of, but not discussing this on an adult level is surely not one of them.

This program happens to be one of the few spending programs I am very much behind. Because everyone, absolutely everyone should be able to eat.