SC Gov. pushes to limit food stamp purchases to healthy items.

[redlandssaintsson]

Originally Posted by crosswatt

So, if the government is providing, then freedom of choice is no longer an option. Noted.

I can't tell the tone of this, but I'm assuming it's a sarcastic jab at governmental control. If so, then I say "under my house, you play by my rules". If the government is giving you the money, then I don't see why it's out of line for them to try to restrict your options, especially when those options are BETTER than the alternative.

If it's not, then...cool.

[mister pc]

I would be in favor of removing items like coca cola from eligible food stamp purchases. I think it's ridiculous that people can purchase soft drinks and candy with foodstamps but not vitamins or toothpaste.

[JimEverett]

There are some universally recognized foods as junk and i think those should be restricted.
Probl is that the convenience store lobby is very powerful

[MLU]

Originally Posted by redlandssaintsson

I can't tell the tone of this, but I'm assuming it's a sarcastic jab at governmental control. If so, then I say "under my house, you play by my rules". If the government is giving you the money, then I don't see why it's out of line for them to try to restrict your options, especially when those options are BETTER than the alternative.

If it's not, then...cool.

Sit and think of all of the things the government provides that you use. Police protection, Fire protection, roads, Social Security, etc. Do you really think that removing what little voice people have is the right path to take?

Really?

[Anteros77]

I'm fine with this. The entire point of welfare is to help people survive if they can't provide for themselves. Cheetos are not a basic human need or right.

[redlandssaintsson]

Originally Posted by MLU

Sit and think of all of the things the government provides that you use. Police protection, Fire protection, roads, Social Security, etc. Do you really think that removing what little voice people have is the right path to take?

Really?

Yes. I can't get a job that provides any of those other services. I can, and do, work to provide food. BTW, the government already dictates how and when you can use those other services. Why is food stamps any different?

[mister pc]

Originally Posted by JimEverett

There are some universally recognized foods as junk and i think those should be restricted.
Probl is that the convenience store lobby is very powerful

These guys are powerful and would stand to lose the most

http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawsto...fc7b5670472f7f

[Cosmic201]

Originally Posted by MLU

Sit and think of all of the things the government provides that you use. Police protection, Fire protection, roads, Social Security, etc. Do you really think that removing what little voice people have is the right path to take?

Really?

Every single one of those things you listed as a list of rules I most follow when using them longer than everything I've typed on this website.


Why should food stamps be somehow exempt?

[MLU]

Food stamps is already restricted to food. Now all of a sudden someone gets to re-define what is food?

People buy crappy food because 1) it's cheap and 2) it's quick and easy. Personally I don't think it should even be sold to anyone as food, but you just can't redefine what people can eat because of your own ignorant views.

[Craigj]

They already do something similar with the WIC program. You can only buy certain foods (milk, formula, cheese, etc) I think they should restrict certain foods and drink from food stamps. I saw a lady buy two 16oz redbulls with food stamps for $9. I can't belive that anyone would think thats what the program intended.

[redlandssaintsson]

Originally Posted by MLU

Food stamps is already restricted to food. Now all of a sudden someone gets to re-define what is food?

People buy crappy food because 1) it's cheap and 2) it's quick and easy. Personally I don't think it should even be sold to anyone as food, but you just can't redefine what people can eat because of your own ignorant views.

Why should you be allowed to buy alcohol and tobacco with food stamps? Because you can now. Those are defined as food? I think redefining what food is is exactly what this fat, diabetic country needs, and if this is one way to go about that, then cool.

[Sun Wukong]

Originally Posted by redlandssaintsson

I think redefining what food is is exactly what this fat, diabetic country needs, and if this is one way to go about that, then cool.

So you're alright with the government telling everyone what they are and aren't allowed to eat then. Because that's kind of the vibe I get from people like you.

You can't legislate personal responsibility, despite whatever fantasies you may hold to the contrary.

[redlandssaintsson]

Originally Posted by Sun Wukong

So you're alright with the government telling everyone what they are and aren't allowed to eat then. Because that's kind of the vibe I get from people like you.

You can't legislate personal responsibility, despite whatever fantasies you may hold to the contrary.

Yea cuz that's exactly what I posted.

Let me ask you this. You give your kid $10 and say go buy lunch, he comes back with 2 bags of doritos and a chocolate milk. You're fine with that personal choice?

Also, the "people like you" comment. Didn't realize we knew each other. Or that anything I've said here ever says I think the government should tell me how to do anything.

[DaveXA]

Originally Posted by MLU

Food stamps is already restricted to food.

I've been on food stamps before, and I can assure you that it isn't restricted to food. At least not in practice when I was on it. That was about 10 years ago. Maybe it's different now. There's little in place to prevent people from spending it however recipients want. At least that was the case when I lived in DC.

WIC on the other hand was different. You could only buy WIC designated items with that.

We received our food stamps via ATM cards, and all I had to do was go to any ATM or even the store checkout to withdraw all the cash and spend it however I wanted. There was nothing to prevent me from buying gas for the car with it.

Of course the rules state it should only be for food items, but there's nothing in reality make a person only buy food with it.

Edit: FWIW, I'm not sure it varies from state to state, so maybe someone else who knows could confirm that.

I think the WIC model should be used for food stamps. It would prevent a lot of the misuse of food stamps that happens currently.

[dtc]

Originally Posted by redlandssaintsson

Why should you be allowed to buy alcohol and tobacco with food stamps? Because you can now. Those are defined as food? I think redefining what food is is exactly what this fat, diabetic country needs, and if this is one way to go about that, then cool.

You can't buy alcohol or tobacco with food stamps.