In 2013, Fox News proudly broadcast an interview with a young food stamp recipient who claimed to be using the government benefit to purchase lobster and sushi.
"This is the way I want to live and I don’t really see anything changing," Jason Greenslate explained to Fox. “It’s free food; it’s awesome."
That story fit a longtime conservative suspicion that poor people use food stamps to purchase luxury items. Now, a Republican state lawmaker in Missouri is pushing for legislation that would stop people like Greenslate and severely limit what food stamp recipients can buy. The bill being proposed would ban the purchase with food stamps of "cookies, chips, energy drinks, soft drinks, seafood or steak."
"The intention of the bill is to get the food stamp program back to its original intent, which is nutrition assistance," said Rick Brattin, the representative who is sponsoring the proposed legislation.
Curbing food stamp purchases of cookies, chips, energy drinks, and soft drinks at least falls in line with the food stamp program's mission to provide nutrition. Nutrition experts are already discussing whether to remove unhealthy items from the list of foods participants can buy.
But seafood and steak? Seafood has been shown, time and again, to be a healthy part of any diet. And steak is such a broad category that it's essentially banning people from buying any flat cuts of beef, from porterhouse to flank.
"It just seems really repressive," said Mark Rank, a professor at Washington University and author of the book Living on the Edge: The Realities of Welfare in America. "I don't see how it makes any sense to ban some of these foods. Fish is something that should really be in your diet. And steak, what does that mean in this context?"
Brattin admits that the language might need some tweaking. "My intention wasn't to get rid of canned tuna and fish sticks," he said. But he also insists that people are abusing the system by purchasing luxury foods, and believes that that must be stopped, even if it ends up requiring the inclusion of other less luxurious items.
"I have seen people purchasing filet mignons and crab legs with their EBT cards," he said. "When I can't afford it on my pay, I don't want people on the taxpayer's dime to afford those kinds of foods either."
Currently, a household of one can qualify for up to $194 dollars a month, or fewer than $7 dollars day, as part of SNAP, according to the Department of Agriculture. For a household of two, it's roughly twice that. For a household of three, it's about three times the amount.
It doesn't take too much math to figure out that foods like lobster aren't exactly within a recipient's budget. And it's also hard to draw conclusions based on a single purchase. What if that family that was purchasing a more expensive cut of meat had subsisted on cheaper canned goods for the past month in order to afford it?
Brattin's proposal is part of what Rank laments is a long history of stigmatizing food stamps and welfare programs in America. Ronald Reagan famously told the story of one "welfare queen" as though she were representative of the system at large. Rank says that today, the myth is perpetuated using similar anecdotes, like the Fox example, which he argued should be viewed as distortions of reality.
"There are some isolated cases of abuse, sure," said Rank. "But they are hardly representative of what the people struggling to get by on SNAP are actually buying... These people are spending their money extremely frugally."
Brattin says his bill is about making the food stamp program revolve around nutrition, but it also touches on more than that: whether poor people should be allowed to purchase foods that are deemed fancy. And Rank argues that this crosses a line.
"More than anything else, I think this is about controlling people," said Rank. "We should be treating people who are in poverty the same way we treat everyone else."
"I have seen people purchasing filet mignons and crab legs with their EBT cards," he said. "When I can't afford it on my pay, I don't want people on the taxpayer's dime to afford those kinds of foods either."
DUDE. Your entire paycheck comes from the taxpayer's dime. No steak for you!
I agree that recipients should buy nutritious healthy meals. Why? I want everyone to buy nutritious healthy meals. The reality is that you can't buy nutritious meals on food stamps because healthy food is expensive and you need to feed a family throughout the month. Yes, you want to feed your child but you also don't want them to starve. When apples are 2.99 per lb and Chef Boyardee is 5 for 5 your options can become limited.
Anecdote:My H and I spend about 400 on food. We have a cultural household and getting imported food is expensive. Yam, a staple in our diet can be as much as $3 per lb.
This is so true. You also hear people complaining that "poor people" are eating fast food and not making healthy food choices. I can feed my family of 4 for $10 at McDonald's, but the grilled salmon with asparagus I made the other night? At least double that.
Well, the seafood and steak part of that is absolutely ridiculous. As far as the other stuff, of course it would be great for everyone (not just food stamp recipients) to make better food choices. Unfortunately, healthy food is expensive.
I agree that recipients should buy nutritious healthy meals. Why? I want everyone to buy nutritious healthy meals. The reality is that you can't buy nutritious meals on food stamps because healthy food is expensive and you need to feed a family throughout the month. Yes, you want to feed your child but you also don't want them to starve. When apples are 2.99 per lb and Chef Boyardee is 5 for 5 your options can become limited.
Anecdote:My H and I spend about 400 on food. We have a cultural household and getting imported food is expensive. Yam, a staple in our diet can be as much as $3 per lb.
Are there people who abuse the system? Of course. Is that the majority of people on assistance programs? No.
While I don't appreciate those who do abuse the system, I don't want to punish everyone on assistance because of a few bad apples. It's not my business to judge what's in your shopping cart. I don't know your lyfe.
::pulls out Post Its:: I'm sure I'll be adding a few people.
Number One: Born 06.16.2009 BFP: 01.17.2014 / MC 02.05.2014 BFP: 03.08.2014 / MMC: 05.07.2014 Dx: Partial Molar/GTD. Benched until 01.2015 Number Two: Born 07.22.2016
Post by SheilaTheTank on Apr 4, 2015 9:23:28 GMT -5
How about instead of them limiting what foods people can buy they extend food stamps to cover paper towels, toilet paper, soap, and tampons. You know, the stuff people need on an everyday basis to live and not left feeling disgusting.
There's also no way to know if the person are really cheaply all month just so they could save and afford this "luxury" item. Maybe it's someone's birthday or anniversary. I hate the argument that you can't have anything nice or any splurges because you are on public assistance.
I usually don`t get into these threads, but not allowing steak & seafood ?? So, no ground beef,no beef strips, no tuna in a can, no fish like tilapia ? WTF...
I dont understand food stamps. I guess it is like welfare but you can only use it for food? In Canada people dont care if you spend your welfare on cookies... just not LED 50 inch TVs (PS I dont care what people spend their welfare on, I've been there and it's not all rainbows and unicorns). Pick your battles Missouri Conservatives.
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
Edit: in reference to the store I worked in. Not saying this is the same in all stores, counties, regions, cities, states, etc.
Post by helloerrbody on Apr 4, 2015 9:37:40 GMT -5
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but... It is hard for me to see students wearing brand new expensive clothes and tennis shoes (that are not gifts, hand-me-downs, etc.) when their family is on food stamps. However, that doesn't mean we stop assisting people in need. And it's also not my place to judge them for their choices.
I think it's ridiculous that they would be banned from buying seafood and steak - healthy foods. That's just stupid.
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
The majority of Americans make poor food choices. Not just poor people.
I'm not even going to touch the expensive car comment.
There's also no way to know if the person are really cheaply all month just so they could save and afford this "luxury" item. Maybe it's someone's birthday or anniversary. I hate the argument that you can't have anything nice or any splurges because you are on public assistance.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but... It is hard for me to see students wearing brand new expensive clothes and tennis shoes (that are not gifts, hand-me-downs, etc.) when their family is on food stamps. However, that doesn't mean we stop assisting people in need. And it's also not my place to judge them for their choices.
I think it's ridiculous that they would be banned from buying seafood and steak - healthy foods. That's just stupid.
But having food stamps frees up the parents resources to afford new clothes for their kids. So now they get to eat AND be clothed.
Post by helloerrbody on Apr 4, 2015 9:41:14 GMT -5
Healthy food is always more expensive than the junk. If I was desperate to feed my children, I think I would probably be concerned more with getting as much food as possible over all else.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but... It is hard for me to see students wearing brand new expensive clothes and tennis shoes (that are not gifts, hand-me-downs, etc.) when their family is on food stamps. However, that doesn't mean we stop assisting people in need. And it's also not my place to judge them for their choices.
I think it's ridiculous that they would be banned from buying seafood and steak - healthy foods. That's just stupid.
What the fuck? Yes, I will flame you. So because they are on food stamps they should only wear second hand clothes? Food stamps recipients often get a cash award to buy clothes and other necessity.
Are you saying that only people who aren't on food stamps should wear expensive clothes and new shoes?
It's hard for me to see but I also know I shouldn't judge. I don't wear expensive clothes myself so I don't think it's an anyone should or shouldn't thing. But when a kid never has snack and says the reason is "mom says we have no money" but is wearing $200 brand new Jordan's, I have a hard time not having any sort of feel.
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
Edit: in reference to the store I worked in. Not saying this is the same in all stores, counties, regions, cities, states, etc.
Please to enlighten me on the "correct way to use food stamps?"
Just because someone has a nice car/nice clothes doesn't mean they aren't struggling. Maybe they're barely making ends meet to prevent that car from being repossessed. Maybe they've had those expensive clothes for years and struggle with the choice of buying something new for themselves or shoes for their kids. Maybe that designer bag was a gift. You've never heard of people making six figures (who could afford the Louis Vuitton & BMW) losing their jobs? Becoming homeless? Having their whole world fall out from under them? You don't know each person's story so stop fucking judging.
Do you have a place to live? Food to eat? Clothes on your back? Then be fucking thankful & don't worry about what other people have going on.
Number One: Born 06.16.2009 BFP: 01.17.2014 / MC 02.05.2014 BFP: 03.08.2014 / MMC: 05.07.2014 Dx: Partial Molar/GTD. Benched until 01.2015 Number Two: Born 07.22.2016
HAI! Former Food Stamp worker here. SNAP benefits are supposed to be a supplemental income source. They were never intended to be the only source of funding for people to buy food.(Sadly, sometimes they are, but that's a different topic) If people are able to budget their groceries for the month so that they have money to purchase higher end foods then that's their right to do so. Poor people deserve a nice meal once in a while just as much as rich people do.
*poor and rich aren't PC terms but they work for this post.
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
Edit: in reference to the store I worked in. Not saying this is the same in all stores, counties, regions, cities, states, etc.
Please to enlighten me on the "correct way to use food stamps?"
Just because someone has a nice car/nice clothes doesn't mean they aren't struggling. Maybe they're barely making ends meet to prevent that car from being repossessed. Maybe they've had those expensive clothes for years and struggle with the choice of buying something new for themselves or shoes for their kids. Maybe that designer bag was a gift. You've never heard of people making six figures (who could afford the Louis Vuitton & BMW) losing their jobs? Becoming homeless? Having their whole world fall out from under them? You don't know each person's story so stop fucking judging.
Do you have a place to live? Food to eat? Clothes on your back? Then be fucking thankful & don't worry about what other people have going on.
I agree with everything said but I guess when I know children and their families so well it's harder for me not to feel more informed of their life....? When a child point blank tells me that they don't have money for snack but that they also went shopping last night with mom or dad for those new shoes, it's hard not to feel sad.
Regardless of what a kid or parent tells me, you are right that I can't truly know their life and struggles and therefore should not judge.
How about instead of them limiting what foods people can buy they extend food stamps to cover paper towels, toilet paper, soap, and tampons. You know, the stuff people need on an everyday basis to live and not left feeling disgusting.
ETA: It's too early to type properly.
It makes me so mad that basic toiletries are not covered. 10 years of working for or with Social Services and it still makes no sense to me.
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
To the bolded:
1.It is usually cheaper to buy crap. 2. What if this was a special event that they save up their food stamps for? 3. Am I to understand that recipients of food stamps should only buy cheap/ low quality food?
1. True it is usually cheaper to buy crap food. I'm not denying that. I was stating my observations when I worked in a grocery store.
2. I'm not saying they should NOT buy expensive meat. But was proposing buying less expensive alternative so you can get more meals out of it. Filet minion, etc. one or two days, versus a few steaks and chicken, etc. It's just an idea and response to my observations and the concerns I have seen raised. My idea is probably stupid and foolish, but just that, an idea.
3. I never said they should buy cheap or low quality food. I observed them buying cheap and low quality food. I'm saying I observed them buying it. I said I think we should make it more supportive of healthy proper meals.
America is supposed to be the land of the free so I don't understand why "the poors" are supposed to eat and purchase food that the majority of Americans aren't eating. Food stamps should be for food, any food, and enough of it that the person is well fed.
If people want to encourage proper nutrition then a great place to start would be SCHOOL lunches. But this isn't about health it is about punishing people and making them feel bad about their circumstances.
I also hate how people who need assistance should somehow have to be forced to really show their current circumstances- no nice food, clothes, or treats for you- or your kids!
Sorry sick kid writhing all over me so my thoughts are scattered.
Now school lunches, I could really go off on that one. Big big problems with school lunches. It sickens me on a daily basis.
helloerrbody, sometimes people in lower income brackets are just really good shoppers. My DS was often wearing brand new Tommy Hilfiger clothing when in Kindergarten, but I worked there and got 40% off the lowest ticketed price.
I stalked Winners (Canadian TJ Maxx) for deals on shoes. Consignment stores often had brand new items with tags on that people bought for their kids and they grew out of before they could wear them.
I was definitely low-income (would have qualified for food stamps if they existed) but my kid looked fly because I shopped smart!
/anecdote I know it's hard sometimes, to see things you dont understand, and maybe some parents are making weird decisions but until we walk a mile in their shoes, we can't judge them.
Please to enlighten me on the "correct way to use food stamps?"
Just because someone has a nice car/nice clothes doesn't mean they aren't struggling. Maybe they're barely making ends meet to prevent that car from being repossessed. Maybe they've had those expensive clothes for years and struggle with the choice of buying something new for themselves or shoes for their kids. Maybe that designer bag was a gift. You've never heard of people making six figures (who could afford the Louis Vuitton & BMW) losing their jobs? Becoming homeless? Having their whole world fall out from under them? You don't know each person's story so stop fucking judging.
Do you have a place to live? Food to eat? Clothes on your back? Then be fucking thankful & don't worry about what other people have going on.
I agree with everything said but I guess when I know children and their families so well it's harder for me not to feel more informed of their life....? When a child point blank tells me that they don't have money for snack but that they also went shopping last night with mom or dad for those new shoes, it's hard not to feel sad.
Regardless of what a kid or parent tells me, you are right that I can't truly know their life and struggles and therefore should not judge.
You do know that there are several programs that provide clothing vouchers. So they could have easily been handed a debit card that was only valid for clothing purchases.
helloerrbody, sometimes people in lower income brackets are just really good shoppers. My DS was often wearing brand new Tommy Hilfiger clothing when in Kindergarten, but I worked there and got 40% off the lowest ticketed price.
I stalked Winners (Canadian TJ Maxx) for deals on shoes. Consignment stores often had brand new items with tags on that people bought for their kids and they grew out of before they could wear them.
I was definitely low-income (would have qualified for food stamps if they existed) but my kid looked fly because I shopped smart!
/anecdote I know it's hard sometimes, to see things you dont understand, and maybe some parents are making weird decisions but until we walk a mile in their shoes, we can't judge them.
This is so true. I buy most of the girls' clothes on consignment. There are many times that I've gotten brand new clothes there
I agree with many of the opinions already posted. Don't punish the majority for the foolish decisions of small group of people. On the other hand, when I was a cashier during my summers in college, you wouldn't believe the crap people bought with food stamps. People would come in with gallons of ice cream, freezer meals, the most expensive cuts of meats, pudding. All in all, a ton of crap food. Rarely did you see healthy food, even a small amount scattered among the larger amount of crap. Although, yes, the expensive meat isn't crap, but you could buy more of the less expensive to cover more meals within the week. Now, every now and then you would see men and women dressed in suits carrying car fobs from high end cars buying expensive items with food stamps. So I would see it all. However, if a family is utilizing the food stamps correctly and they want to buy treats for their children, that's cool too! I wish there was a way to curb the abusers of the system and make it more supportive of healthy, proper meals for those who really need the help.
The majority of Americans make poor food choices. Not just poor people.
I'm not even going to touch the expensive car comment.
I realize that and I totally agree. I'm just adding my observations to the article. I didn't say take away the poor food (i.e. treats), but make the system more supportive of healthy choices. The expensive car was also my observation in that it is a wide variety of people that make these decisions.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.