[–] 3330481? 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
Most people on food stamps use the benefit as a supplement, rather than relying on the program for all their food purchases, according to Ed Bolen, senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. That means people can still stock up on soda on their own dime, he said.
ITT: People failing to understand the fungible nature of money and looking to demonize the poor. FFS, people.
[–] Humbaba 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
Wow. Looking at these comments just fucking wow. You people deserve whatever you get. If your leaders sell you down the river for their own personal gain I won't shed one tear, since you would do the exact same thing if you were in their shoes. You all honestly deserve to go to hell.
[–] Hardgroveway 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
This is just a PR move. Food stamps don't pay for everything someone needs in a month; they were never designed to. The food stamp program is called SNAP, the S standing for supplemental. This won't stop people from buying whatever they want. They won't buy soda or candy with the food stamps card, but they will end up spending the same amount of money on groceries overall that they would have otherwise. It won't even save the state any money. This in turn makes the stated goal of:
The state said the move could help improve public health, address obesity and contain costs for Medicaid, the government health plan for the poor.
...completely illogical. A real solution would involve taking measures to crack down on fraud, increasing awareness and education about healthy eating, and increasing the availability of healthy food (access to produce, for example). These things cost money though.
I know it is frustrating to see people blowing food stamps on junk, but people that can regularly afford to use their food stamps buying nothing but candy and shit are either A) making a conscious decision to eat junk food in lieu of something more filling, or B) gaming the system and have more food stamps than they should.
Don't buy into this shit because you are frustrated with the government. It's counterproductive.
[–] yergi 1 point 4 points 5 points (+5|-1) ago
As a person who grew up in an impoverished family, seriously, potatoes, meat, pasta, canned vegetables and water should be the only items that should be permitted.
[–] Subtenko 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
yea but if water is $30 and soda is $5 the people strugglin int he first place probably should get the soda...the candy can go. Or are we talking about people who dont actually need the food stamps? but then that messes it up for the broke people who cant get by (cheap soda)
[–] draco_nite ago
Dried beans? Canned chili?
[–] 123_456 1 point -1 points 0 points (+0|-1) ago
Hey, man. You forgot about oats, and brown rice. Then there's eggs, and milk. Your list is awful! AWFUL!
[–] user_4574 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
Fresh fruit and vegetables, uncooked and unprocessed meats, dairy products, nuts and other legumes, bread, flour and other cooking essentials, tomato and other sauces. Generic Brita filters, unless you can literally set your tap water on fire then you can get bottled.