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Subscribe to RSSPoliticians normally shy away from saying they want to cut food stamps, but this year's Republican presidential candidates are using domestic food aid as an example of a welfare state gone awry.
Supporters of the program say it is one of the most reliable safety nets for families who suddenly find themselves unable to pay for food, and politically the program has proved almost untouchable over many decades. More than 45 million people received the benefit last year at a $75 billion cost to the government, a record number as the economy has flailed.
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and fellow contender Rick Santorum, both heavily involved in congressional welfare reform efforts in the mid-1990s, say the government should stop promoting a welfare-like state and convert food stamp spending to block grants to states, a move that could freeze spending and cut the benefit to many who now receive it. A spokesperson for Republican Mitt Romney says the former Massachusetts governor also supports turning the nation's food stamp program into state block grants, though he rarely mentions it.
Both Gingrich and Santorum faced criticism this week when they spoke of overhauling food stamps and other welfare programs by seeming to equate food stamp recipients and blacks. Gingrich said he would encourage blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps, and Santorum said that he did not want to "make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money."
According to 2010 census numbers, about 26 percent of food stamp recipients are African-American, while 49 percent are white and 20 percent are Hispanic.
Gingrich often calls President Barack Obama "the food stamp president," a reference to the poor economy and the huge spike in food stamp costs since he took office. The program — now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — has more than doubled in cost since 2008, driven by high, sustained unemployment, rising food prices and a temporary expansion of the benefit in the 2009 economic stimulus bill.
Gingrich and Santorum have pushed similar agendas to House Republican leadership, which offered a budget last year that would have converted the food stamp dollars to block grants to states and made the assistance contingent on work or job training. Federal spending on the benefit is currently unlimited for those who qualify, prompting huge spikes in spending as the economy headed south in recent years and many people who had never used the program found themselves out of work and unable to feed their families.
The House passed the budget last year but it died in the Democratic-led Senate. Anti-hunger groups and many Democrats, not surprisingly, have vehemently opposed the idea of block granting food stamp money to states. They say block grants would feed fewer people and could cut as much as 20 percent from the program over a decade.
Romney said in November that he would send food stamps to the state level along with other government programs like Medicaid. He also disagreed with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack when Vilsack said the aid can be a stimulus to retailers and the economy.
"I think that there's some folks like Tom Vilsack and President Obama himself that imagine that if you just throw money at people, that somehow that will make the economy better," Romney said in August. "But we're out there borrowing money from the Chinese, to hand out money here, and that is not going to get America working again."
Despite conservative sentiment to change the system — and the Republican candidates who are willing to speak out against it — it is unclear whether Congress will ever take on the issue. Gingrich and other Republicans proposed food stamp overhaul as part of the welfare reform signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, but more moderate Republicans helped block it.
More than 15 years later, the issue has remained on the congressional back burner.
Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, has been working on welfare issues since Ronald Reagan was president. He says he believes there is a public misperception of the issue. While he says the 1990s welfare reform package is generally popular among current voters, many don't want Congress to touch the issue of food stamps.
But Rector believes many people think that recipients are required to look for work or enter job training in order to receive food stamps. When asked if able-bodied adults should be required to try and find work as a prerequisite for aid, many voters agree, he says.
"In the long term what you have to do is transform this program from being a cash entitlement program into a program that promotes work and self-sufficiency," he says.
Vicki Escarra, president of the anti-hunger group Feeding America, says the idea of fixing the deficit by cutting food assistance "lacks both compassion and reason."
"Food stamps and other anti-hunger programs give hope to struggling Americans and protect them from deeper crisis as they work to get back on their feet," she says.
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Whats new republicans? I am sooooooooooo laughing at the republicans.
The GOP Tea-ReTards are putting the middle class on food stamps to aid the 1% buddies !!!!!!!!!!
Keep playing into the narrative Republics....
What I find funny is they really seem to think this is a "black" problem. I'm 42, and way back when I was in high school, it was pretty well know that there were significantly more whites on assistance than blacks. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks, or at least teach a bigot that the whites aren't perfect.
JaxGuy
You lie! What makes you think anyone thinks it's a "black" problem? The article even states that more whites take advantage of food stamps. I witness whites abusing the program at least once a week at the local covenience store when I buy gas. It is almost criminal what they purchase with our tax dollars. If you can't admit that the program needs reform then you are uninformed. To just call the right racist because they are looking out for tax payers is assinine.
Why is this solely a black issue and not a poor people issue? The GOP is disgusting and do I dear say racist. The GOP has been trying to axe any social programs that doesn't have to do with corporate welfare. I do not care if you are Republican, Independent or Democrat, this should piss you off. We are coming off the tail end of a recession, where the country got fleeced by the corporations. Record unemployment and this is the focus of the GOP primary? They truly have no heart.
The Food Police have spoken!
You cannot be a "real" Republicon unless you are out of touch with reality.
You don't even have to throw them more rope bc they supply plenty for themselves.
Snakes eating their own tails.
November 2012 cannot get here fast enough! Enough is enough!
Bye-bye, Repubs!
Could there be any doubt regarding the overt racism in the GOP? Welfare a black problem? When 49% of recipients are white? I'd say Gingrich and Santorum have laid that issue to rest. Obama is the "Food Stamp President"? Could that be because he's BLACK, Newt? That is racism, by any definition, pure and simple.
And that's not all.
This weekend Santorum declared there is no "middle class" in America! Well, if the GOP had their way that would be true but those few of us left in the middle class are fighting tooth and nail to avoid extinction, thank you very much Rick.
So, all there are are the rich and the poor eh? The haves and the have-nots. Certainly that would fit the GOP plan nicely. They've done their very best to sell this country out to the rich and the corporations at the expense of the poor.
I have worked in the GOP. I ran two successful elections for GOP candidates and have served them while in office. The people I saw coming to fund-raisers and meetings were solid, middle-class Americans. They were not wealthy. They were not CEO's of big corporations, they were just honest working people. But, somehow, over the last 25 years the GOP has convinced these good, honest, hard working Americans to vote against their own enlightened interests. The Republican party has changed and I think it has become something evil and very destructive. That's my opinion. But, it's based on a view from the inside out.
It is absolutely incredible.
Half of all welfare recipients are white, yet it's a "black" problem. The middle class is disappearing and the gap between the have-nots and the wealthy is widening and yet hundreds of millions of people continue to listen to hate radio, watch FOX News and vote for their own disenfranchisement. Happy GOP lemmings rushing to their own destruction.
The mark of the beast isn't "6-6-6", it's "G-O-P".
Obama/Biden 2012
Some good news for America - Economy is gaining momentum with no thanks to the GOP T-Tards !!!
The article starts to elude tofundamental problem here in the us: We want to help those in need, while not providing livelihoods to those uninterested in participating in our society. That truly is the great divide in the US.
Let's face it- With the economy is a very bad state (super unemployment and underemployment- regardless of what the "numbers" are this week, rising costs of food, fuel, housing costs vs. values, education, transportation, etc.) massive government debt and growing regulation that are stifling businesses from wanting/being able to grow, and many, many people find themselves in the position of either having a harder time making their current ends meet(rising costs vs. constant income), filling in the gap between their commitments and their incomes(underwater and trying to keep up), or finding work/enough work to keep up with their lifestyles(job loss/underemployment). Most Americans want to help people in bad situations, thus we do support food pantries, kitchens, and some temporary subsidies such as welfare, section 8 housing subsidies, WIC, and food stamps. Note that, we are willing to "help", but not willing to "support".
The problem is that these "entitlements" are being misused by our politicians and people uninterested in being useful partcipants in our society. Bill Clinton was on the right path (though he was shut down) when he proposed limits on assistance. The idea was that there are families whom pride themselves with having generations of welfare, housing subsidies, food stamps, etc. recipients and they perpetuate the problem by setting up the next generation of loafers to continue what they are doing because it's easy. Then they don't care about what their responsibilities are, just when the next check is coming. It's someone else's responsibility to pay them, not control their own existance.
Our politicians don't want to "offend" any potential voters by suggesting that there need to be controls on assistance, so they keep offering more and don't worry about the social damage or the rising costs to provide everyone with more "rights" as they like to put it. A phone is a "right", cable tv is a "right", etc. It's a bad DC insider joke that's wringing out the nation. Until we have a leader in office whom can deal with actual issues and not worry about their political future we won't get the real "change" we need.
Oh, yes, give the money to the states where people like Gov. Walker of Wis., and Gov. Scott of Fl, can shift the food money to their corp. cronies. Let's hurt the children, let's let the people do without food. People talk about what people are using the food stamps for, and every state programs have restrictions on what people can buy with them, no deli foods that are prepared, no alcohol, no paper products, like TP, no pet foods. And if many of you can live on $89. a month in food assistance, good luck with that. I live in Fl., and make less than $10,400. per year on Social Sec., and I "make" to much money for full benefits, which would be $160. per month. Age 65, bad back, chronic depression, and high blood pressure, unemployment at !0.6 in my county, and $89. is way too much to help an old woman eat. Your compassion and "giving" to your fellow human beings, Repubs., prove just how "Christian" you really are. I pity poor single moms and kids who have to try to eat and stay warm, when programs keep getting cut and dismantled. Obama/Biden 2012, and a Dem controlled Congress, our only hope
JH... if you read the article again, it will explain that both santorum and gingrich have expressed that it is a black problem. I even saw the statement itself when santorum said it.
Wow! The Republicans want what Republican MLK wanted also. Damn they are evil!
JaxGuy: why even bother. If JH think the GOP is truly trying to save the tax payers money, then they would be looking to cut larger programs instead of a $75 million dollar program to help some former tax payers that have fallen on hard times. They are playing to the stereotype that their base hate minorities and to my chagrin they seems to be right with all the anti this and anti that going on right now.
The GOP T-Tards will not back down on boosting taxes on the highest - earning Americans to help our economy. They cast themselves as champions of job creation. "WHERE ARE THE JOBS" you can't have an economic recovery with losers like this in Congress.
No matter what venue to put these clowns in, they simply cannot help themselves from running around squirting each other in the face with seltzer bottles and tripping over their big floppy shoes. There are a million ways to reasonably talk about improvements in any assistance program, but this crop of GOP candidates can only use blatantly offensive (e.g. right wing code words) terminology to pander to an extremist constituency. People that are down on their luck or needing temporary assistance to feed their children come in all shapes, sizes, and colors; singling any particular group out is idiotic.
"Trickle down is putting America on food stamps so the 1% get Richer, the GOP T-Tards will go to extremes to build your dreams ????????????
Well this is my take on it. The Unemployment rate is highest among Blacks and Hispanics. Now those people are on food stamps. Now why aren't they yelling for jobs???? Where are their cries to Obama and the Congress for jobs? I don't see the NAACP or La Raza or other groups protesting in front of Congress and the White House. I don't see the NAACP having meetings with Obama on the jobs for Blacks. Why not?? I don't see the Congressional Black Caucus having meetings and press conferences calling for jobs for Blacks. Why not? I don't see Democrats fighting for Black jobs. But I do see Republicans saying to the Afro-American and Hispanics stand up and demand jobs,make your voice heard.
slodon
If they were honest they would lose their talking point. Why demand that something is done to help minorities when you can blame Republicans for the failure?
Typical politics from the left.
1/20/2013 - the end of an error
So these republican candidates want to be perceived as ignorant, uncaring bigots. Ok, I get the message.
Barack Obama is the sole contributor to the increase in food stamp usage in the US. This is how he builds his voter base, which is comprised mainly of people who pay no taxes whatsoever or else they are on the government dole. Free stuff buys votes for Obama. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, more than 70% of American atheists are supporters of Obama. He is indeed the worst performing president in our history. Four more years for Obama is a national disaster.
Slodon, since the majority of the unemployed are white, and they aren't protesting Obama or Congress I guess you have your answer.
What people are protesting is the 1%.
Republicans, as usual, are out of touch with mainstream America.
These politicians make me sick. We really need to clean out the White House and Congress both, and give the country back to the people. There will alwyas be people in need as long as all these jobs are still being sent overseas, and people on SS, and SSI that can't get jobs due to their medical conditions or disability. We need to be a caring society that stands up for the weak that need defending.
It's time to vote out all these people and Occupy the White House and toss out Boehner, Pelossi, and many other career, thieving politicians, and then clean out congress as well starting with Charlie Rangle that cheated the IRS and still allowed to hold his seat.
Lets all take back America. It's our country, not these 1%ers or politicians.
REVOLUTION 2012
TO: JH-479998 who wrote:
Apparently, you haven't been listening to the Republican Candidates' campaign rhetoric, in particular, Rick Santorum who just made that same statement just about a week ago, and if Santorum gets the Republican Nomination, you'll be hearing it repeatedly.
Jax is right, I heard it myself when they replayed Santorum identifying blacks (seemingly) as being the only people getting food stamps.
We know Michelle "Welfare Queen" Bachmann is also getting tons of food stamps for those 23 foster kids she has, not to mention the 23 welfare checks Bachmann gets every month to go with it.
Oooooh racism? Please how ridiculous to call wanting to create an economic enviroment that creates jobs instead of welfare recipients is racism? Now what are the stats? ''about 26 percent of food stamp recipients are African-American, while 49 percent are white and 20 percent are Hispanic.'' let's see african americans make up around 12% of the population so actually do traditionally recieve a disproportionate share of assistance benefits,sorry thatIS JUST AN HISTORICAL FACT. Is it racism to want minorities to have job choices? I think not people. Remember it is Obama that refers to his fellow americans as the {ENEMY} how shameful and he is our president. 2010 US census ''
White persons, percent, 2010 (a)
72.4%
Black persons, percent, 2010 (a)
12.6%
Again... if you bothered to read the article or search for the video of Santorum you would realize it's not typical politics from the left. It's typical white christian supremacy from the right.
If you choose to ignore what your chosen leaders say, then why o why should I join your cause?? The vast majority of people in this country aren't bigots like the republicans candidates you choose to admire. The further your party is dragged to the right based on race, religion, sex, and other baseless crap that you judge people on, the more irrelivant you become.
Slodon you idiot maybe because you aren't listening, The CBC had multiple job fairs for everyone not just blacks, The NAACP had a march when they dedicated the MLK statue for Jobs, I mean people like you who want to keep making this a divided issue are ridiculous. We all know jobs are hard to come by for people who only have a highschool diploma and many young people, and that goes for all AMERICANS. I mean only the "BLACKS and Hispanics" should be screaming for jobs while the 49% of white folks can just keep on doing what they are doing... HYPOCRITES!!
JH-479998
JaxGuy
You lie! What makes you think anyone thinks it's a "black" problem? The article even states that more whites take advantage of food stamps.
========
JH, if you bothered to read the article (or maybe you suffer from what way too many cons suffer from, the ability to comprehend what you read) you'd see that both Newt and Rick specifically mentioned blacks in THEIR comments. Anyone who doesn't realize the GOP (Gay, Old, Party) isn't racist is showing their ignorance. The only reason they accept Herman Cain is because he sounds just like a good old white boy.
To only blame blacks or hispanics is rediculious. There are way more whites receveing assistance than minorities.
I feel compelled to mention the whole "White Privilege" issue that was so perfectly presented during the 2008 campaign.
Almost HALF of the handout is going to whites. Who represent 72% of the population. However they represent a SMALLER proportion of the unemployed. So why is it that WHITES are getting MORE than their "need based" share? Oh, I know,...must be that WHITE privilege, right? Anyone care to guess which states are deriving the greater benefit? Imma' wager it's the red ones,...
http://blog.buzzflash.com/contributors/1755
alex
Now isn't the Black and Hispanic Communities suffering disproportionately compared the the White Community?? When did the CBC have their Job Fairs? I don't remember a March for Jobs at the MLK Dedication. Please supply some sources so I can see what I missed.
unabridged
Barack Obama is the sole contributor to the increase in food stamp usage in the US. This is how he builds his voter base, which is comprised mainly of people who pay no taxes whatsoever or else they are on the government dole.
unabridged, if your post didn't show just how ignorant you are it would be funny. You need to shower and wash your hair. I don't know if the stench you are covered in comes from the sewer you just crawled out of or if you've been wallowing in the garbage of your post. Either way YOU have problems. Getting an education might help but in your case I think it would be a waste of time.
why complain about food stamps and unemployment ?
besides, to president obama food stamps and unemployment is stimulating the economy...what he said.
another job well done mr obama.
the end of an error november 2012.
You libs seem to think everyone on the right has the exact same attitude. Well, what if I said everyone on the left has the exact same attitude? I would have to think you are all a bunch of racists. Afterall, Harry Reid thinks Obama is allright because he's a "light skinned" black man and doesn't talk with the "negro dialect", Robert Byrd has met "white N*****s", Reverend Jackson would like to cut off our black Presidents nuts. It goes both ways guys.
The Republicans have a debate that is monitored by lefty liberals who ask questions that the answers can be used to twist any way you see fit so you can paint the right with the racism brush. Americans are not as stupid as the majority if the liberal posters to MSNBC. The shellacking will continue in 2012.
...i liked it when liberal democrats called general powel "house negro" ....and dr rice "condeskeeza rice"
their racism and hate towards black republicans is accepted by the ultra-liberal.
Block grants would be a much better way to run the programs. It seems to me that there must be a lot of waste in the food stamp program based on the numbers presented in the article.
The article states that $75 billion was spent on a program that benefits 45 million people. That is $1,500/year per person. That is quite a bit more per person than I spend for a family of 6, even when we go out to eat once in a while.
Just like every other federal program - the more centralized the program, the more fraud, waste and lining of politician pockets. Send it to the states.
Here’s a great example of the blatant conservative bias in the news media today. Anyone that has even remotely been paying attention to politics should know that the economic collapse happened BEFORE Obama took office.
Note that you can’t excuse the AP for this nonsense by saying they were quoting Gingrich because the reference to the timing of the economic collapse was part of the AP’s explanation of his quote, not part of the quote itself. In other words, the NEWS MEDIA is trying to pin the blame for the collapse on Obama even though it happened under Bush.
I know I'm going to get blasted by the liberals but:
It's not the Federal Governments job to feed people. Where in the Constitution does it say that we can take money from some people so that others will be taken care of? There are food pantries, soup kitchens and charities for that.
As for the number of people on Welfare, yes the whites are the majority of cases but then again whites are the majority in this country. If you look at government statistics on this it shows that 60% of blacks are on welfare and on average blacks receive 3 X more in aid than their white and Latino counterparts.
You may now procede with the collpase.
JH, once again, blaming the media. For the party of "personal responsibility", republicans really take no responsibility at all.
Haha!! It's not the Federal Governments job to subsidize big business. Where in the Constitution does it say that we can take money from some people and give it to big business when they really don't need it?
Big Oil is the most profitable industry in the country and yet republicans will shower them money constantly regardless of how many billions they made that quarter.
As a libbie, if you want to say the government shouldn't take money and give it to anyone else i.e. person, company, industry or whatever, then I will absolutely agree with you. But when you take the side that giving to business to make them better off when they have insane profites is a lesser evil than giving to people who want to eat, then I have a problem with that and just shows the heartless core of a human one must be in order to be a republican.
Republicans only seem to target money that the ordinary citizen recieves as bad.
JaxGuy
I think most Republicans would agree with you on that subsidies to businesses in targeted industries should stop.
On the other hand, most of the "subsidies" are tax breaks and not a give away like the food stamp program. The exceptions are government investments in specific industries like "green energy" which is a government handout.
JaxGuy
It IS the federal governments job to create a good business environment so Americans can have jobs. Subsidizing businesses to create job opportunities works. The so-called insane profits you speak of are miniscule in the oil industry compared to a companies like Apple, Microsoft, Verizon, Starbucks, McDonalds, etc... The oil industry provides a product that Americans NEED.
As a conservative I feel that we should support any industry that provides a product that keeps or enables Americans to be employed. You Know, things we actually NEED every day of our lives. But if you keep handing out money to Americans who feel they are owed something for nothing then you are just an enabler and you are being heartless just to make yourself feel good. And, not to mention, keep yourself in power so you can continue to steal from hard working Americans. It must be terrible to be a thief.
JH... sorry to disappoint, but I happen to have a job and work pretty hard. There are those of who work but don't mind helping those less fortunate. But thank you for clearing it up the oil is necessity in every day, while food apparently isn't.
But let me ask you this question... if buy giving money to corporations so they will create jobs... is there an amount of money too large to give them?? It sounds like extortion to me.
...and sorry for the typos, I was on my way to meeting at work. :-)
There is an important piece missing from this article and all the comments.
It came to light a month or so ago that millionaires are collecting food stamps. It was the bright idea of the dems to tie food stamps to unemployment, so that when a wealthy millionaire finally got canned from his cushy hedge fund job, he not only collected unemployment but immediately went on the public dole.
Now, I'm the first one to say that unemployment is funded by the employer and anyone who gets canned should be able to collect. But food stamps? Families should have to demonstrate hardship and the inability to provide food on their own before they qualify.
Anyone collecting food stamps, or any kind of public aid, should already have TOTALLY EXHAUSTED all personal resources.
Reality check - it is not your neighbor's job to feed your family as long as you can still drive the Escalade, take the midnight swim in the olympic pool, kick back and watch a movie in your home theatre recliner, etc., etc.
Anyone collecting Food Stamps or any other welfare should have to pass a drug test and prove they are also free from nicotine and alcohol.
PolitiFact reported in a related fact-check Dec. 1, 2011, that the food stamp program, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is only open to households where net income is below the federal poverty level -- this year, $1,863 a month for a household of four.
By email, U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Aaron Lavallee told us that the department knows of "only one case and one alleged case involving individuals with assets over $1 million" getting SNAP benefits. Lavallee said the confirmed case -- a Michigan man who made headlines in May 2011 for using food stamps despite winning $2 million in a lottery -- was removed from the program and the second case is being investigated.
Millionaires ARE collecting food stamps. As reported in the WSJ, 35 states have scrapped asset requirements so you can be filthy rich and your neighbors will buy your food for you.
http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/Millionaires-Collecting-Food-Stamps/2011/06/23/id/401095
Your article does say that millionaires could qualify, but where does it say that there are more collecting than the article from poitifact?
I never said I know how many are collecting. What I do know is that there is a difference between wealth and income. It is possible that one can own assets valued over $1 million (therefore a millionaire) and have low earnings or income. If the determination of food stamps eligibility is based upon income, then it certainly is possible for a millionaire to meet that requirement.
If you cancel food stamps at least provide the poor who are being robbed in this society with a way to live without depending on any of you.
As a matter of fact release them from citizentry and provide them with land to take care of themselves through farming.
If not KEEP the FOOD STAMPS COMING because most of us don't want to be a part of this SH!% anyway.
Being in a relationship with this country is like being in a relationship with a woman who brings a different man homes with her every night and swears she's not sleeping around.
Your better off by yourself instead of in a relationship with a government that allows for the rich to have free reign and they jail AND ROB THE POOR BLIND BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES.
WE NEED TO ESCAPE FROM AMERICA AND FIND A FREE LAND LIKE THE BRITS DID IN FINDING AMERICA.
THIS PLACE IS NO LONGER FREE!!!!
I'D RATHER IN A FREE COUNTRY THAN THE #1 Country In THE WORLD!!!!
Where would you rather live????
(4 as by one man's disobedience many made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous)
Please feel free to leave whenver you would like. Try North Korea. I hear the freedom there is top notch.
A righteous guy once said that you could feed a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.
Amazing. The teabaggers vehemently demand we end food stamps... At the same time they're accusing Obama of class warfare.
The States should be in charge, not the Federal government.
This is the Teapublican plan:
1) Deregulate Wall Street and the banking industry by eliminating Glass Steagall. For good measure, end the Fair Doctrine Act as well and help launch state news (otherwise known as FOX) to provide cover.
2) Start unnecessary wars, continue to outsource American jobs, allow illegal immigration and bust unions to lower wages, and at the same time cut taxes for the rich and corporations per failed supply-side "trickle down" voodoo economics to destroy the economy.
3) After the economy is destroyed, never take responsibility and instead blame the Dems by using propaganda such as the "Welfare Queen" who never existed, as well as complain incessantly about food stamps and unemployment insurance, which became increasingly necessary thanks to the Teapublican destruction of the economy.
4) Propose to create jobs, but only give lip service to it, and instead obstruct any efforts to improve the economy in hopes of winning the White House and seats in congress. Count on low-information voters to be distracted with wedge issues like abortion.
Throw the Do Nothing Lying Teapublicans out -- Obama/Biden - 2012!
Speaking of millionaires collecting food stamps, the other problem is by reporting zero income, the wealthy are not paying their fair share of taxes -- A big problem in other countries as well (Greece, Italy, Pakistan). Did folks catch the recent news report about Ferrari owners in Italy, all of whom were paying no taxes?
The 47% of people not paying taxes in the US are either self-reporting their income and lying about write offs, or are W2 employees subjected to third-party reporting but earning so little that write offs like the $1,000 credit per child results in little or no taxes paid. Then there are the rest earning cash under the table or bartering. The first solution in this country is just to reinstate a culture of paying ones @#$%&! taxes.
Thank the Tea Party Republicans for this growing anti-government tax evasion mentality. Throw the Teapublican bums out!
Hate to break the news to the GOP and TEA party folks but my kid works for DCS department in our state and 80% + or her clients are white people.
The average food stamp recipient gets assistance to the tune of $1,500 per year.
The average rich family gets assistance to the tune of $130,000 per year, thanks to the GOP 'welfare for the rich' program started in 2001 as a means to destroy the federal budget surplus.
So it's easy to see why the GOP wants to end food stamps: they think the food stamps moeny goes to 'non-white' people, whereas the $130,000 per rich family (that'san average of $1.3 MILLION per family – to EVERY rich family – since the welfare program for the rich was started) goes mainly to 'white' people.
Why spend $1,500 to help a poor family, when there's a 30% chance the recipient will be a "non-white" (African Americans plus non-white Latinos) who either doesn't vote or might just vote Democratic, when you can give $1.3 MILLION to a rich, and probably "white", family that most likely will not only vote, but vote Republican.
It has nothing to do with what's good for the country. It's all about what's good for the politicians.
Just wait until Romney gets elected!
The difference between Dems and Reps is that Dems give the fish and Reps show how to catch their own fish. Dems want to keep the poor people in their plantation , they don't care about to provide more jobs because they are interested in class warfare to buy the vote from the poor.
Give it a rest!
Totally agree with you. Stop that food stamp nonsense and lead people to work instead of welfare. Even if the jobs might not be what they want, but they are jobs. Anybody not wanting to work - no food stamps either, brother.
Drug tests need to be mandatory for food stamp recipients, period. I have to pass a drug test to make the money for your food stamps.
A large part of the "food stamps" go to working people that earn so little that they qualify for them. Stop saying they need drug testing and to work some make work job or get job training because you'll just be complaining about the additional costs of make work or job training. If they could get a better job they would.
NOBODY wants to live in the conditions that allow them to qualify for food stamps.
If people can afford booze, butts, lotto and drugs then they can afford food.
In debates and on the campaign trail, Republican Presidential candidates continue to make false or misleading statements which go unchallenged.
Romney insists that Obama raised federal income taxes on businesses. The reality is that federal corporate tax revenue have dropped by 50% in the past three years even as the US GDP grew by 10%.
Perry claims "Government spending is out of control" and that we need to reduce the number of federal workers and departments. The reality is that the federal government has 297,000 fewer employees than under Ronald Reagan and now serves 25% more Americans. As the population continues to grow the government is shrinking.
Republicans always stick to a tight script of talking points that are misleading, or worse plain out lies.
Fight the status quo - Get the facts for yourself. Check out our full DebateWatch coverage here -
Heck Perry even called Obama a straight up Socialist, and no one challenged him to say "which business, or filed of production did Obama actually own and operate?"
When they get in a debate with someone with half a brain they will find themselves in deep sh!t, which will be fun to watch.
I'll do my own research thanks. Why would I go to a site that is going to put a partisan spin on the opposite party? While I don't agree with any of the republican candidates, I sure as hell don't need yet another Obamakin trying to tell me what or how to think. I have my own brain, go find another lemming.
I don't want anyone to be hungry or homeless, but I think any aid that comes from the government needs to have strings attached to push the person to become self-supporting. So, I fully support requirements such as recipients having to go through job training or do actual work (ex: help clean local parks) in order to receive aid.
Yes, there are going to be some exemptions for people that are mentally or physically disabled, but I suspect the % that fall into those categories is pretty low.
@ Alex #2.2
What's an "Obamakin"??? And what is the difference from say a "Perrykin" or a "Newtkin" or a "Palinkin", etc???
Who is going to pay for this training and what kind of training is cleaning local parks going to produce, I agree that the food stamp program needs to have more accountability but then that would mean the government employees would have to give up some of their civil servant holidays or even work for their tax payed salarys. The biggest problem with all of this is that they are always going after the poor and the elderly and the social security receipitients. When are they going to take the waste out of the federal government, when are they going to become accountable? Why do they get to have the 14.00 muffins, and almost free transportation and food, and telephones and access to the best in travel and on and on. Why do they get to travel all over the world using tax payer money staying at the best hotels and eating the best food all at tax payer expense under the disquise of government business, they go there just shake hands with the other dictators and rich people, and I for one am sick and tired of them bashing the poor. While I agree their are a lot of undeserving people on government assistance, they would not be if the tax payer paid government employed people would just do their jobs and check and find out if they qualifiy or not.
T-Tards in Congress focus on their 1% boss for campaign funds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about the children who are receiving Food Stamps or WIC? Are we going to require that the children go out and work, too?
I was on food stamps while I was waiting for my Social Security Disability to be approved ... and I waited for more than 18 months. My money is based entirely on what I earned while I was able to work so it's actually "early retirement due to disability". Since SSD doesn't pay for the first 5 months that you're disabled, I also applied for Supplemental Income (SSI) to cover the first 5 months - it was the condition I had to fulfill in order to receive "General Relief" money to try to help cover things like medications and doctor's visits as well as personal hygiene. Every PENNY of what I was given (a whopping $210/mo) was paid back by the SSI "back pay" when I was granted SSD. Now, if we REQUIRE people receiving foodstamps to be either looking for work or working then I would have starved.
In addition, something that a lot of people don't know is that a great many of our military families receive foodstamps.
You guys thinking training for food stamps is key understand that if you have a FULL TIME job making $10/hour and a couple kids you qualify for food stamps?
Jerry,
I will pay more in taxes if I think the money is being spent wisely. Giving someone a handout without pushing them to improve themselves creates a dependency and degrades the persons self-esteem.
Things like having a welfare recipient work for a few hours to clean up a local park will make them feel good about themselves because they will have earned their check. If someone has lived for years on government assistance (or comes from 2nd/3rd generation welfare families), they may not have the work ethic and self-esteem most of us take for granted. This is why it's so important for strings to be attached to welfare - not to punish the recipients, but to build them up so they can provide for themselves.
I don't understand why people think that people that get help from government programs are not given incentive by these programs to be productive. IT'S CALLED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WELFARE, FOODSTAMPS... IF and WHEN you find employment, it is reduced or discontinued. If there were jobs out there, we would have less families on public assistance! I'm am so sick of these candidates equating foodstamps and welfare to blacks. The biggest percentage of families utilizing these services are not black, but white. I think it's bad enough that there is still racism in this country (and it became more apparent when we elected a black president); but to hear it come out of the mouths of presential hopefuls in totally UNACCEPTABLE!
I challenge anyone of these Republican blowhards to live on $300 in foodstamps for the month. No going out to eat, no going to a theater, no going to a second, third and fourth home. No making trips at tax payer expense. Newt doesn't look like he has missed any meals.
@WE THE CORPORATIONS -- in NC with 2 kids and you make $10/hr. YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FOODSTAMPS! I live in NC and this, I do know.
AlexM - have you ever considered that indeed you are the one who may be on the wrong site? Sorry, fella, but it's a tad obvious that Fox Tabloid News may be more your speed, but I do understand your reasoning in trying to pass yourself off as a Democrat. Old trick. Doesn't work. Not impressive.
BTW: Exactly WHERE do you do your "own research?"
Although there are isolated incidents where the institution of food stamps actually benefit those in true need, I believe that the vast majority of food stamps fall into the hands of the professional leaches of society.
I do not have the numbers, but I suspect that the effectiveness ratio (true need / scammers) is less than 1/10. If this is true, the taxpayers are getting ripped off, which is exactly the intent of many of the leaches in society.
I agree with you, Steve. Let's get real, though. Democrats do the SAME things when it suits them. Both sides skew the facts to make the other side look bad. I'm glad you brought some light to the misinformation coming from the Republicans. Now how about looking at some of Obama's claims, like taking credit for all the so-called "jobs" he has single-handedly created by pulling them out of his butt?
Facts, sited facts, not gossip or opinion, dangsu, are intelligent ways to form an opinion about something so serious. Thoughtless statements not based on facts are just more blah-blah-blah.
Loren,
When I talk about incentives for welfare recipients I'm not referring to reducing benefits when they become employed (that's actually a negative incentive that will encourage them to not find a job). What I'm talking about is pushing them to find a job - and if they can't find one, give them some kind of menial task to both push them and help them rebuild their self-esteem - which will hopefully put them on the path to becoming productive citizens in the future. In my opinion, giving someone free assistance is often hurting, not helping the individual in the long run.
I do agree that race should not be part of this discussion and I was very disappointed to hear 2 candidates include it in their comments.
It's easier to say when you don't have the numbers, isn't it?
Come back when you have some numbers supporting your position.
I'd like to know what the criteria is to take welfare away from corporations. At what point in profits should the corporation be denied welfare?
Jar Head,
I am sure that the many abusers of food stamps are eager to to implicate themselves. But, we can start with you. You seem to be the honest, straight up type, who would shrink from defrauding anyone.
Individual,
Speaking of blah-blah...., can I use you as an example?
By the way, the word is cited, as in referenced, not sited, as in positioned, or located. No charge, keep the change.
Food stamps are paid for with taxes. I've been working & paying taxes for 22 years. When we fell on hard times, we got food stamps for a few months. As far as I'm concerned, I paid for that.
The problem cape, is that many do not pay income taxes and are chronic welfare users.
mom -- you are so right! our tax dollars pay for foodstamps, public assistance and medicaid. when citizens need to utilize the services they PAID FOR, you are made to feel like you are begging.
Ron - public assistance does have incentives. They help you with training, and some even work for their foodstamps and public aide. Some of these jobs turn into permanent employment. Research and you will see.
The same can be said, Ruken, and more accurately, about corporations.
Nonsense nonsense nonsense. Most gov't employees don't get anything like that. Most gov't employees are regular 9-5 schmucks that must deal with the same gripes for travel expenses as private industry. Only a small part of the government work-force are those 'mucky mucks' you seem to be talking about who get phones and the best travel etc. You fell for the spin and exaggeration by the right-wing media.
Remember that 400 dollar hammer? It was a specialized anti-static hammer for delicate work on sensitive electronics... they are very expensive.
If you want to complain about government costs, complain about the politicians who are in-bed with government PRIVATE contractors, ensuring sole-source provision, and grafting for personal profit.
Agreed. Everyone should pay their share.
@AnIndividual,
I don't read Fox, and I didn't pass myself off as a democrat, I'm actually a very firm independent. You're a prime example of an Obamakin. I come to MSNBC to get news high lights and to get a broad overview on the thoughts of the average citizen. I then take those high lights and move to non-MSM news sites to do further research. That, dependent on the topic, will include both right wing and left wing news sites where I can get both sides of the story, and then form my own opinion.
But thanks for jumping to conclusions and publicly stating assumptions! You've just proved you're no better than San or Newt in their public racist statements!
(Watch out, your president is leading you lemmings off a cliff!)
mom,
Your situation is exactly why we have a system to help people. It's there to give a hand out when you fall on hard times. My sister was on welfare for ~6 months when she had my neice in college, then she graduated and was off it. My wife was on welfare for about the same just before we met, then she was able to find a job and was off it. No sane person in this country is against the hand up.
It's the hand out that causes the problems. It's standing behind some kid in a mid teens at Safeway watching him get a Red Bull with a Oregon Trail card (oregon food stamps). It's watching some lady with six kids loading lobster, name brand pop, and foods I can't even afford into her cart after paying with the OT card. It's personally knowing people that have been on the system for years, that won't look for work, that get gas vouchers, energy assistance, cell phones, HUD and cash assistance (on top of Medicaid), all while having multiple children over the years from multiple low life men that take off... all at my expense.
The hand up is never an issue with me, it's the abuse and expectation of the hand out.
I'll be the first in line to help someone in true need of assistance, I'll be the first to tell you to get #@#$ed if I see you abusing it.
mom,
Apologies, fingers typing faster than the brain is thinking! Should say " It's there to give a hand up" in the first paragraph, otherwise reads completely conflicting!
Ron said:
When I talk about incentives for welfare recipients I'm not referring to reducing benefits when they become employed (that's actually a negative incentive that will encourage them to not find a job). What I'm talking about is pushing them to find a job - and if they can't find one, give them some kind of menial task to both push them and help them rebuild their self-esteem - which will hopefully put them on the path to becoming productive citizens in the future. In my opinion, giving someone free assistance is often hurting, not helping the individual in the long run.
I'm not sure where you live or what the rules are for welfare/food stamps in your neck of the woods, but where I live (MD) if you apply for food stamps/public assistance you are automatically enrolled in a job-placement service. You attend an orientation class that determines where your 'employment barriers' lie (education, underage children & no babysitter/daycare, physical/mental/transportation limitations, immigration status, etc.)
My paperwork said my barriers were 'lack of prior work history', 'immigration', 'lack of transportation', 'inappropriate interview attire.' The interview attire was fixed by sending me to a local clothes closet for a week; for each hour I spent sorting, folding, and hanging donated clothing I got one free item, for a limit of three 3pc suits and three pairs of shoes. The transportation was easily fixed with a transit pass. Couldn't do anything about the immigration--had a brand-new naturalization certificate but a 3 year prison record (no arrest record and clean background check) for 'being illegal' is hard to get past employers, even though the welfare office understood it wasn't my fault when I explained the circumstances and they verified it with ICE. As to the lack of work history--in the work program I had to do 20 hours a week at a state-approved site, 20 hours volunteer work with a local nonprofit/charity, and I also had to turn in a log of at least four job contacts I had made that week.
So I did stints in the local welfare office filing & typing, state human resources office filing & typing, and dispatch at the local Animal Control (I really did like that one) and volunteered with the local animal shelter. In between, I checked out local temp agencies. In the area I lived in, the temp agencies were all day labor type jobs in a low-income, drug-and-crime ridden neighborhood; I got a lot of stares, had a lot of 'drunks' feeling me up while standing in line, and while I did get sent to quite a few jobs, the employers hesitated to hire a skinny Asian chick with coke-bottle glasses to carry/haul heavy items. Not that I couldn't, as one employer explained to me, he just felt really bad watching me throw a rolled up 12x2 carpet over my shoulder and walk off with it.
I did finally find employment--hostess at a strip club. They didn't care about my immigration status, all they cared about was whether I'd look good in the skimpy outfits 'their girls' wore--thank goodness my 'Horseface' kept them from putting me on the stage. I hated it, I hated it so much; it was just like having guards at the ICE deportation camp staring at me and feeling me down during strip searches; only difference was here I was getting paid. But it got me off welfare-.
The rules were that you couldn't turn down a job offer, but if you got an 'unapproved' job (the sex industry was on the list) you didn't get benefits. But at that point I was desperate to get off welfare and willing to do just about anything, and sex does sell. And pay, quite well. They did allow me to continue to stay in their work-placement program--I'd get off work at the club around 2AM, crash a couple hours, get up and go to work placement program site, and it was at one of those that I struck up a conversation with a very nice lady waiting to talk to the state unemployment people abut taking several welfare-to-work recipients to enroll in her office-work temp agency. And when she went to talk to them she asked them about me working the reception desk. She was told I was part of the program but my former immigration status prohibited me from working in certain jobs/certain buildings, and she said that was okay, so I did some day work in private offices, and got a reputation for being reliable dependable, hard working. Then one day she called me up and said that her firm had been contracted to provide hostesses and guests for a very upscale business conference, and she knew I had the right manner and presence and grammar to pull it off, and could I help her out? I said yes and she gave me the money to purchase a formal gown for the occasion, I called out of the strip club that night and went, and one of the men there at the conference gave me his business card and asked if I could have my temp agency contact him about my becoming their receptionist. Little did I know that the gentleman who gave me his card was the best friend of my boss at the temp agency, so what he wanted he got...and eventually they hired me full time.
Welfare is a hand up, not a hand out. M Dad, a Vietnam vet, taught me that. It's not an 'entitlement'. The only things you are entitled to are your own thoughts and the things you worked for with your own hands.
To hear Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum tell it, every person receiving food stamps is African American, adult, and able to hold down a job, but just too lazy to do so because welfare pays more than jobs do.
Not that Mitt Romney works for a living. Once you have $100 million, it's pretty hard to LOSE money.
According to polls Republicans beat Democrats 47% to 42%. Right now Romney vs Obama are 42% even. However Obama is the Democrat nominee who never stop campaigning for reelection since he was elected president, and Romney still a contender for the nomination, if he win , the number will turn in his favor , he will get the support of the republican party and the majority of disappointed independents and Reagan democrats for the desastrosus 3 years of Obama. Liberal media is in campaign to favor the weakest Obama contender , for that reason they love Huntsman and attack Romney.
The definition of dos whistle politics.
There is a reason the Liar and the Bigot (Newt and Rick) are talking about "welfare states" and "food stamp president" and its because they know that a full 20% of their base are racists who hate Obama just because he is black. And any chance they get to relate him to food stamps and welfare they take. Most republicans and everyone else doesn't hear the connection because they know most people on welfare and food stamps are white, but facts don't usually bother the 20 percenters...
I don't like either Newt or Perry, I'm not racist, and I despise the way welfare is currently set up. It's meant to be a hand up, not a hand out. The government treats it as a hand out.
The first thing to do to food stamps is limit what they can be used for. No more energy drinks, no more pizza from Papa Murphy, no more candy, pop, prime rib, etc. The basics, and that's it. You want to eat like a working man? Then get a job.
Not here In Detroit.
You can't purchase hot foods with food stamps in Virginia. Pop is FREQUENTLY less expensive than fruit juice or milk. Go ahead and compare a 2 litre bottle of soda to a gallon of milk or a large bottle of juice. If you can find a place that sells the pop for MORE than the juice I'll shake your hand.
In addition, people are entitled to a treat once in a while. I guarantee you that they scrimp on other areas of their food budget to get a steak.
The reason I know these things is that I was on food stamps while I was waiting to receive social security disability when I became unable to work due to multiple chronic medical conditions. I continued to TRY to work before I finally accepted DEFEAT and applied. My SSD money is based ONLY on what I earned before I became unable to work. It is in essence early retirement.
There you go, play the race card because thats the only excuse you can come up with. I do agree that there should be a limit on what can be purchased such a only on actual grocery products and not fast food. However you cannot exclude small stores because of the distance from a chain store.
Most republicans and everyone else doesn't hear the connection because they know most people on welfare and food stamps are white ...
There are more whites on food stamps because there are more whites in the country (some 64% of the total population vs ~12% for African-Americans). So that makes it 9 million on food stamps for blacks, or about 1 in 4, and ~22 million whites, or 1 in 8.
What is amazing is that food stamps are actually a joke since the Republicons have whittled away at how much assistance is given. People spotlight how much they do not know by repeating "gossip" rather than facts. Walk a mile in the shoes of anyone who may need food stamps!
If you walk from my street to the local party store, because there are virtually no grocery stores in down town Detroit. (they got robbed so often, the major chains wont build) you can buy what ever you want for 50% on the dollar. That includes booze, Meth and medical marijuana. The transactions are open and the police do not do anything to stop them, its part of living in Detroit. Police are now trying "virtual" police stations. They are open 8 am to 5pm, other than that you report crimes on the net.
I think you people need to remember that this is a per capita issue. Yeah, food stamps go to 49% whites because there are more whites than anything else in this country! PER CAPITA, there are more blacks on welfare than any other race.
But is any race less deserving than any other? Of course not. Honestly, I think it's time we strap goggles on our kids from the time they enter school so they can't see skin color. IT DOESN'T FREAKIN' MATTER, PEOPLE! What matters is attitude, and despite what many of you people think, there are welfare queens out there. I know, I live among some of them in a high-rental neighborhood. There is something that just grates my nerves when I see a women with a perfect manicure, fresh from the hairdresser, paying for her groceries with an EBT card, then loads it up in a nice, new SUV, while my hubby busts butt to feed us and we don't qualify for any of those benefits because we make too much. Pardon me while I laugh, then cry!
Yes, welfare can be a good thing. As we've seen from several posters, it can be a lifesaver. But it shouldn't be a way of life. And that is where the problem lies. Too many have turned it into a lifestyle and have no interest in getting a real job.
So, instead of getting rid of it or starving the innocent kids of these lazy bums, we make them work for it. Volunteer work is a start, and yeah, I know, "what are they going to learn from cleaning the park?" The city saves money in not having to pay for crews to do the cleaning, and you can bet that after the third broken nail, these welfare queens would be looking for a better job in a BIG hurry. The city could even sponsor internships in the offices doing basics like answer the phone, etc. Saves money, they learn how to use computer programs, get a nice chunk of time to show on their resume, and they can get hired. And the kids don't have to suffer.
Oh, and I see absolutely NO problem with making them take drug tests. If I have to test to get a job, they should have to test to get a handout. Period.
Catsclaw, you're right on. If we don't hold people accountable for improving their own lives as a society, then we end up...well... like we are now, but worse. Personal responsibility is sadly lacking some places.
this is a classic case of Blaming the Victim.
These swine should be looking CORPORATE WELFARE, not foodstamps.
Why dont we examine how General Electric can get away with paying no income taxes or why we are giving billions in tax breaks to oil companies, or why Corporate executives get tax credits for stock options?
The hypcrits are contemptable in their hypocracy!
Exactly, why aren't corporate handouts given back to each state?
Split up all the oil subsidy money and give each state an equal amount, see how well Perry likes that.
Take the farm subsidies and give those to each state...
I also think we should go after corporate welfare. But, I don't see anything wrong with restructuring assistance programs to the push the recipient to take steps to better themselves. Requiring recipients to go through job training or perform some tasks to earn their benefits seems like a reasonable step - and my guess is it will help the person by rebuilding some of the self-esteem they probably lost by not being able to provide for themselves.
Reform both corporate and citizen welfare.
Have Mr Obama ask Mr Imelt
Amen, brother.
Ron
Food stamps are an assistance program that is used by millions of WORKING Americans, what needs to be restructured about helping working class people whose corporate matriarch doesn't pay them enough to feed their children, feed their children?
Do you suggest government becomes MORE involved in the daily lives of millions of Americans by determining what they buy as food?
Can you imagine all the money donated to these MULI-MILLIONAIRE windbags, instead being donated to foodbanks? Or how about donating to Free clinics to care for the people who have been laid-off due to their jobs being outsourced by Bain Capital, GE, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, or local governments, et. al.
We the corporations,
What I'm suggesting is any welfare program should be structured so it pushes the recipient to not need government assistance in the future. Yes, this means government would become more involved in the recipients daily lives.
Concerning food stamps, I think it also makes sense for government to put restrictions on what food they can buy or have the government provide the food so the individual does not have a selection option. The reason for this is to teach the individual about nutrition. From what I've seen, most people in this country do not know very much about nutrition and how to effectively evaluate the price and health impacts of different food choices.
I find your comment, Ron, about teaching people about nutrition. The GOP/TPers villified Mrs. Obama for teaching our children about nutrition and wanting nutritional foods in our schools. The screeched that she was trying to dictate how we should eat. This is the group that spent our tax dollars fighting for the food industry to keep supplying high-fat foods to our schools and making pizza sauce a vegetable.
If we have learned anything from socialist countries where the government limited supplies of items and the effect was creating a huge black market for these items. As I said before, and its funny that I can get comments from the liberal side on just about anything besides Detroit. You can get ANYTHING you want from Drugs to Booze to Weapons using Bridge cards or Foodstamps/WIC on the streets of Detroit for 50% on the dollar. People are making a fairly good living at 50%. Im betting its the same in most major cities.
If we didn't ship jobs overseas, didn't demand that companies use ridiculous union labor rules and rates, didn't have a government that regulated and taxed the horns off a billy goat, and didn't have crooked career politicians that were paid off by crooked political action committees, maybe everyone who wanted to have a job would have one.
Actually, Jolly, you're wrong about WIC. If you're on WIC, you can only get store brand cereals and juices, and specific brands of bread, formula, etc. WIC does not allow you to just get whatever you want. Check your local government WIC site, I'm pretty sure they have the brochure online that details the restrictions.
As for Ron's point, I see no problem with restricting what you can get with food stamps. It isn't an issue of interfering with lives, it is a matter of making sure that money isn't wasted. They don't have to restrict things down to basic brands, like WIC does, just tell them that they can't buy things like, oh, say, lobster. Filet mignon. Etc. These programs are intended to feed the hungry, not pay for a fancy dinner party. Sheesh.
Catsclaw81: I don't know what state you are in, but in New Mexico, WIC isn't limited to "store brands". I know, as my daughter, having fallen on hard times, is on WIC. She buys name brand baby foods, formulas, milk, etc. Just no "pretend juices" such as Hi-C or Gatorade, that kind of thing. Or anything classified as "junk" food.
Ron, you state, "I think it also makes sense for government to put restrictions on what food they can buy or have the government provide the food so the individual does not have a selection option. The reason for this is to teach the individual about nutrition. From what I've seen, most people in this country do not know very much about nutrition and how to effectively evaluate the price and health impacts of different food choices."
I have no idea where you live, but I live in MD and we DO have restrictions what on we can buy with food stamps. You are never going to get any government to agree that only healthy food can be purchased as that is not financially efficient. Healthy foods are much more expensive that non-healthy foods - hence the weight problem in this country. It hasn't always been that way because I totally remember 20 years ago, not being able to afford potato chips that my kids asked for....they were too expensive when compared with carrots and apples for snack foods.
Each state regulates their own food stamp program. The food stamps do NOT come directly from the Federal goverment. The money is already given to the states to fund the existing program. I will be the first to admit that plenty of people scam the system and there is not enough oversight over food stamps, cash assistance, or medical assistance. That is not the majority, though. I don't know about any other state, but in MD you have to re-qualify every 3 months. It's not just a matter of signing a paper stating your income is the same as it was before. It is having to fill out reams of paperwork, have landlords and jobs sign paperwork, having to allow the state to look into your checking account. It's an intrusive and humiliating process. Not many people want to go through that just to live like a pauper. You do not get enough to live well - you get enough to exist. The ONLY way people are able to scam the system is by having "under the table" income that they do not report.
It seems to me that these restrictions and regulations you would like to see are already being implemented in some states. Maybe you should be petitioning your state government for some regulations and oversight into these programs.
This is what's it's all about! all worried somebody is getting their money for nothing espeically minorities.
That's why they are so anti-govt!
was this the way the repub party were before civil rights?
There is corporate welfare too!
This is what the repub always talk anti-government, about minorites getting there money!
I'm not sure why these candidates are even bringing race into this, this is also partly why I don't like any of the candidates and won't vote for any of them. We have more white trash sucking the government teat than any other race. This isn't a race issue, and these guys were extremely stupid to have brought race in.
I don't recall any of them saying things like this when Herman Cain was still in the race. Cowards.
If you lived in Detroit you would actually have a first hand view at the issue first hand. I dont know where on the cape you live, but I grew up in Ct. and frequented the cape most every year. From Woodshole to Falmouth to Provence town most of the neighborhoods I frequented were not welfare areas/foodstamp.
I've worked in social services on the Cape for 20 years. You don't see the reality of povery when you visit in the summer, but remember that the people serving your food and cleaning your summer rental live here, and it's a tough place to make it even with two or three service industry jobs.
This is a ridiculous debate. Food stamps need to be stopped! It is not the government's job to be doing this. And yes, corporate welfare needs to stop also! But this article is about food stamps. One issue at a time.
Stop food stamps!
The Bush recession left millions of American children in homes without jobs because parents were laid. Corporate america has since used this recession to drive down the cost of labor in order to continue to stockpile record amounts of Americas wealth.
Because of this FACT, those millions of American children would be facing starvation without food stamps...so in essence you support STARVING American children, how patriotic of you.
Just as an FYI to you, the constitution starts "WE the people" not "I the person" and includes the general welfare of all americans, don't like it? Other countries don't have such socialist constitutions...
Sure, just let "those people" starve to death, they aren't like us anyway, so they don't matter.
The new GOP bumper sticker-Starve a Child today
I dont see anyone starving in fact more than 1/3 of "poor" people receiving food stamps are obese
The children are being fed in school and in the playgrounds during summer recess. I love when the "children" card is played, it's almost as bad as the racist card.
Lonesome Rhoades-2738573 Ever serve in the United States Military? We pay E-1 through E-4's so much money that they either don't have families or the ones that do are on foodstamps if they have one or two children because their paltry pay doesn't last long enough to put food on the table.
Because healthy food is a whole bunch more expensive than junk food. If you can feed your family for a week on junk food, or feed them for 4 days on fresh fruits and vegetables, which would you choose?
Sparrow
So you think kids should only get one meal a day plus a snack in the afternoon? Wow!
So maybe they could actually only eat 2000 calories of it?
We
The phrase in the Constitution that you are trying to say is ......provide for the Common Defense and PROMOTE the General Welfare, It does not say PROVIDE the General Welfare. See the difference??
Its not 1 meal a day. Here in Detroit the children get breakfast lunch and sometime a box dinner to take home.
Chuck,
Have you ever been in the military? Because unless an individual does something wrong, promotion to E-4 takes about 2 yrs and military members with family recieve BAH and BAS to help provide for their families. During my six years in the service I did not find one responsible individual who had a hard time feeding their families, but I did meet a few people who spent their money on new cars TV's and other toys while complaigning how they couldnt afford neccessities.
Just for fun I looked at the pay grade when I was active duty, it was just under $500 a month, plus hazardous duty and overseas pay. Today same grade would be almost 3k. While I would have a hard time, I think I could live on that. Once I got to a paygrade where on base housing was a plus. I had several nice condo type homes while in.
Obviously you can read...please show me where I said PROVIDE?
Feeding starving children is promoting general welfare...or do you disagree and think we should let children starve?
Not only that but there is the belief from the right that food stamp recipients are A) Minorities, B) Unemployed, and C) Unmotivated; however, a great deal of food stamp recipients are people who are working and struggling to make ends meet. The food stamp benefit helps a great deal to make those ends meet. Doing away with food stamps isn't the answer; however, I don't think it's at all unreasonable to ensure that a recipient is searching for work or gainfully employed.
Sadly, the conservative's answer to this is, "Then they should get a better job."
You should have to have a GED to qualify for food stamps
Ruken, I disagree. Food is a basic necessity.
You should have to have a GED to get a driver's license - or be enrolled in school full time. Driving is a privilege.
See the difference?
You have to admire Republicans. They are soooo classically evil. I actually get visions of Snidley Whiplash playing with his mustache when I listen to them speak. They simply cannot STAND the thought of spending money to help poor and hungry people in the United States but when it comes to trimming the hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars we send to Israel for weapons so they can illegally expand, they scream that we are not being patriotic enough. I mean they don't even TRY to hide it anymore. The Party of Life cheering at executions and applauding the idea of leaving the uninsured to die.
The really scary part of this is that about half of the people actually support them no matter what they say or do. I watch their rallies and turn out at these endless debates, and these poor and middle class people are actually CHEERING for people who are TELLING them they plan to take away ALL government protections from banks and corporations. It could be the Stockholm Syndrome but I doubt it. I am honestly beginning to believe that most Americans really ARE that stupid and mean spirited. You just cannot convince me that smart, and caring people, want to cut education, police and firefighters while INCREASING the number of freaking SOLDIERS we have. You cannot tell me that smart people are OK with unpaid for tax cuts for millionaires but PAID FOR tax cuts for workers is a bad idea.
Barney Frank made an excellent observation last week. He said that Congress and the White House was partially responsible for the mess we have. But not one of these people were appointed-they were freaking ELECTED. After 8 years of one disaster after another, two wars and a shattered economy reasonable, rational people, gave Democrats less than a year to make life a paradise before going right back to the exact same people who CAUSED the problems in the first place.
Thank You!! I agree 100000000%
Somehow starving a high percentage of this country is going to solve a problem? It'll create 100 more problems.
most people on food stamps are obese think of this as a Gov health program to address that problem
Because healthy food is a whole bunch more expensive than junk food. If you can feed your family for a week on junk food, or feed them for 4 days on fresh fruits and vegetables, which would you choose?
@Severed: Maybe they should stop eating 3000 calories a day of said junk food.
@ Disgusted, I love how "1/3 of food stamps recipients being obese" became "most food stamp recipients are obese" within the course of nine minutes. The fact of the matter is that many recipients work, and if there is any reason to believe that food stamp recipients are more obese than the average for the country, it is almost certainly because the quality of food you can afford to buy with food stamps. It is no secret that crappier food is cheaper to buy.
Specially, if your using the benefit at a 50% rate to buy things your not allowed to buy by law. You may not see this in small town america, but in Detroit its blatantly obvious.
Most are overweight, whereas 1/3 are obese.
Spend 30 minutes at a checkout counter at any grocer and you are bound to see someone on food stamps come through the line buying dorito chips, Capri sun individually packed drinks, and other food that people struggling that pay for their own would never think to buy because they recognize how wastefull it is. This country is in real trouble if we cannot realize that one individual is not entitled to the fruits of anothers labor.
If the product offered up to the American people by the GOP/tp is so good why do they find it necessary to tell outrageous lies all of the time. Their policies and ideas should be able to stand on their own. Oh, I forget, they haven't bothered to even talk about solutions or ideas, just prattle on with their little approved talking points that not many even believe anymore.
If I didn't hold them in such contempt I'd feel sorry for they. That's not going to happen. This is just an extension of the old "Southern Strategy" nothing more.
The food stamp program iteself was a great idea that was created to supplement someone's income for a short period of time. Unfortunately, greedy and corrupt people have taken advantage of it and are robbing the system. We need to do something to ensure that those that truly need it (along with all of assistance program like welfare, child care credits, etc) receive it, but that the tax payers are not funding a corrupt and useless program for criminals.
Yeah, throw the baby out with the bath water. Just because a relatively few people are gaming the system you want to punish everyone in need. There is a lot of fraud in the Defense Department too, do you want to do away with it?
I would say "greedy corrupt" people have run the companies that employ people and have driven down and stagnated the wages in this country, and as such people have to be more dependent on welfare. Not because they want to, I am sure most people would love to just have a job that pays enough to begin with, but because corporate America makes them.
I love teabaggers blaming the victim and the people who help the victim (government) NOT the problem, corporate greed.
Here is a LA TIMES articles on SNAP.
More than $69 million in California welfare money, meant to help the needy pay their rent and clothe their children, has been spent or withdrawn outside the state in recent years, including millions in Las Vegas, hundreds of thousands in Hawaii and thousands on cruise ships sailing from Miami.
State-issued aid cards have been used at hotels, shops, restaurants, ATMs and other places in 49 other states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, according to data obtained by The Times from the California Department of Social Services. Las Vegas drew $11.8 million of the cash benefits, far more than any other destination. The money was accessed from January 2007 through May 2010.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/04/local/la-me-welfare-20101004
Now this has been fixed,I hope,but what other scams are out there? Why are the responsible people on Welfare asking for change? After all the scammers are taking money from them.
Again OkieJoe...... in rural or middle America Im sure you dont see it. Here in Detroit the use of benefits for other purposes is obvious. slodon as soon as they change the rules people figure out how to skirt the new rules.
Okie: At no time did I say shut down the program. Please reread my post. I did say we need to ensure that only those truly in need get the help. Great example: The chiropractor in Seattle living in the million dollar plus mansion, taking lavish vacactions, and he and his wife had been receiving welfare checks for years totalling over $100,000. Do you have any issue stopping these types of criminals? That $100.000 could have assisted the truly needy instead of lining their rich pockets.
We the corp: Not sure where the teabagging slur came from. I never mentioned anything about the Tea Party, which I am not a member of. I think our welfare, food stamp and unemployment benefits are definatly needed to help people out of rough times. They should not be a way of life. Cutting out the fraud from the system will help make sure that the people that do need it to survive get it, and not the criminals that know how to scam the system. They should be put in jail. What is your issue with that?
yEP
life is hard........ the teablahblah is easy. If you disagree with anything the liberals post on this site your a teablahblah. Even if you have voted for Democrats in the past as I have.
Actually, I call people who blame victims of corporate greed for the problems of this country, like we are in a global recession because a working mom and her kids rely on food stamps. If you believe that, I call you a teabagger because that is the ignorant platform of the teabagger party.
Now if you understand it is a wedge issue that the corporate party, sorry, republican party uses to divide us and distract us from the real problems such as a ridiculously low top tax bracket then of course you aren't a teabagger, but then pof course you wouldn't blame the victim to begin with now would you?
As usual, the problem with the budget according to Republicans, is the poor getting food. Yeah, that will save us - cutting aid to the poor. Thats where Congress went wrong in the 2000s by giving food to the poor.
They lie and think we are stupid and will just swallow their tripe.
Does anybody else think this is just more bull? Like when they lied about creating jobs to get elected and then pushed cuts that layed people off instead.
I hope all Republicans are voted out in November.
I really love to get to spout off on these stories but it will not change a thing until we stop electing career politicions and do something to stop the special interest groups who buy those politicians to do their bidding. We must supply taxpayer moneys towards those who are qualified, according to the constitution,(obama was not,by birth or citizenship) to run for office and with a cap on the amount, and not allow any other funds to be used. We all can contribute towards this goal by allowing a set amount on every ones tax income tax return. And we must use a birth certificate to verify voter elgibilty which can be done when they register to vote, and it must be verified as the original not at copy unless those who issue the copy under the penality of five years in prison without parole will swear that the copy is in fact a true copy of the original, also all death certificates must be cross referenced with birth certificates in order to remove them from thevoters list.This is not something that cannot be done within a few days because of the electronic way to send documents today. The government of Hawaii are traitors to America because of their refusal to submit the original copy of obama's birth certificate. I mean people this is for the President of The United States.
If you are against food stamps fine, but why make it a race issue when it's about abuse of the system, not the idea of food stamps to help people until the job market improves!
Have a heart as Perry says!
I've heard them talk about the rich having the money to take care of themselves and the poor having the safety net of various programs. Now they are talking about taking a knife to those safety nets....
The Republicans seem to have forgotten how we got here. Deregulation of the banks, incompetent oversight. They are as much to blame as the banks for the financial meltdown. Now when millions of their victims are reduced to needing food stamps, they point their fingers and say this is an example of a welfare state gone awry.
I say this is the result of our government gone awry. The Republican candidates could not be further out of touch. Let the masses go hungry, they don’t contribute to our campaigns!
Remember what the rich say over and over again, "Only the poor pay taxes....we have attorneys!"
Keep in mind that 47% of all federal tax returns resulted in either no taxes paid or a negative return.
Yea and that especialty pertains to corporate and the wealthy.
Jerry: Some, yes. All? No.
Voters please remember this news item when you are standing behind a resturant waiting for them to empty the garbage so you can get food in your belly. Make certain you send a thank you note to the "eye of Newt" and and the Sanitorium. Send them a special thank you when you read about all the aid and assistetance sent to third world contries when they have turned the USA into one.
Think before you vote!!!
The only thing I am for when it comes to food stamps and other welfare programs is the amount of time someone can be on it and I do believe it should be MANDATORY monthly drug testing. 98%+ jobs require drug testing to get employed and this is no different. But to get rid of it all together I'm afraid to many innocent children would suffer more than the adults.
Only if all of the elected officials from the local level all the way up to the Federal Government also take MANDATORY monthly drug tests. With the way our Government is operating I suspect that many of them are on SOMETHING. And with what comes out of politicians' mouths on the campaign trail, even if they're not currently elected they should submit to drug tests if they are campaigning.
Man, you hit the nail on the head,however we have to understand that we will be paying for these tests. We also have to remember that when it comes to feeding your family it is fair game on whatever it takes to do so. If I cannot find a job to supply food,clothes and a roof over my familys head within the law then as I said "whatever it takes". I have never understood that when the poor man if faulted he always seems to take it out on his fellow workers and not on those who actuaity screwed over him.
jay.. bravo!! this is the way some states are starting to think..it is a right for those of us paying taxes
to see there is no free hand out...it was in one point in time that ma would only pay out welfare for two yrs..now if you could prove that you were trying to better yourself (aka school/training) it would pay for that plus your bennies...i think that is a very fair deal....
Jerry
The drug tests are little cost. You can buy the test strips that will test for multiple drugs for less then $5.00 ea. Now I'm sure the State can get them much cheaper in bulk. It takes less then 1/2 hour to train someone how to administer the test. These test strips have an accuracy of 90-95% and FDA approved. If a persons tests positive then a more stringent test would be required to confirm. So you see the costs are negligible compared to the hundreds of dollars recipients get per month.
Even the Gov has reduced the Drug testing, my best friend took a management position with the IRS early last year (before the freeze) HE asked his director when he had to test....and he was told they dont test anymore. I was amazed that they didnt for a 130k position.
I say all elected officials must have a drug test, the results of which must be made public. That way, the public will not only know whether the official is doing illegal drugs, but also which prescription drugs he or she is taking.
I have no need to be that knowledgeable about anyone personal life.
I personally believe that every single person in this world has SOME kind of mental illness or hormonal imbalance. It's the only explanation for all the nuttiness out there! However, it takes a special kind of crazy to be a politician, and I don't think they'd be too happy at being forced to expose their issues before all the world.
Thats right Republicans go after people who are down on their luck.Typical.I wouldn't expect anything different of you idiots.All the while kissing the a$$es of the big corporations,and the Koch Brothers.The poor and whats left of the middle class are not going away,so keep up the BS and see where your party ends up.In the gutter where you belong.The American people are finally waking up to your childish games,while destroying the country.You party has been going downhill since Linculn was assassinated.As for your God Reagen,his whole life he was an actor,even acting as a President.
Could there be any doubt regarding the overt racism in the GOP? Welfare a black problem? When 49% of recipients are white? I'd say Gingrich and Santorum have laid that issue to rest. Obama is the "Food Stamp President"? Could that be because he's BLACK, Newt? That is racism, by any definition, pure and simple.
And that's not all.
This weekend Santorum declared there is no "middle class" in America! Well, if the GOP had their way that would be true but those few of us left in the middle class are fighting tooth and nail to avoid extinction, thank you very much Rick.
So, all there are are the rich and the poor eh? The haves and the have-nots. Certainly that would fit the GOP plan nicely. They've done their very best to sell this country out to the rich and the corporations at the expense of the poor.
I have worked in the GOP. I ran two successful elections for GOP candidates and have served them while in office. The people I saw coming to fund-raisers and meetings were solid, middle-class Americans. They were not wealthy. They were not CEO's of big corporations, they were just honest working people. But, somehow, over the last 25 years the GOP has convinced these good, honest, hard working Americans to vote against their own enlightened interests. The Republican party has changed and I think it has become something evil and very destructive. That's my opinion. But, it's based on a view from the inside out.
It is absolutely incredible.
Half of all welfare recipients are white, yet it's a "black" problem. The middle class is disappearing and the gap between the have-nots and the wealthy is widening and yet hundreds of millions of people continue to listen to hate radio, watch FOX News and vote for their own disenfranchisement. Happy GOP lemmings rushing to their own destruction.
The mark of the beast isn't "6-6-6", it's "G-O-P".
Obama/Biden 2012
You are so wrong -- just like when you tried to educate us on how the revenue spending bills had to proceed through Congress. With these figures out where the majority are non African American, where is the racism???? Of course this is a "black issue." It is also a white and Hispanic issue. It is an American issue!!!
Tavis Smiley -- PBS -- who is being dissed by the DNC by "uninviting" him to speak -- is holding Obama accountable for this issue. There is no racism there since Smiley is an African American and PBS is on the left side of the aisle. Obama owns this problem and don't play the blame game. He is a failed leader who can not bring the country together. If you don't see that, one is deaf, dumb and blind. Hie re-election would continue the disaster in America.
http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/100711/segment_one.html
These are real issues and the poor are being mistreated by the Obama administration policies. Rhetoric is just that -- rheotric. Results are results.
Let these miserable excuses for men take up arms and go to the front line in Afghanistan...let these lousy teavangelical/repub/libertarian candidates spend a week in a homeless shelter...let these liars and fear mongers live in sub-standard housing, with little children who are lucky to get a hot meal at school and nothing else...let these disgusting un-American clowns finally champion the middle class and the poor and let's all just see how long their high-rolling, rediculously filthy rich campaign donor individuals and corporations bankroll their campaign efforts...it's all about the all-mighty dollar for thes rich who want to get richer. By the way...romney has multiple houses around the country, one of which is a $10 MILLION dollar number in NH...wonder how sympathetic this mega-wealthy guy would be to someone on food stamps? Not to wonder...we're all probably just pesky ghosts these rich guys see right through. OBAMA 11/6/2012.
I second every word.
If repubs say the economy is soo jacked up, then where are people supposed to turn to?
This govt is by the people, for the people and of the people!
I'm people, your people we are all american people!
Can pay for war, but food stamps is destroying us without jobs!
This is just an improved version of the goper death panels, let them starve.
Now you see why a lot of repub 99ers supports republicans?
their money is going to the lazy or minorities, but ignore corporate welfare.
I guess they believe in trickle down, so lets give the job creators breaks, even at the expense of the middle-class.
When I was naked ,you clothed me, When I was hungry you fed me. That which you do unto the least of these, you do unto me. I'm not really a Christian but he did say some good stuff.
"Give a man a fish he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime."
We need to do more teaching and less giving.
That's all well and good, but what if he's spent all his life learning the best way to fish, and suddenly all the lakes (and most of the rivers, streams, oceans and ponds) are moved to another country?
immissouri
OR,...more likely that the big greedy corporations have polluted the lakes to the point that the fish are toxic?
Yeah,...logic escapes some - and Reason escapes many.