Food stamp abuse

[Trigg]

This is the problem I have with the foodstamp program and the incredable waste that no one seems to care about.

Who thought up the idea that foodstamps for pastries was a good idea???


http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061153267&format=comments#CommentsArea



“I don’t think American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people’s pie purchases,” said Andrea Taber, proprietor of the Ever So Humble Pie Co. in Walpole, who peddles her wares at the Braintree market on Fridays and now finds herself in the middle of the state’s raging fight over welfare benefits.

[gabosaurus]

The real question is -- does she still sell her pastries to gays and lesbians?
If she came out against gay marriage, she could experience a huge spike in sales.

[Trigg]

The real question is -- does she still sell her pastries to gays and lesbians?
If she came out against gay marriage, she could experience a huge spike in sales.

ya, that's the real question.:lame2:


Now, back to the topic.

Does anyone actually CARE about the rampant abuse going on with social welfare programs???

[Kathianne]

More details:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061153267&srvc=rss


“I don’t think American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people’s pie purchases,” said Andrea Taber, proprietor of the Ever So Humble Pie Co. in Walpole, who peddles her wares at the Braintree market on Fridays and now finds herself in the middle of the state’s raging fight over welfare benefits.


“To me it’s no different than nail salons and Lottery tickets,” Taber said. “It’s pastry, it’s dessert. My pies are great, but come on.”


Organizers of the farmers market insist that they just want poor people to have access to the market’s healthy, fresh foods.


“We just thought that people that were on food stamps a lot of times don’t have healthy choices,” said Braintree Farmers Market chairwoman Donna Ingemanson. “What better chance to buy healthy foods than at a farmers market?”


It all started in May, when Ingemanson wrote the market’s vendors to “encourage everyone who sells eligible products to participate” in a program in which the market will sell tokens to EBT cardholders to use at market stalls.


Taber told the Herald she has no problem with customers using their taxpayer-funded welfare benefits to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. But she draws a line when it comes to her own sweet, fatty goods.


“They looked at me like I had six heads,” said Taber, who fired off an email on July 20 stating her objections.
“I know it’s been a struggle for you to accept this program but we really need to work something out,” Ingemanson emailed back the same day. “Other markets make it mandatory to sign on to these programs and my guess is that it will be for us soon. ... In fact, you’re the only one who is resistant to the idea.”


Ingemanson told the Herald that in light of Taber’s resistance, the farmers market management will consider during the winter whether to require all vendors to accept EBT payment next year.


“If that’s the case, I’ll take my leave,” Taber told the Herald. “I’m not going to sacrifice my principles and standards for the sake of a few more sales.”

...

[Shadow]

This is the problem I have with the foodstamp program and the incredable waste that no one seems to care about.

Who thought up the idea that foodstamps for pastries was a good idea???


http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061153267&format=comments#CommentsArea

I thought junk food was bad for the masses and needed to be banned. They should only be able to buy healthy food with these food stamps and definately not from a bakery where everything costs double the normal price. And while we are talking about it....Hell...I help pay for those food stamps and I can't even afford to shop at a bakery every week.

[Kathianne]

I thought junk food was bad for the masses and needed to be banned. They should only be able to buy healthy food with these food stamps and definately not from a bakery where everything costs double the normal price. And while we are talking about it....Hell...I help pay for those food stamps and I can't even afford to shop at a bakery every week.

I'm not keen on 'banning' anything from anyone. However, I applaud this lady in refusing to use EBT for her products, which as she acknowledges, add nothing of nutritional value. I'm sure they're delicious and would love to taste, but only if I have cash.

[Shadow]

I'm not keen on 'banning' anything from anyone. However, I applaud this lady in refusing to use EBT for her products, which as she acknowledges, add nothing of nutritional value. I'm sure they're delicious and would love to taste, but only if I have cash.

Not really advocating banning food. Just thought it ironic that the government has been taking junk food out of schools and banning other things...yet apparently there are no restrictions on what can be purchsed and where...with food stamps.

[Trigg]

Not really advocating banning food. Just thought it ironic that the government has been taking junk food out of schools and banning other things...yet apparently there are no restrictions on what can be purchsed and where...with food stamps.


Yep, I love that MIchelle is on Leno preaching to our olympic gymnists about healthy eating and then the gov. ok's foodstamps for junkfood, the whole program is riddled with abuse.

[Shadow]

I'm not keen on 'banning' anything from anyone. However, I applaud this lady in refusing to use EBT for her products, which as she acknowledges, add nothing of nutritional value. I'm sure they're delicious and would love to taste, but only if I have cash.

That's the thing. Bakery goods are not cheap. As an example...one of my friends bought a dozen gourmet cupcakes and brought them to work to share on a whim one afternoon. Those puppies were $30.00 a dozen (from a place called Cupcake Fetish). They were some of the best cupcakes I have ever had too... but doubt I would waste my money on them myself at $ 2.50 a piece (too extavagant). No way do I think food stamps should be allowed to be used in those establishments. Having designer cupcakes is not a necessity. They should only be allowed to be used for necessities.

[Shadow]

Yep, I love that MIchelle is on Leno preaching to our olympic gymnists about healthy eating and then the gov. ok's foodstamps for junkfood, the whole program is riddled with abuse.


That program is riddled with abuse alright. A lot of the people on them are milking the sytem and actually make too much money to qualify in the first place (yet are allowed to keep applying and qualifying due to loop holes). Dealing with some of the social workers assigned to these programs I have learned that first hand. Millions wasted on this stuff every year...it's disgusting.

[Voted4Reagan]

It's well known that many food stamp recipients sell their food stamps to others at 50 cents on the Dollar. This scam has been going on for almost as long as the program has been in effect. It contributes to HUGE cost overruns and causes our Taxes to go up in the process.

it also decreases the amount of benefits that needy people truly deserve...

The Program needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL..... from the ground up.

[Abbey Marie]

Do we need to go back to the huge blocks of cheese, etc., food program?

[DragonStryk72]

More details:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061153267&srvc=rss

Actually, he does have a point. There really aren't many healthy choices for you if you're on food stamps, and if I could buy my stuff at a Farmer's Market, I would have. To me, this isn't the abuse. No, if we wanna talk about food stamp abuse, let's talk about how there are people on FS right now who use their card to run up part supplies, then throw a party to make money off of it. Or people who purposely keep their income off the books so that they can continue to qualify.

But also, Food Stamps is, many times, working against the health of the person using it. You don't receive enough to actually get anything healthy, not if you intend to eat for the whole month. The way we handle these sorts of programs needs a serious overhaul, and soon.

Truthfully, it should be more like WIC, if you ask me. You get your vouchers that line out specific items you can buy, based on a healthy diet regimen, with only light departures from that.

[aboutime]

It's well known that many food stamp recipients sell their food stamps to others at 50 cents on the Dollar. This scam has been going on for almost as long as the program has been in effect. It contributes to HUGE cost overruns and causes our Taxes to go up in the process.

it also decreases the amount of benefits that needy people truly deserve...

The Program needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL..... from the ground up.


V4R. Back in the seventies, right after my wife and I were married in 1969. We had neighbors down the street who lived in TWO separate houses. The Mother lived with four of her children, and the husband lived with the other three children. All of them were of school age, and they proudly boasted about how Food Stamps....for both addresses, but ONE family allowed them to live much more comfortably than I, and my new wife.
So well and comfortable...in fact. She drove a Buick Skylark, and he drove a Pontiac Muscle car like the General. And let's not forget. Paying for two different rents...all made possible because HE didn't work, and Welfare through the state of Pennsylvania made it much easier for him NOT TO WORK.
So. How do we think being on Welfare, Food stamps, WIC and all the other programs...with Unemployment checks looks....INSTEAD of working for something WE, and OTHER Americans pay for?

[jimnyc]

The whole "freebie handout system" has skyrocketed under Obama. Feds and States welfare crap has risen nearly 20% under Obama. That's growing to about $1 trillion dollars per year. This entire freebie system needs a serious overhaul, but the problem is, "someone" stands to perhaps lose voters if they cut back on the free handouts.

[aboutime]

The whole "freebie handout system" has skyrocketed under Obama. Feds and States welfare crap has risen nearly 20% under Obama. That's growing to about $1 trillion dollars per year. This entire freebie system needs a serious overhaul, but the problem is, "someone" stands to perhaps lose voters if they cut back on the free handouts.


jimnyc. We all know. Obama and the Democrats depend on those who hold out their hand for this stuff as their main Voting Block.

Obama wants no part of producing any Budget cuts that would affect anyone who depends on Handouts. So, like the Socialist, Marxist Mantra Demands. Obama and the Dems will happily trade votes for Other people's money.

[Shadow]

The whole "freebie handout system" has skyrocketed under Obama. Feds and States welfare crap has risen nearly 20% under Obama. That's growing to about $1 trillion dollars per year. This entire freebie system needs a serious overhaul, but the problem is, "someone" stands to perhaps lose voters if they cut back on the free handouts.

Not to mention all of the unneeded government workers (who are also soaking the system) will be out of a job. That would not be popular either.

[Kathianne]

I could claim SNAP benefits, my income qualifies. I don't need to, so I don't. No, I'm not buying gourmet desserts or premium ice cream. Indeed, I shop at Aldi's and get as much 'fresh' there as possible. This week got the eggs at Walgreen's, .99. Still have surkey bacon from when it was at .99. Good breakfast.

[gabosaurus]

Pretty much all government programs are abused in some way. Depends on what you wish to point out.

[Voted4Reagan]

Pretty much all government programs are abused in some way. Depends on what you wish to point out.

But you'll accept that abuse as long as they vote for your guy.... right?

Thats why you never hear Liberals calling for a reform of these programs...