Govt control? Food stamps for MT.Dew or Broccoli?

mikepegg44

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

Jason P

mikepegg44 wrote:

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

They can always save money and buy those products if they want. This is a form of aid, provided by the government, therefore they can easily mandate how the aid is used. It's common practice. If someone applies for hurricane assistance and we find out they used the aid to buy a luxury car, everyone is outraged and the hammer comes down.

I'm all for the government staying out of our lives unless we as individuals actively go out and seek government assistance. If I buy an energy efficient furnace and apply for a environmental tax credit, I can't claim the government forced me to buy that certain model.

And the list of foods would be pretty easy to compile ... I call it the 7/11 test ... if it's pre-packaged and sold at a 7/11 store, it is no longer eligible.

mikepegg44

Jason P wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

They can always save money and buy those products if they want. This is a form of aid, provided by the government, therefore they can easily mandate how the aid is used. It's common practice. If someone applies for hurricane assistance and we find out they used the aid to buy a luxury car, everyone is outraged and the hammer comes down.

I'm all for the government staying out of our lives unless we as individuals actively go out and seek government assistance. If I buy an energy efficient furnace and apply for a environmental tax credit, I can't claim the government forced me to buy that certain model.

And the list of foods would be pretty easy to compile ... I call it the 7/11 test ... if it's pre-packaged and sold at a 7/11 store, it is no longer eligible.

right on
I just don't understand the difference between mountain dew and most juice that is sold. We have a WIC program in MN that tells you what to buy and what is covered because it is specifically a nutrition program for needy mothers...I didn't think food stamps is the same type of program. I agree that if you go searching for assistance there may be parameters that you need to live by, I just didn't think buying a birthday cake would fall under those provisions. Maybe a birthday lettuce wrap?

JaneNY

Jason P wrote:

And the list of foods would be pretty easy to compile ... I call it the 7/11 test ... if it's pre-packaged and sold at a 7/11 store, it is no longer eligible.

Problem is, some poor folks don't live near a grocery store, and maybe a 7/11 is the only thing they can get to. Maybe they don't have a car, and 2 little kids, and they have to take the kids when they go to buy food, which means they can't carry much. Being poor isn't easy, and I don't think everyone thinks out all the practical realities.

Okay, so you ban Mountain Dew. Fine. Do you also ban tea? Or coffee? or sugar? Or white flour? White rice? white bread? pancake syrup (make people buy real maple because it is 'healthier' but more expensive). An argument can be made that each of the items I listed is 'not healthy'. Some people think cheese isn't healthy. Canned vegetables - full of sodium, no nutritional value. Where do you draw the line on what people are 'allowed' to buy?

iamica

I used to work at a grocery store. People used to use their Link cards for all sorts of crap - booze, junk food, you name it. I remember one lady using the entire balance to buy a ton of lobster. I really think there do need to be some restrictions. For instance, WIC doesn't allow you to buy anything you want - you can get milk or cereal or other food items for babies, but that's about it.
I don't know where the line should be drawn exactly, but I know this - they shouldn't be using their food stamps card to buy 10 tubs of ice cream and then pulling out a $50 bill to buy cigarettes and scratch tickets.

brianlux

mikepegg44 wrote:

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

Now wait a dog gone minute-- cut out Velveeta? Sure it's empty calories, but hey, everybody loves a grilled Velveeta sandwich now and then-- even left-leaning, environmentalist, progressive, let's-stop-global-warming freaks!

peacefrompaul

brianlux wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

Now wait a dog gone minute-- cut out Velveeta? Sure it's empty calories, but hey, everybody loves a grilled Velveeta sandwich now and then-- even left-leaning, environmentalist, progressive, let's-stop-global-warming freaks!

Velveeta Mac N' Cheese drizzled over a hot pepperoni pizza.... Yeah I was in another world that night..

Carry on

SweetChildofMine

Why are people squeezing the little guy? Let them eat whatever the hell they want. Did you know you can purchase seeds to actually grow your own food? You wouldnt put limits on educational grants on what people can do with the money. We dont put limits or restrictions $$ given to businesses. If someone wants to eat cheetoes or drink mountain dew, its not your problem. Who are you the food cops? Some foods which we consider junk is just that junk but its cheap, cheaper than buying the broccoli. So if you only have a few bucks what are you actually buying? 3 bucks for the broccoli or 3 dollar frozen pizza?

If you are so worried about peoples diets you should put more focus/restrictions on the food producers and the shit that goes into products than some redneck buying his mountain dew.

SweetChildofMine

BTW Velveeta is one molecule away from Nuclear Waste.

brianlux

SweetChildofMine wrote:

BTW Velveeta is one molecule away from Nuclear Waste.

_______________


"If you are so worried about peoples diets you should put more focus/restrictions on the food producers and the shit that goes into products than some redneck buying his mountain dew."

Good point!

SweetChildofMine

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... stmagazine

I mean makes more sense to control the handful of food producers in the world than manage billions of peoples diets.

36 Billion dollars of Cheetoes for the Super Bowl alone. Don tell me its not about the $$ when it comes to food production.

A good book for reading.

Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How To Fight Back

The United States is currently embroiled in a national debate over the growing public health crisis caused by poor diet. People are starting to ask who is to blame and how can we fix the problem, especially among children. Major food companies are responding with a massive public relations campaign. These companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Kraft, and General Mills, are increasingly on the defensive. In response, they pretend to sell healthier food and otherwise position themselves as "part of the solution." Yet they continue to lobby against commonsense nutrition policies. Appetite for Profit exposes this hypocrisy and explains how to fight back by offering reliable resources. Readers will learn how to spot the PR and how to organize to improve food in schools and elsewhere. For the first time, author Michele Simon explains why we cannot trust food corporations to "do the right thing." She describes the local battles of going up against the powerful food lobbies and offers a comprehensive guide to the public relations, front groups, and lobbying tactics that food companies employ to trick the American public. Simon also provides an entertaining glossary that explains corporate rhetoric, including phrases like "better-for-you foods" and "frivolous lawsuit."

mikepegg44

brianlux wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

what is the difference between someone on welfare or someone using their own money to buy mt dew?....it isn't an illegal product right? I mean, why not make purchasing high fructose corn syrup illegal first? then you could test the people applying for welfare for hfcs? think of the billions you would save as a state...why stop there? what about Velveeta or easy cheese or pretzels...It is well known that poor people cannot take care of themselves and need the government to tell them how to live, what to eat, and pretty soon how to breathe. Without the state telling these people how to tie their shoes, do you honestly think they could?

(it is sad I have to say this but most of this was clearly sarcasm)


Florida...come on...you are better than th....oh wait...maybe not...and from a "republican" no less

Now wait a dog gone minute-- cut out Velveeta? Sure it's empty calories, but hey, everybody loves a grilled Velveeta sandwich now and then-- even left-leaning, environmentalist, progressive, let's-stop-global-warming freaks!

there will be Velveeta here long after the rest of us have died and gone...Sad that humans can create a product that will last forever, but in doing so have almost guaranteed that humans won't

brianlux

mikepegg44 wrote:

there will be Velveeta here long after the rest of us have died and gone...Sad that humans can create a product that will last forever, but in doing so have almost guaranteed that humans won't

That's a sobering thought.

peacefrompaul

brianlux wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

there will be Velveeta here long after the rest of us have died and gone...Sad that humans can create a product that will last forever, but in doing so have almost guaranteed that humans won't

That's a sobering thought.

I'll know what to bring underground in the event of WWIII/a nuclear holocaust. :(

mikepegg44

peacefrompaul wrote:

brianlux wrote:

That's a sobering thought.

I'll know what to bring underground in the event of WWIII/a nuclear holocaust. :(

it will be good to have when we have to resort to cannibalism...the shit can make anything tasty

SweetChildofMine

Velveeta and Twinkies?

Who the hell wants to live through a Nuclear Holocaust? If that happens please put me and my family at ground zero.

Here is an article I slightly edited to take out the political rhetoric but the facts remain the same, JP Morgan Chase making money off of food stamps.

"How would you feel if someone told you that one of the largest banks on Wall Street makes more money whenever the number of Americans on food stamps goes up?

Unfortunately, this is something that is actually true. In the United States today, one out of every seven Americans is on food stamps. In fact, the number of Americans on food stamps has increased by a whopping 14 million. All of this makes JP Morgan very happy, because JP Morgan has been making money by the boatload on food stamps.

Right now, JP Morgan Chase issues food stamp debit cards in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The division of JP Morgan Chase that issues these debit cards made an eye-popping 5.47 billion dollars in net revenue during 2010.

JP Morgan is paid per customer, so when the number of Americans on food stamps goes up, they make more money. But doesn’t this give JP Morgan an incentive to try to keep the number of Americans on food stamps as high as possible?

Of course it does. JP Morgan is interested in making money as rapidly as possible. If JP Morgan can get more Americans enrolled in the food stamp program and keep them enrolled in it for as long as possible, that is good for business."

blackredyellow

SweetChildofMine wrote:

Why are people squeezing the little guy? Let them eat whatever the hell they want. Did you know you can purchase seeds to actually grow your own food? You wouldnt put limits on educational grants on what people can do with the money. We dont put limits or restrictions $$ given to businesses. If someone wants to eat cheetoes or drink mountain dew, its not your problem. Who are you the food cops? Some foods which we consider junk is just that junk but its cheap, cheaper than buying the broccoli. So if you only have a few bucks what are you actually buying? 3 bucks for the broccoli or 3 dollar frozen pizza?

If you are so worried about peoples diets you should put more focus/restrictions on the food producers and the shit that goes into products than some redneck buying his mountain dew.

The only problem I have with letting the poor people eat whatever they want, is that it's a vicious cycle. This is an over-generalization, so forgive me, but a lot of poor people are poor their entire lives... If they eat a ton of junk food, two negative things happen... One, people who have poor nutrition have more health problems later. And if these people are still poor, then we (as tax payers) have more medicaid & medicare expense to keep up with. Two, adults that eat crap food have children who eat crap food... and we have generations and generations with more and more health problems.