My early morning soapbox speech... People like this make me sick. When I had to have food stamps after losing my job both times, I was out papering the town with my resume, and when I finally did get a job some months later, I immediately dropped food stamps, even though I could have stayed on them for a while or got a reduced amount. I also spent the remaining balance on my card and matched it with my own cash to buy food to donate to a food bank, 150 pounds of it. I believe that there needs to be a major overhaul in the food stamp system that bans luxury items like soda, junk food, frozen foods, and fast food (they can buy Papa Murphys Pizza with food stamps), and requires recipients to buy only fresh, nutritious foods. I think that less people like this a-hole would abuse the system forever if we took away their Oreos and Mountain Dew. They already ban the purchase of Energy Drinks and hot foods because they are considered luxury items, so they could easily do this with the other garbage. Its true, you can eat very well on food stamps. They gave me $200 a month just for myself, which was twice what I would normally spend on groceries, and I ate healthy foods. I could have lived off of steak and lobster, too, if I wanted to. Instead, I always had a surplus of funds on my EBT card. All it does is encourage you to buy expensive food items you wouldnt normally buy simply because you can. They need to do some reform on the amount people receive, as well. Now, I know Ill hear from people who will tell me that $400 a month isnt enough to feed their family, and if they want to buy chips and cookies and candy for their kids with their food stamps, then they should have a right to, and blah, blah, blah... Look, I lived off of one serving of chicken breast and brown rice a day and lost a lot of weight because I REFUSED to get food stamps until I had absolutely no option and my friend dragged me to the DSHS office. I know what its like to be hungry. However, I also know what its like to sit in the DSHS office, surrounded by people on their iPhones with their designer purses. Too many people abuse the system. The only way to stop it is to start cracking down on what they can buy, how long they can receive benefits, and how much they can get. Only then will people get desperate enough to, I dunno, get off their butts and find work. Plus, that guy refused a job offer. If hes getting unemployment, then he should be cut off because youre not allowed to turn down job offers. They should do the same thing with food stamps and every other form of welfare. They should have to provide proof that they are seeking gainful employment on a weekly basis, provide the names of the businesses they applied to, and not be allowed to turn down job offers. If they fail to meet the requirements, then they get cut off from welfare and food stamps. Its not cruel to demand that people try to pick themselves up out of poverty and stand on their own two feet. Now, if youre elderly, disabled, or somehow prevented from working due to health, then thats a whole different story. But, if youre young and healthy, theres no reason why you cant be trying to find work. Even if you can only get a minimum wage job, at least youre doing something to provide a little for yourself and your family, and youre taking the pressure off the government to take care of you 100%. If you have to get reduced food stamps until you can find a better job or a second job, then fine. However, I dont believe that you should be able to ride that pony forever, either. A poor person has more opportunities for financial aid for college than middle class people. They will give you grants and loans to pay for your full tuition, books, and living expenses for four whole years and even grad school, too. There is absolutely no excuse not to get an education and better your life. None. Nobody should settle for minimum wage or welfare for life.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:23:48 +0000