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Banning soda purchase with food stamps (Page 2)
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 2010-10-07 11:08 AM in reply to: #3138275 |
Pro  4277    Parker, CO |  Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stampsAcesFull - 2010-10-07 9:51 AM Okay, I'm a raging liberal, but I do believe that anytime you accept aid, you must accept whatever rules are attached to that aid. With the state of computer tech these days, it would be very simple to limit people to specific items, the same way my "Benny" card works only for medicines and medical-related items. In my world, persons accepting food stamps can use them only for real food. Nothing processed, packaged or prepared. You can buy all the peanut butter, jelly and bread you want, but no Uncrustables. Milk, orange juice and coffee are fine, but Red Bull and Coke are not. Bean and rice are fine, but Uncle Ben's Red Beans and Rice (just add water) is not. Someone will undoubtedly ask, "who gets to decide what foods are and are not okay, and what gives them the right?" It's simple. I get to decide, and as benevolent dictator of the world, this is my right. I think for the first time ever I agree with Aces. Other than he can't decide on squat! |
| 2010-10-07 11:09 AM in reply to: #3138306 |
Expert 3126 Boise, ID | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Gaarryy - 2010-10-07 9:59 AM TriRSquared - 2010-10-07 10:49 AM KenD - 2010-10-07 9:24 AM Link to article NY city is asking permission to ban the purchase of soda with food stamps. What say you CoJ? Does the government have the right to limit what one can/or cannot purchase? When it's the government giving you the money, yes they do. It's food stamps. Not soda stamps. Actually there are a lot of other things it should ban. Candy, chips, ice cream. It should only go to real foods (meat, vegetables, milk, cheese etc..) The latter are necessities. The former are luxuries. so when does it go from being the governments money to the person's money?? once that money changes hands it's no longer the govt. money It's that person's. I think it would be great if they made better food choices but i'm amazed at the amount of people that for most things don't want the govt. to be able to tell them how to live but it's ok to tell someone else how to spend their money. That's why they are food stamps and not cash. If they wanted to just hand out free cash it would be the free cash program. As far as the recipient is concerned there is no real money being given to them. They are receiving vouchers for specific products. Thus, whoever is giving the vouchers has the right to say what the vouchers are good for. If they don't like those specific products then they are free to purchase other items with cash that they earned. |
| 2010-10-07 11:43 AM in reply to: #3138338 |
Member 5452 NC | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Aarondb4 - 2010-10-07 12:09 PM If they wanted to just hand out free cash it would be the free cash program. Agreed, the free cash program is different. |
| 2010-10-07 11:53 AM in reply to: #3138320 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps DanielG - 2010-10-07 11:03 AM Gaarryy - 2010-10-07 11:59 AM so when does it go from being the governments money to the person's money?? When the person actually earns it and it's not from a Gov't program.Hey they earned it by doing nothing  that ain't easy. It's like your taxes.. that isn't your money anymore.. you earned it, the govt didnt'.. and please don't try the "i have a say where it goes" angle.. since none of us do. once it's gone out of our hands it's gone. I do agree that it would be great if there were some type of controls on what they could buy,, it would be better if they wanted to make those purchases on thier own. I'm always amused by people who think they can control how others spend their money/vouchers/whatever media of exhange it is.. it's like giving money/vouchers/pigs/ to a friend you hope that they spend it wisely or for what they told you they would. But once it is in someone else's possesion you have no control over how it's used. just like when they sell those stamps for cash and then buy whats not on your list.. same result other than that. I'm really fine with Aces running things. Hopefully I'd score a poker room that is a closer drive for me Edited by Gaarryy 2010-10-07 11:54 AM |
| 2010-10-07 12:04 PM in reply to: #3138456 |
| Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Gaarryy - 2010-10-07 12:53 PM DanielG - 2010-10-07 11:03 AM Gaarryy - 2010-10-07 11:59 AM so when does it go from being the governments money to the person's money?? When the person actually earns it and it's not from a Gov't program.Hey they earned it by doing nothing that ain't easy. It's like your taxes.. that isn't your money anymore.. you earned it, the govt didnt'.. and please don't try the "i have a say where it goes" angle.. since none of us do. once it's gone out of our hands it's gone. I do agree that it would be great if there were some type of controls on what they could buy,, it would be better if they wanted to make those purchases on thier own. I'm always amused by people who think they can control how others spend their money/vouchers/whatever media of exhange it is.. it's like giving money/vouchers/pigs/ to a friend you hope that they spend it wisely or for what they told you they would. But once it is in someone else's possesion you have no control over how it's used. just like when they sell those stamps for cash and then buy whats not on your list.. same result other than that. I'm really fine with Aces running things. Hopefully I'd score a poker room that is a closer drive for me I'm all for eliminating the programs entirely with nothing taking their place but I don't believe that's going to happen any time soon so until then I'm for anything that makes it more difficult to use and more restrictive in how it can be used. Don't like it? Earn your own money and use it how you see fit (not you, the people complaining about the restrictions) |
| 2010-10-07 12:05 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Extreme Veteran 493 Greer, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I am normally the first person to stand up and shout that our government is becoming more and more like big brother and trying to control too many aspects of our lives. But, in this case, they’re not saying you can’t drink it. They are saying that the taxpayers aren’t going to pay for it. That would be the same taxpayers that these individuals will later come to and ask for help paying for the medical bills associated with their obesity related illnesses. That being said, this measure is the equivalent of sending a lone man to New Orleans with a bucket to bail out the flood waters after Katrina. As long as people can still buy, candy, cookies, and chips with their foodstamps then not a lot has really been accomplished. It’s also easy to throw stones when you’re not in their shoes. The truth is that in my grocery store you can but 3 2-liter sodas for less than the price of 1 gallon of milk. By the way foodstamps are not cash and you can limit what they can be used for just like there are currently things that you can't buy with them. |
| 2010-10-07 12:16 PM in reply to: #3138510 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps BigBoy - 2010-10-07 12:05 PM By the way foodstamps are not cash and you can limit what they can be used for just like there are currently things that you can't buy with them. But they have a cash value. they are already sold for cash now, and the cash used to buy what the stamps can't it's just an extra step. we can make as many laws, rules as we want.. but sadly we will never be able to legislate peoples behavior. other than that I agree. |
| 2010-10-07 12:27 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Master 2380 Beijing | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Let's just "skip to the end" here. Instead of banning certain foods, we need to have a weigh-in for your food stamps. The amount of food stamp benefit is inversely proportional to your BMI. This targets the issue directly and lets people drink soda if they want. Let's face it: If you have a higher-than-average BMI, by definition, you don't need more food. This is a great way of targeting food-stamp spending so that we're not overspending. I started out completely joking but as I look at it I ended up 50% serious. |
| 2010-10-07 12:27 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Extreme Veteran 493 Greer, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I agree that you can't control people because if there's a will to get around something there will always be a way. I just don't think that the vast majority of foodstamp recipients are selling them for cash value. I think they are using them as they were intended. But, as long as it's cheaper to buy junk food than the healthier alternatives, we are fighting a losing battle. |
| 2010-10-07 12:31 PM in reply to: #3138540 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Gaarryy - 2010-10-07 10:16 AM BigBoy - 2010-10-07 12:05 PM By the way foodstamps are not cash and you can limit what they can be used for just like there are currently things that you can't buy with them. But they have a cash value. they are already sold for cash now, and the cash used to buy what the stamps can't it's just an extra step. we can make as many laws, rules as we want.. but sadly we will never be able to legislate peoples behavior. other than that I agree. The feds recently busted several stores in seattle for running a cash scheme for food stamps. It does happen but it is illegal and does get stopped. Just because someone can do it does not make it right. The same way it is pretty easy for anyone to go out and buy pot and a lot of people think pot should be legal, but that does not make it right for the person to do it. |
| 2010-10-07 12:37 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Champion 8936 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps The important question that has been brought up but not yet answered is, "Who decides what they can and cannot buy?" While Aces as world dictator might work in his world, it doesn't really apply to the rest of us. Some people think meat is bad for you. Some people think sugar is bad for you. Some people think Vegetables and fruit are bad for you (believe it or not). Who decides, and what criteria is that based upon? I'm all for people getting healthier, especially when they're on public assistance, but that's gotta be answered in my mind. |
| 2010-10-07 1:34 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Expert 4954 Middle River, Maryland Silver member | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Times n+1 on agreeing with the ban, but it probably won't help with public health. It may make us feel better that we're not directly paying for it. Last week my wife was at the grocery store, and the woman in front of her was using some sort of public assistance card for buying food. Thing is, she was permitted to receive a certain amount of cash back in change for each purchase (like $10 or something). She proceeding to have the checkout person run through each item separately, so that she could get back more cash. Took about 15 minutes, which needless to say upset the other shoppers. Maybe she was just getting money so she could pay her electric bill or whatever, but it sure didn't look legit at the time. However, someone in that position in life has to make some choices that may not benefit them in the long run. What I'm saying is, it is MUCH less expensive to eat like crap than to buy whole foods, organics, etc. and eat healthily. Most of us on this board are fortunate enough to be able to afford a healthy lifestyle, not so much others in this position. And then on top of that, there is so much misinformation (or even disinformation) out there on how healthy certain foods are, where people THINK they are eating healthy when in reality they are eating more calories than if they just went to McD's.
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| 2010-10-07 1:43 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
Veteran 266 Cincinnati | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps To be quite honest, I am surprised that one could buy soda with food stamps. In OH you can't buy alcohol with food stamps. I don't see the real difference, intoxicating effects aside. |
 2010-10-07 1:47 PM in reply to: #3138456 |
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| 2010-10-07 3:50 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
| Elite 4547 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I've been pushing for food stamps reform here at COJ for years now...I'm glad the officials in NY City finally read all my posts! Food stamps should be completely revamped. Choices need to go out the window. The food should be cheap and boring but able to provide nutrition that prevents these folks from being malnourished. That's it. It is a safety net, not a feather bed to sleep in permanently. btw, to specifically answer Ken's original question. Heck Yeah the government not only has the right to determine what food stamp recipients receive, they have an obligation to make sure food stamp recipients aren't buying crapola on the taxpayers' dime. |
| 2010-10-07 5:24 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
| Elite 3371 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I have a co-worker who has food stamps. Its almost as if she is proud of it. She talks about them all of the time. How she doesn't even need them, and gives the leftovers to her mother. One day she complained that she can't buy alcohol with them, but does buy all of her mixers with them. I wasn't as surprised as I should have been. This, unfortunately, is all too common. So no, I don't see a problem with it. Most people have a free water source available. Don't like it? Find a way to increase your income and stop making me buy your pepsi. |
| 2010-10-07 5:41 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
| Buttercup 14334 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I don't consider sodas to be food, so it's fine with me that they not be allowed to use food stamps to purchase this non-food item. The point of the program is to help people feed their families. Sodas don't meet the criteria. |
| 2010-10-07 6:06 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
| Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps KenD - 2010-10-07 6:24 AM Link to article NY city is asking permission to ban the purchase of soda with food stamps. What say you CoJ? Does the government have the right to limit what one can/or cannot purchase? Or will this have a positive impact on health? I sure hope not, for one I think it violates a person rights. 2nd I saw on the news that Vegas gets MILLION's of food stamp/welfare moneny from across the country, we're hurting and I'd hate to see the slippery slope on the soda get to no allowing the money to be spent on gambling as well. |
| 2010-10-07 6:09 PM in reply to: #3138002 |
| Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps BikerGrrrl - 2010-10-07 7:20 AM I agree, the WIC program has a better vision.
Me too, I'd say get the government out of charity work, but then that goes against my earlier post i suppose. |
| 2010-10-07 6:40 PM in reply to: #3137864 |
| Master 2477 Oceanside, California | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps I have an issue with the whole system as it is implemented. Welfare should be for basic necessities. Medicine, shelter, safety, educational opportunity, real food (dairy, grains, fruits/vegs, and protein). Our Founding Founders did not fight for, "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Ho-Ho's" We are the only country with fat poor people. I also have a problem with how much profit is made on these programs. We have a set of motels in a bad part of town that do almost 100% of their business in government vouchers. The worse thing is that they serve two populations: - They get government vouchers to house sexual predators. - They also get government vouchers to house homeless families with children that don't do well in the local shelters. I think that their only cash customers are the hookers. |
| 2010-10-07 6:46 PM in reply to: #3138576 |
| Master 2477 Oceanside, California | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps bel83 - 2010-10-07 10:31 AM The feds recently busted several stores in seattle for running a cash scheme for food stamps. It does happen but it is illegal and does get stopped. Just because someone can do it does not make it right. The same way it is pretty easy for anyone to go out and buy pot and a lot of people think pot should be legal, but that does not make it right for the person to do it. How dare you compare food stamps to a sport as corrupt in cycling! Sure, the punish some of the dopers, but name anything else as corrupt!... And....3......2.....1 Begin! |
| 2010-10-07 7:21 PM in reply to: #3139459 |
| Champion 18680 Lost in the Luminiferous Aether | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps Renee - 2010-10-07 6:41 PM I don't consider sodas to be food, so it's fine with me that they not be allowed to use food stamps to purchase this non-food item. The point of the program is to help people feed their families. Sodas don't meet the criteria. I knew sooner or later we would find something we agree on. |
| 2010-10-07 9:36 PM in reply to: #3138009 |
| Veteran 191 | Subject: RE: Banning soda purchase with food stamps 1stTimeTri - 2010-10-07 10:22 AM BikerGrrrl - 2010-10-07 9:20 AM I agree, the WIC program has a better vision.
Maybe WIC debit cards of sorts? But, that would be risky of them getting ripped off. New York uses WIC debit cards, actually. I actually came onto the forum tonight specifically to see what you guys thought of this. Huuuuuge contrast to the comments I was reading here: http://jezebel.com/5658167/new-york-attempts-to-ban-use-of-food-sta... Just in case you wanted to know what lefty feminist East Coasters think of this. |
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