If you don't like it...

[Gato_Solo]

Get off the government's list of recipients

Not to sound cruel, but isn't this what everybody has been pushing for? Links up quite nicely with the ban on smoking in bars, the 'fat' taxes being proposed, and the ban on smoking in cars with children being proposed in California...Don't say I didn't warn you.

 

[HomeLAN]

"We've already eliminated tobacco and booze. Why is it too much of a leap then to say that things that are particularly unhealthy from a food supply standpoint or a nutrition standpoint, we would exclude those too?"

That's pretty telling. Kinda validates that "slippery slope" argument, doesn't it?

 

[tonksy]

i've always thought it odd that i could buy a box of twinkies with my food stamps (ick...not that i would, they scare me) but i can't buy a precooked chicken from the deli. no junk food? i think it's a good idea...if the government is going to foot the bill for your groceries they can at least make sure it's healthy stuff so they don't have to foot the bill for your heart attack down the line. in fact...this regulation would make offending peoples food stamps go alot farther...course they'd have to learn to cook.

 

[Gato_Solo]

i've always thought it odd that i could buy a box of twinkies with my food stamps (ick...not that i would, they scare me) but i can't buy a precooked chicken from the deli. no junk food? i think it's a good idea...if the government is going to foot the bill for your groceries they can at least make sure it's healthy stuff so they don't have to foot the bill for your heart attack down the line. in fact...this regulation would make offending peoples food stamps go alot farther...course they'd have to learn to cook.

True...but the government is not the be-all end-all people are trying to make it be. It seems like, for every minor problem that comes up, people run to the government for resolution. That's not the governments job. In fact, it's not the governments job to feed you. It's your job to feed you. It's not the governments job to heal you when you're sick, house you when you've got no income, or even help you find a job. All those things are your job. So far, tonksy, you've been doing the right thing. You're actively looking for employment, education, and a way to better yourself. I salute you in your efforts to get off the governments list and onto your own. BTW...for those who think I'm on the list as well, I actually have to work to receive my benefits.

 

[tonksy]

True...but the government is not the be-all end-all people are trying to make it be. It seems like, for every minor problem that comes up, people run to the government for resolution. That's not the governments job. In fact, it's not the governments job to feed you. It's your job to feed you. It's not the governments job to heal you when you're sick, house you when you've got no income, or even help you find a job. All those things are your job. So far, tonksy, you've been doing the right thing. You're actively looking for employment, education, and a way to better yourself. I salute you in your efforts to get off the governments list and onto your own. BTW...for those who think I'm on the list as well, I actually have to work to receive my benefits.

i agree with you, gato...but since the government is footing the bill for my groceries i think they have the right to tell me what i can't buy with their money...not to mention that i have the responsiblity to provide healthy meals to my family. another thing that people can do but don't is buy plants and seeds (that bear food) and grow their own (i did this last season, i was poor then too)...much cheap and healthier (i'd do it again this year but i haven't found a place locally thet sells food and plants in the same store...even walmart here doesn't do groceries)...but americans are fat and lazy and mostly ignorant.

 

[Gonz]

Using your logic, shouldn't red meat be removed from the list? According to many sources, it's a leading indicator towards heart disease & obesity. In fact, according to many sources, any meat product is bad.

What about celery. That is one useless vegetable.

 

[Professur]

I beg your pardon, Gonz, but celery is hardly useless. In fact, it's a major component in a sucessful stop smoking program.

 

[Gonz]

I'll gladly give you that but it's mother natures version of a Twinkie. Not one shred of nutritional value.

 

[Professur]

Feed a fat person celery, and he'll feel full, but not gain an ounce. Hardly a useless vegie.

 

[tonksy]

i think that they are contemplated any massproduced junk that offers no redeeming nutritional value...ie twinkies, potato chips etc. red meat may not be the wisest choice for your diet but there are ways of cooking it so that it is kinda healthy.
being a food stamp user, i know what goes in my cart and i think i do a good job of choosing foods and making my stamps stretch with manufacturers coupons and store sales. i buy fresh fruits and vegetable and meats and fish and dairy products...now, on occasion, a bag of tostidos and a box of fruit roll ups go in the cart...maybe some entemanns...but the point is is that i am trying to make wise choices for my family.
i've seen other recipients load up on the frozen pizzas and hot dogs and potato chips and sugarypreservativecornsyrupystuff and it makes me wonder if they don't realize what they are doing to their bodies.
i just firmly believe that if you expect the government to provide you with assistance you ought to do the best you can with it.

 

[Professur]

i've seen other recipients load up on the frozen pizzas and hot dogs and potato chips and sugarypreservativecornsyrupystuff and it makes me wonder if they don't realize what they are doing to their bodies.

Sadly, their way of doing things is often the reason they're on stamps to start with. Poor judgement. If it weren't for the civilisation safety net, they'd have killed themselves off long ago. To the betterment of all mankind, no doubt.

 

[Gonz]

How about Froot Loops? Almost all breakfast cereal is fortified junk. Pop tarts? White bread?

I'm actually in favor of a limited reduction in crap food allowable by food stamps. It does create one of those slopes however. Once the state is allowed to begin seperating foods, it will then be much easier to sin tax junk foods(besides the obvious potaot chips & Hostess products). Let them in your kitchen & they'll be opening (or holding) the door for you at McDonalds.

 

[Ms Ann Thrope]

what's wrong with a sin tax on junk foods?

 

[Professur]

Well, the alternative is foodbanks, where the org running it decides what's availible. Personally, I think that if the gov't reins in garbage food, as described by a panel of nutritionalist that's all for the good. Cutting off Nintendo and Nike purchases would be even better.

 

[tonksy]

what's wrong with a sin tax on junk foods?

i don't think you pay tax with food stamps...so it wouldn't help here.
maybe it should be like WIC where they tell you basically what to buy ie
1 lb cheeses (many varieties)
1 dz eggs
1 gallon milk
then add in the fruits, meats, and veggies...you'd still have variety but it would weed out the crap.

 

[Gonz]

what's wrong with a sin tax on junk foods?

Because not everyone agree's one the meaning of junk food. Both my previous posts lead down that path. Also, it's not the governmentsa job to persuade my food buying habits.

 

[Gato_Solo]

i agree with you, gato...but since the government is footing the bill for my groceries i think they have the right to tell me what i can't buy with their money...not to mention that i have the responsiblity to provide healthy meals to my family

Close, but not quite. If the government really wanted to stop the abuse of the food-stamp program, all they have to do is eliminate certain bar-codes from the eligibility list. It's simple. Instead, they throw out this debate. Yes, if you take the money, the government should have some say on how it's spent, however, what's to stop the government from banning those things it deems unsafe or unhealthy once this starts...oops...already has. Don't believe me? Smoke a cigarette in a NYC bar...a non-cigar bar.

 

[Inkara1]

I'm not much of a fan of take-and-bake pizza places being on the Quest system out here (Quest system uses the Golden State Advantage card, which is a sort of ATM card that replaced food stamps). There's one across the street, in fact. It seems they can do that because the pizza isn't cooked at the store, and therefore isn't ready to be eaten as is when you buy it. But there are two problems with that: 1) eating out is a luxury and shouldn't be taxpayer-financed like that, and 2) that place also sells sandwiches, which ARE ready to eaten... and yes, you can buy those on the Golden State Advantage card as well.

Hell, you can even draw cash against the GSA card a couple of times a month. That's going TOO far if you ask me.

As for celery... the thing about it is that it takes more calories to digest it than it gives in return.