Does anyone think people on welfare should...?

Question

only be able to buy nutricious food only. The WIC program is very strict with people buying only nutricious food, so why shouldn't it be the same for general food stamps. I cashier and all I see is the majority of people on foodstamps buying chips, donuts, pop, etc. I mean, if you can't buy toilet paper on food stamps, than why would you be able to buy donuts? And maybe it would help ease taxes a bit if food stamps would only allow you to buy the least expensive brands. This is all true for WIC, but not food stamps. Opinions...?

(Note, I am NOT hating on people with food stamps, just making an observation).

Good point Judy r8, but if your desperatly poor, don't you think dessert should be the furthest from your mind?

No bobby V, you have to buy the least expensive brand on WIC. I do know this because I work with the program on a daily basis.

Answer 1

I would have to agree with that. I used to use food stamps and I wouldn't have been offended by the restriction to healthy food only. Besides it is better for you and the kids. I mean the food stamps are meant to help people who need help and those people dont' need help eating junk.

Answer 2

I agree. So many people abuse the food stamp program while us taxpayers have to pay for it. I too use to work in a grocery store and many would be buying expensive items like lobster and things like that too. I also feel that they should not give welfare money either. I think it should be that you get a voucher for welfare that has only the needed items on it. That way it stops those on welfare from buying beer, cigarettes, and things like that. We all run into hard times, but why should our taxes have to pay for those items? I am all for helping the poor with food and clothing, but not for helping them drink and smoke. Also I am sure some will say, "what about our rent"? Well, I feel a voucher to the housing office will handle that too.
I am not rich either so no, I am not coming down on those who are on the system, just that I think it could be set up a little better.

Answer 3

From a bureaucratic perspective, the logistics required to implement such a tedious step would overshadow the benefits.
So many more people are on foodstamps than WIC, that enforcing rules on those choices would be too complicated.

I worked at a grocery, a woman used to come in and buy tuna fish with food stamps because she couldn't get cat food with stamps. That's the abuse that bothers me.

Answer 4

It's a sad thing to watch our money (we pay taxes for people to get help on welfare) be thrown away on junk food. Ignorance and the rebellion in people make them refuse to do the right things. WIC is a wonderful program, but I have seen mothers eat the food and give the kids very little of what is provided. Most mothers on WIC and Food Stamps are usually single, obese and negligent toward their child's proper nutrition. What can you do though? You can't take kids away from them.

Answer 5

I get $40 month in food stamps which doesn't cover even half of my food. I live on hot dogs and bologna which are not healthy.. I buy milk once in a while for cereal.. I can't afford fruit or lean meats or whole grain breads at $2. a loaf or vegetables..they cost too much.. I don't buy chips either. I do buy sodas and punch though. I do get mad at people who buy lobster and steak and shrimp, etc.. when I live on hot dogs. I would love to have salads and vegetables and things but it's sandwiches, tv dinners, etc..that's all I can afford.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you. I was a cashier during college and noticed the same thing.
Yes there should be lists of things they should or should not be able to get with their food card. I mean it's the rest of the people of the USA (taxpayers) who are paying and it seem to me that we should have a right to say what our tax money is spent on.
I am all for helping the sickly or elderly to buy healthy foods and necessities, medical care, excetera. But i don't like buying people junk food

Answer 7

Excellent observation. I've noticed the same. Being that the stores profit regardless of what is bought, I don't believe there will be any legislation to change this. Think about the socio-economice: disproportionate numbers of teen mothers and of course, low-income households, benefit from these programs. Neither of these groups are reknowned for their excellent diets. Also, many stores that service low income neighborhoods have a tendency to stock "junk food" items, which are loaded with preservatives, salts and fats, but because of said stores locations, this is the only place many families can shop.

Answer 8

Perhaps the direction is to subcontract the whole system out to the WIC. Although you must know that this is done via individual states which I totally agree with as I do not see why one region should have to pay for anthers value system.

Answer 9

I grew up really poor, but my parents were too proud to get food stamps. I wish they had.

At any rate, when I went grocery shopping by myself, I would buy soda instead of milk because I could get a two-gallon bottle for 99 cents whereas milk was three bucks. Milk is obviously more nutritious, but I was really thinking about how to stretch my dollar.

The other thing about convenience types of food is that you don't have to use a lot of gas or electricity to prepare it. Every bit of saving helps.

Answer 10

very good point. Doesnt make sense does it? Maybe it's some gov't plot to keep welfare people fat and unhealthy (not judging or stereotyping). The senior brown bag program is kinda the same way. They sometimes put doughnuts and different crap in there that the elderly really dont need to be eating (high fat/high cholesterol).