# Food stamps; do you think one's purchases/taxes should be looked into? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625 "2012-06-09T15:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/101 "2012-06-09T23:57:27Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > but chances are a significant number of people Wow! Look at those amazingly specific and well-cited figures! If I could do math like that, maybe I wouldn’t be poor! ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/102 "2012-06-09T23:57:28Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That’s because it is not fraud. No, but it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. What about people who blow their money on gambling or drugs and then turn to the government for help? I’ve MET people like this. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/103 "2012-06-09T23:57:53Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I only use my EBT at Shaws, and I pay cash for anything I put in a package (fruit salad, regular salad, chinese food) I’m assuming that you mean prepared salads that you put into a container from a salad bar set-up. The issue is not that its not pre-packaged - it’s that it is prepared and ready to eat.You can use food stamps for things like a pound of apples or a head of lettuce or two red peppers. It’s just like you can use food stamps to buy a loaf of bread and a pound of ham - but you can’t use them to buy the sandwich already made. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/104 "2012-06-09T23:58:52Z")
So your cousin wasn’t a fraud, you just can’t stand her? Is that it? Really, why are you so angry she got assistance. You think you should have kept your .3 cent tax that went to public assistance while she starved because she had kids you don’t think she should have had? P.S., no, there was no grandfathering. Once the new law went into effect she had two years to find a job. Period. You yourself admit you do not know what her exact circumstances were. You only know she had kids and you didn’t like it one bit because she was poor. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/105 "2012-06-09T23:59:02Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > No, but it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. What about people who blow their money on gambling or drugs and then turn to the government for help? I’ve MET people like this. What kind of help are you talking about? There is no government help that just doles out cash to people with poor judgment. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/106 "2012-06-09T23:59:41Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > It may be food but it will make you sick, and cause you to require health care subsidies from those of us who bought you the candy in the first place. So we shouldn’t pay for the oxygen tank for the woman who smoked for 40 years? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/107 "2012-06-09T23:59:45Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So your cousin wasn’t a fraud, you just can’t stand her? Is that it? Really, why are you so angry she got assistance. You think you should have kept your .3 cent tax that went to public assistance while she starved because she had kids you don’t think she should have had? > > P.S., no, there was no grandfathering. Once the new law went into effect she had two years to find a job. Period. You yourself admit you do not know what her exact circumstances were. You only know she had kids and you didn’t like it one bit because she was poor. If you can’t afford to take care of your kids, don’t have them. Don’t have as many kids as your heart desires but expect the rest of the population to subsidize them. Don’t like it? Tough. If you have kids you cannot afford, you should have to juggle raising them with as many jobs as you need to take care of them. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/108 "2012-06-10T00:01:29Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > If you can’t afford to take care of your kids, don’t have them. Don’t have as many kids as your heart desires but expect the rest of the population to subsidize them. As it was pointed out before, maybe she was employed when she had the kids, but lost her job. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/109 "2012-06-10T00:01:38Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **Farmer** -Candy IS food! Is it the best food? No, but it’s still food. If you don’t want to see what people are buying, because it offends your sensibilities, use self checkout. Yeah, and ketsup is a vegetable. But the point of these programs is (largely) so that kids don’t starve. Feeding them Cheetohs isn’t taking care of their nutritional needs. That’s a friggin waste. Everyone should have a right to food. No one has the right to potato chips. My mom got assistance off and on growing up. She’s now a paramedic. She hated being poor. We all did. But in some places, there is an accepted culture of being poor and lying on your paperwork. Nothing makes me hungrier than an angry child. Well, except for welfare fraud. ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/110 "2012-06-10T00:03:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > As it was pointed out before, maybe she was employed when she had the kids, but lost her job. That was not what I was addressing. That is different and I fully support welfare as a viable option to help people in need, such as your example. My issue is with someone who is already in debt popping out three children and then expecting the government (i.e. tax payers) to pay for their needs. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/111 "2012-06-10T00:07:07Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > Nothing makes me hungrier than an angry child. Well, except for welfare fraud. Yep - angry toddlers really help me work up an appetite too. Welfare fraud is more of a ‘peckish’ feeling I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/112 "2012-06-10T00:07:07Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > I think you have reading comprehension issues, but let me elaborate. > > One of my best friends spends her available money on luxury items that could be going toward her food. Lingerie, engravings, fancy clothes, jewelry, a new purse every month. It’s not a matter of “better” clothes, but chances are a significant number of people spend their available money on non-necessary items that could go toward their food and guess what, no matter how you spend your money it ends up gone, so situations like this DO NOT get assessed as fraud a lot of the time I’d guess. You do not know her circumstances. If you do know her circumstances and she is committing fraud then you should report her. Your anecdote is not data. You have also shown that you know nothing about welfare rules and regulations but you do have a very high sense of indignation that you like to spread around those who you believe are beneath you. Spending all your money does not make you eligible for assitance. That is not how public assistance works. You do not know what you are talking about. Let me reiterate: If this best friend of yours is a welfare cheat than you should turn her in. Every state has a welfare abuse hotline. Use it. But, again, anecdote is not data and the only data provided by you people with your panties in a twist about all the Welfare Queens have been pulled out of your asses. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/113 "2012-06-10T00:07:42Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Yep - angry toddlers really help me work up an appetite too. Welfare fraud is more of a ‘peckish’ feeling I guess. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/114 "2012-06-10T00:07:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [OIG PA](http://www.oig.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/oig_home/3772) has an average of 9.5 cases a month this year. That gives us a whopping 114 cases a year. Yeah, 114 cases that got\*\*\* caught.\*\*\* In one state. How many do you suppose went on and didn’t get caught? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/115 "2012-06-10T00:08:46Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > Everyone should have a right to food. No one has the right to potato chips. Oh, yes! Educate me, master! I’ll throw out all my junk food and whip myself with an extension cord til you’re happy! > [@](#): > > But in some places, there is an accepted culture of being poor and lying on your paperwork. I don’t want to put words in Master’s mouth, but this sounds a lot like ‘Them darkies are lazy and cheat the system rather than work.’ ---
**Author:** ![the\_apples\_fell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the\_apples\_fell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_apples_fell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/116 "2012-06-10T00:09:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > You do not know her circumstances. If you do know her circumstances and she is committing fraud then you should report her. I do know her circumstances but according to others on here even, blowing your money on useless junk is not considered fraud, and this friend makes well under the poverty level. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/117 "2012-06-10T00:11:10Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Oh, yes! Educate me, master! I’ll throw out all my junk food and whip myself with an extension cord til you’re happy! > > I don’t want to put words in Master’s mouth, but this sounds a lot like ‘Them darkies are lazy and cheat the system rather than work.’ You don’t understand, **Doc**. When Jane was poor and needed assistance she didn’t get it so, therefore, everyone who does get it is a cheat. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/118 "2012-06-10T00:11:51Z")
Ah, I may have misread the poll question. I interpreted it as “Do you think that people applying for food stamps should have their spending habits etc. scrutinized more than they currently are?”. I imagine that additional scrutiny would cost the system more than it would save. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/119 "2012-06-10T00:12:06Z")
But most welfare recipients are white. Again, no one has the right to potato chips. I don’t think that just because you are poor, you can’t treat yourself. I don’t have an issue with restricting what you can purchase with an EBT card, however. The original welfare programs were meant to take farming surpluses and put it into the hands of poor city folk. There’s a correlation between obesity and food assistance. I think that some food benefits should be increased - like access to healthy food, for example. edit: Post aimed @ Doc edit again: Of course if I point out that some people abuse the system or whatever, it means I’m against the system entirely. :rolleyes: Right? Because it’s impossible to have a well-thought out nuanced opinion on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625/120 "2012-06-10T00:12:11Z")
> [@the\_apples\_fell](#): > > My issue is with someone who is already in debt popping out three children and then expecting the government (i.e. tax payers) to pay for their needs. The most they can hope for is two consecutive years of assistance. Kind of a pitiful thing to have a houseful of kids for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-do-you-think-ones-purchases-taxes-should-be-looked-into/624625.md?page=7)