# Replacing food stamps with real food for poor **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742 "2009-08-17T16:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/241 "2009-08-25T15:17:08Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > Well I view it as unpleasant but good for them in the long run. Kind of like cod liver oil. > > Maybe you’re right. Since the gov’t is paying everyone health care or will be, screw it, the gov’t has the right to dictate everyone’s life down the most minute detail…it’s on their dime. I’d love that. It’d be hilarious. So following your logic further, if the fire department puts your house out, do they have a right to dictate mush for you? How about public school? Anyone who attends gets mush for life? Library’s are a ticket to mush? The mistake you’re making in your greed is your conflicting the government providing a democratically decided service with charity. The government serves under the consent of the governed. That’s why it provides services ranging from food assistance to libraries, but evil pieces of trash bigots who would have people die in the streets are too stupid to understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/242 "2009-08-25T15:57:49Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > I’m not on the public dole. I’m gainfully employed so I don’t need your permission to do anything. Are you getting the mortgage tax deduction? Can we dictate what kind of house you buy? You’re merely defining “the dole” as stuff that other people get, not you. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/243 "2009-08-25T18:32:45Z")
> [@Dripping](#): > > Blah blah blah. You are an asshole for wishing death on anyone. Period. Do not hurl personal insults at other posters outside the BBQ Pit. This is a Warning that repeating this behavior can get one’s posting privilrges revoked. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/244 "2009-08-25T19:11:21Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > So following your logic further, if the fire department puts your house out, do they have a right to dictate mush for you? How about public school? Anyone who attends gets mush for life? Library’s are a ticket to mush? > > The mistake you’re making in your greed is your conflicting the government providing a democratically decided service with charity. > > The government serves under the consent of the governed. That’s why it provides services ranging from food assistance to libraries, but evil pieces of trash bigots who would have people die in the streets are too stupid to understand that. I’m not making a mistake and am not greedy. People’s diet is related to health which is what the government is paying for. Pretty commonsensical to see a link. That’s one reason why the gov’t put huge taxes on cigarette companies…to make up for the medicare expense…get it? Smokers cost the gov’t more so it puts a tax of sorts on the cig companies. Libraries aren’t related to ‘health’ so forcing people to eat proper nutrition wouldn’t fall under their purview, now would it? And there is no “force” in anything I am proposing. The poor can do whatever they like. As long as it’s on THEIR OWN DIME. You’ve been warned once about gratuitous insults, but you did not listen? Maybe that is why you are poor? You like to wallow in self pity? Boo hoo this mean man on the internet would provide nutritious food instead of twinkies to poor people! Boo hoo he wants me to die! If you get a job, you can afford all the twinkies you want. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/245 "2009-08-25T19:20:29Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > . . . but evil pieces of trash bigots who would have people die in the streets are too stupid to understand that. In the context of this thread it is more than clear that you are specifically addressing this remark to **bri1600bv**. This is a Warning that you are well over the line and need to ratchet back the insults. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/246 "2009-08-25T19:22:41Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > You’ve been warned once about gratuitous insults, but you did not listen? Maybe that is why you are poor? You like to wallow in self pity? Boo hoo this mean man on the internet would provide nutritious food instead of twinkies to poor people! Boo hoo he wants me to die! I am not a big fan of issuing Warnings for “junior modding,” but when it is employed for the sole purpose of insulting other posters, then I am quite willing to hand out a Warning for being a jerk. Consider yourself Warned again. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/247 "2009-08-25T19:54:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Are you getting the mortgage tax deduction? Can we dictate what kind of house you buy? > > You’re merely defining “the dole” as stuff that other people get, not you. A tax deduction is welfare now? Sure, everyone’s on welfare. Who are you to begrudge paying for someone else’s free stuff? We let you keep a little bit of your money, didn’t we? Somehow even with a tax deduction I pay a good amount of taxes. You’re comparing that to someone who pays nothing and has their stuff provided gratis. Too much. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/248 "2009-08-25T21:08:18Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > A tax deduction is welfare now? Sure, everyone’s on welfare. Who are you to begrudge paying for someone else’s free stuff? We let you keep a little bit of your money, didn’t we? It’s just that you’ve decided that any money you get is fair, any money someone on welfare gets isn’t. It’s government largess, just dressed up in a fancier suit. Underneath it all you are taking money from the government without any strings attached but you want to put strings on other people’s money. > [@](#): > > Somehow even with a tax deduction I pay a good amount of taxes. You’re comparing that to someone who pays nothing and has their stuff provided gratis. Too much. Many people on welfare also work, and get FICA and other taxes taken out. They pay sales tax. Families in the US Military are on food stamps because they can’t afford to feed their families on their pay. [Cite](http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/moneymatters/a/foodstamps.htm) Are you going to feed them mush while their mothers and fathers are fighting overseas? ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/249 "2009-08-25T21:50:41Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It’s just that you’ve decided that any money you get is fair, any money someone on welfare gets isn’t. It’s government largess, just dressed up in a fancier suit. Underneath it all you are taking money from the government without any strings attached but you want to put strings on other people’s money. > Many people on welfare also work, and get FICA and other taxes taken out. They pay sales tax. Families in the US Military are on food stamps because they can’t afford to feed their families on their pay. [Cite](http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/moneymatters/a/foodstamps.htm) Are you going to feed them mush while their mothers and fathers are fighting overseas? Allowing someone to keep money they’ve earned isn’t the same as giving people money. And my house is paid off, so I don’t deduct interest. Although that’s beside the point. “But what about deducting state income taxes, huh?, huh?”. Yeah money I don’t even get should be taxed. Using your logic you could say that tax rates should really be 100%…so anything you get is basically welfare from the gov’t. ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/250 "2009-08-25T22:58:38Z")
Bri1600bv, You still have not responded to my question of post 223. I’ll quote it again here for clarity, because I would truly like a response. > [@StaudtCJ](#): > > What if your “nutritious food” that I should be so grateful to have and accept is something I’m allergic to? Should I still be required to eat it? Should I get some “alternative”? Can I get a cash-value trade so I can buy something I CAN eat? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/251 "2009-08-25T23:06:30Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > Using your logic you could say that tax rates should really be 100%…so anything you get is basically welfare from the gov’t. No, I’m saying we all get something from the government. And, contrary to what you are saying, we all pay some tax to the government, although not always income tax. You’re plan is more complex than the current system, would be more expensive than the current system, contrary to the goals of the current system, vindictive, class-warfare, and would never get implemented because it’s against the spirit of society. Aside from that it’s a fine plan. BTW, you still going to treat the military families the same way? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/252 "2009-08-26T01:07:46Z")
> [@bri1600bv](#): > > I mentioned in a couple threads how I thought a good idea would be to replace the food stamp program with actual food. The gov’t could contract to make a nutritious foodstuff or foodstuffs and give it out to supermarkets and freely distribute it to the poor. > > This would replace the foodstamp program. > > Why, you ask? > > Foodstamps can be used to buy crappy food, soda, etc. This makes the poor people fat which then burdens the gov’t with diabetes treatments for said poor, fat people etc. Usually people blame the corporations for pricing healthy food more than crappy fat/sugary food. So this would get aroun that by having a nutritious foodstuff for said poor people. > > Now the foodstuff wouldn’t taste very good…that’s kind of the point. Why should freeloaders get to stuff themselves with cookies and cakes all day and wash it down with sugar soda, then get diabetes and demand free medical care? > Nonetheless, it would be a diet that most of the people in the world would find very satisfying indeed. > > What do you think? During the Depression that is what the government did. We were given canned meat,sugar, powdered milk, flour,lard, dried fruit, cod liver oil,powdered eggs, oat meal, and rice. We were very happy to get it, and my father had to work on WPA projects, and my brothers went to CCC camps. That gave some money for rent. Not fancy apts. or houses. We had an attic to sleep in with blankets to separate rooms for my parents, the boys, and girls. We moved 5 times in 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/253 "2009-08-26T01:18:19Z")
> [@Fell\_through\_the\_Ice](#): > > Actually no I can’t see. I don’t have kids and have no idea what children eat at school… I was a cook in a public high school, the kids want to eat:Pizza, Hamburgers, and fries. Some of the kids would eat nutricious food if you gave them a small sample. There were many kids whose parents sent them to school with a nutricious lunch that they just threw in the waste basket. The ladies that cleared the tables etc. would take home bags of fruit that were untouched. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/254 "2009-08-26T02:47:23Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I was a cook in a public high school, the kids want to eat:Pizza, Hamburgers, and fries. Some of the kids would eat nutricious food if you gave them a small sample. There were many kids whose parents sent them to school with a nutricious lunch that they just threw in the waste basket. The ladies that cleared the tables etc. would take home bags of fruit that were untouched. Now, some schools are even serving Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Taco Bell, etc. It’s insane. At least when I was in high school, salad bar days were popular. But a lot of it’s still junk food. And crappy junk food, at that. The problem is, parents need to start their kids off EARLY, teaching them good eating habits. Feeding them mush is only going to, as someone said a ways back, reinforce the idea that healthy food tastes bad. I still say – send out newsletters with ideas for saving money, recipes, and good nutrition tips. And start kids out young, and teach them that healthy food doesn’t need to be shitty. Feeding them gruel is only going to make them crave Cheetos and Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742/255 "2009-08-26T03:42:22Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > The problem is, parents need to start their kids off EARLY, teaching them good eating habits. Feeding them mush is only going to, as someone said a ways back, reinforce the idea that healthy food tastes bad. Unfortunately some of the parents don’t themselves have the good eating habits to pass on. My son’s school (a decile 2 primary school) is fortunate to be participating in an NZ govt. program called [Fruit in Schools](http://www.moh.govt.nz/fruitinschools), which is trying to help teach the kids good eating habits, and also provide them with a piece of fruit each per day. So far it seems pretty successful; the kids are getting to try food they mightn’t otherwise attempt, and having found they like fruit are getting their parents to make it part of their shopping. In my son’s case he’ll try fruit at school that he previously refused at home, and is now happily eating the fruit we were unsuccessfully trying on him. Contrary child. Now, if only they’d do a “Vegetables in Schools”… 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-food-stamps-with-real-food-for-poor/506742.md?page=12)