# The ethics of food stamps (AITA?)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 10, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457 "2024-12-10T20:51:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 62

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457/62 "2024-12-11T03:43:52Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Am I wrong?

Yes, but you’re not alone.

> [@Food stamps- should there be restrictions on what you can buy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamps-should-there-be-restrictions-on-what-you-can-buy/179335):
>
> In my job as a cashier at Wally World, I deal frequently with people who purchase their groceries with food stamps. OK, I’m fine with that. I really don’t mind the idea that people who are in poverty can get some government help paying for the groceries. However… I am frequently apalled at the amount of money food-stamp using customers spend on things such as chips, cookies, snack cakes, soda pop… Well, actually I’m appalled at the amount of these things just about everybody buys. I can’t beli…

> [@Food Stamp /Lobster and Steak](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-stamp-lobster-and-steak/289009):
>
> After reading this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=301289) it got up my ire again. If you cannot work for your money, which I do understand under limited conditions, how can you go to the store and buy lobster and steak and then just junk food up the ass? I have seen this time and time again and yes it pisses me off, how can they afford those items using food stamps? I can understand once in a while having an expensive home cooked meal but by the people in front of me through-out the years buying junk and/or expensive food …

And it seems to come from the same place as this sort of thing:

> [@Black Myth Bustin' Time. (welfare rich)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-myth-bustin-time-welfare-rich/423491):
>
> This is the second time I have overheard members of the program seated next to mine at the call center I work in, spouting racist garbage. The last time, I stood up and told them to shut their yap before we take a walk to HR. This time, I just wearily let it slide. But I think I should speak out on this particular myth that they were on about, because eventually, my own people begin to believe this nonsense, and that aint good. Most of the young black men you see driving down the street in E…

And on a slightly pedantic note:

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> In the grocery business we usually just call it EBT, for “electronic balance transfer”.

It’s Electronic Benefits Transfer.

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