# Trump wants to replace food stamps with a box of processed food, everyone gets the same thing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789 "2018-02-13T20:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/41 "2018-02-14T15:51:18Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I was speaking of those who abuse benefits, buying stuff for others, selling LINK cards , not reporting their tips Gosh, isn’t it amazing how a certain set of people insists on focusing on the small number of people who cheat the system and insisting that it is much more widespread than it actually is? Typically citing this sort of crap as reasons to cut assistance to poor people? And on the other side, isn’t it amazing how people who actually want to help the poor don’t spend any time talking about this? One might almost draw conclusions on which side of the fence someone stands when one hears them talking about this. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/42 "2018-02-14T15:55:10Z")
What about those less fortunate people who, for ethnic or religious reasons, eat something other than what Trumpcare provides? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/43 "2018-02-14T15:55:13Z")
Not to give the America-hating fuckstick Administration any ideas (and since the adminstration pretty much admitted to the whole proposal being a troll anyway, I’m _probably_ not), but the silver lining here is that the proposal wasn’t just to replace the benefits with a monthly allotment of Nutraloaf. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/44 "2018-02-14T15:55:37Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I can’t imagine how proud the recipients will be when that big truck drives up in front of their home in suburbia and drops off their big box of food labeled “ **Trumpcare**.” Ahahahahahahahaha! > [@Cousin Eddie](#): > > I don’t know why they call this stuff Hamburger Helper. It does just fine by itself, huh? I like it better than Tuna Helper myself, don’t you, Clark? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/45 "2018-02-14T16:01:16Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > In that aspect, I was speaking of those who abuse benefits, buying stuff for others, selling LINK cards , not reporting their tips. I don’t have any self-righteous complex when it comes to assistance programs even if they are not a ‘right’, just yearning for better efficiency is all. The poor need assistance. It is not to undercut anyone, but to make sure that all is fair. Bravo for you for actually reporting fraud, but I do want to point out that “buying stuff for others is not” _inherently_ a wrong - a recipient can designate someone to act as a purchasing agent (common with elderly and disabled recipients). People in the same household may not share the same surname. Also, I have a number of customers who will split the cost of a basket of food between _two_ EBT cards. There’s nothing wrong with that - it might be less wasteful for two people to split a bag of oranges or onions, for example. My register allows my to apply, say, $50 from one account to the total and $50 from another account. The USDA claims that only 1% of EBT funds are diverted from their intended purpose. I don’t think you’re going to drive fraud below that number, frankly, I’m surprised it’s that low. Even if you assume that there’s 2-3 times that actually going on (because no tracking/auditing system is perfect) that’s still an exceedingly low figure of fraud for the program. Yes, there are some high-profile fraud cases. That’s going to happen in any system that large. Most fraud is pretty low-level - buying some food for a friend as well as yourself, for example. That said - if suspect something is wrong then _report it_, don’t just bitch on the internet. While I was on unemployment someone accused me of fraud and I was audited - no big deal, I provided all requested information and I was proven to NOT being fraudulent. Likewise, I never had any trouble providing full information while on foodstamps (“Mrs. Broomstick, you do realize that almost no one else discloses their income from turning in aluminum cans? Thank you for your… ah… _exhaustive_ level of honesty”) Yeah, I’m not always happen with what I see in peoples’ carts, but that applies to ALL income levels not just the poor. Just remember that the vast majority of people on EBT are honest folks trying to survive as best they can. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/46 "2018-02-14T16:03:37Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I can’t imagine how proud the recipients will be when that big truck drives up in front of their home in suburbia and drops off their big box of food labeled “ **Trumpcare**.” I left a big package of Trumpcare in the toilet this morning. Fortunately, that action had more benefit than this idea will ever provide. > [@asahi](#): > > No idea. > > All I know is, she drowned Vince Foster, then dredged him up from the Potomac and then shot him in the head to make it look like a suicide. Then she murdered a democratic activist just for fun. It is a horrible sign that I can’t tell if you are parroting the people who actually believe this or are one of the people who believe it. If the former, be careful you are too good at imitating the crazies. If the later, then it is truly taking longer than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/47 "2018-02-14T16:04:04Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Calm down > > In that aspect, I was speaking of those who abuse benefits, buying stuff for others, selling LINK cards , not reporting their tips. I don’t have any self-righteous complex when it comes to assistance programs even if they are not a ‘right’, just yearning for better efficiency is all. The poor need assistance. It is not to undercut anyone, but to make sure that all is fair. > > I never said it was motivated by some ‘empathy’, those are your words. I said “I understand the logic, but its being done wrong” in so many words. **JayJay** is probably one of the calmest posters on this board. Learn from him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/48 "2018-02-14T16:05:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > What about those less fortunate people who, for ethnic or religious reasons, eat something other than what Trumpcare provides? [Trumpster]What ethnic or religious reasons? Christianity doesn’t forbid pork or beef, and there are no other religions for a real white … bread Amurrican!"[/Trumpster] ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/49 "2018-02-14T16:06:44Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > What about those less fortunate people who, for ethnic or religious reasons, eat something other than what Trumpcare provides? My first thought along these lines was that they couldn’t figure out how to include stuff Muslim’s can’t eat without hitting Jews as collateral damage. That theory doesn’t really hold up, though; the latter issue is not really a show-stopper for President Pumpkinhead’s fan club. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/50 "2018-02-14T16:07:36Z")
> [@howye](#): > > It is a horrible sign that I can’t tell if you are parroting the people who actually believe this or are one of the people who believe it. If the former, be careful you are too good at imitating the crazies. If the later, then it is truly taking longer than we thought. I would think the “dredged him up from the Potomac” part is a fairly-reliable signal of parody. :dubious:🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/51 "2018-02-14T16:09:15Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Labeling someone with different opinions a ‘troll’ or ‘fuckwit’ is very immature, much more so if it happens to be a person with a valid point in which you disagree. Grow up. > > Sad state of affairs when you types allow anyone to have an opinion, unless it differs from your own. Fantastic coming from the so-called champions of free speech and expression. Labeling someone with different opinions a “troll” or a “fuckwit” in a flame-war internet forum, **in which that person remains equally free to go on expressing their different opinions** , _is_ free speech and expression. Don’t confuse being insulted for your opinions with actual infringement or suppression of your freedom to express your opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/52 "2018-02-14T16:09:18Z")
> [@howye](#): > > It is a horrible sign that I can’t tell if you are parroting the people who actually believe this or are one of the people who believe it. If the former, be careful you are too good at imitating the crazies. If the later, then it is truly taking longer than we thought. I am reminded of the _X-Files_ episode about a profiler who got so far into a serial killer’s head that he started murdering people himself. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/53 "2018-02-14T16:12:23Z")
Actually Trump has figured out a way to lower the cost of bacon. Take bacon out of the reach of the poor, the price drops, and Trump demands praise for making bacon more affordable for the rich. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/54 "2018-02-14T17:36:45Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Actually Trump has figured out a way to lower the cost of bacon. Take bacon out of the reach of the poor, the price drops, and Trump demands praise for making bacon more affordable for the rich. Is this a set up for an, “Eat the rich”, punchline? 'Cuz I can see it coming in… 9…8…7… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/55 "2018-02-14T17:45:28Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is this a set up for an, “Eat the rich”, punchline? 'Cuz I can see it coming in… 9…8…7… How about an [_Eat The Rich_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F05TJv9vl64) trailer? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/56 "2018-02-14T18:05:28Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > [Trumpster]What ethnic or religious reasons? Christianity doesn’t forbid pork or beef, and there are no other religions for a real white … bread Amurrican!"[/Trumpster] Nitpick: You used the wrong homophone. Should be “white … bred” ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/57 "2018-02-14T18:12:59Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > To quote a Townhall (Republican website) contributor: “All these problems that you list would be solved if you just made your own money and supported yourself”: [x.com](https://twitter.com/KurtSchlichter/status/963448550234382336) I was under the impression that making your own money was Very Illegal… ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/58 "2018-02-14T19:10:39Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I see the point the Pres is trying to make, but even I agree that this is the wrong approach with the Reagan-esque idea of “government cheese” The purchase of nutritionally negligent food would be a better change. Limiting the purchase of soda/pop, cookies, cakes and such, or perhaps some stipulation on sugar content to a certain amount would be better. I shop at various grocery stores to get the best deals and almost every time I pop into an Aldi store or some others, \*\*there are people buying a cartload of cookies, cakes, chips, and Hawaiian punch and not one vegetable in sight, paid with EBT or SNAP. I see it so often I could set a watch by it. \*\*Same with friends I used to have who worked for “under the table” pay or skewed their tips and received the benefits, only to buy junk food. The target idea would be to eliminate waste and to promote better health among those who use the benefits. I can’t imagine concerning myself with seeing what people buy then watching them pay for their groceries so I could see if they’re using EBT. Certainly not enough to make such broad generalizations. No credible judgment can be made that doesn’t consider how people live their lives. Maybe they’re stocking up on their treats for the month because they don’t get to Aldi’s very often, and find better deals on meat and vegetables elsewhere (not inconceivable). Or they have a kid like \*\*rushgeekgirl’\*\*s who’s extraordinarily particular about food and eating something unhealthy is better than not eating at all. It’s all none of my business. How do people pay with SNAP, anyway? It’s a program not a method of payment. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/59 "2018-02-14T19:29:59Z")
Having had the unfortunate circumstance of needing a job post-college, I took a job with the welfare department. My first fucking real job with a real desk in a real cubby hole and a fricken stack of manuals and files big enough to make a hoarder jealous. You know what, there is fraud, there are cheaters, there are scammers, but for ever one of those there are 100 human beings who legitimately need help. The fraud dog won’t hunt here. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/60 "2018-02-14T19:35:54Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > I would think the “dredged him up from the Potomac” part is a fairly-reliable signal of parody. :dubious:🙂 I am going to go ahead and assume you don’t read some threads on twitter. 'Cause I just don’t know anymore. Take the program under consideration here. This is just, without a doubt, the dumbest thing spewed by the administration since the last dumbest thing they did. But it is dumb. It is poorly thought out. Will not save money in any fashion. Will in fact hurt businesses. The only actual thing this proposal accomplishes is to play the racist base. The group that thinks all of them welfare queens take their welfare checks and trade for smokes, beer, and (god help me) tatoos. This is an actual rant I saw from a Trumper on twitter. They thought this was a great idea. Beyond the craven stupidity and inefficiency of it all, is the mind numbing inhumanity of the world view. So, at the end of the day I just can’t tell when some people are joking anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789.md?page=4)