# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/81 "2018-02-15T17:24:11Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Oh OK, just your run of the mill government deliberately trolling its citizens then. > > Wait, what ?! _sigh_ It’s rabbit-hole all the way down, isn’t it ? Unfortunately it isn’t trolling just for the sake of trolling. The goal was distraction from the actual cuts to the programs that they really intend to make. They aren’t going to send out packages with government-mandated peanut butter, they are hoping to gut the program and leave hungry people hungry. It also helped change the conversation to something other than Trump paying off a hooker for her silence right before the election. Oh yea and Russia. Message board trolls and administration trolls have very different agendas despite sharing some similar personality defects. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/82 "2018-02-15T18:59:29Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > …I’m not trying to educate you. I’m calling you out as a shit person. Remember, recognizing that you have a problem is the first step toward giving up. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/83 "2018-02-15T20:51:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > That actually is exactly how I use Aldi’s. Now, I’m not on food stamps, but I am a cheap bastard, and Aldi has the best prices on snacks and less-than-healthy convenience food (and also baking staples like flour, sugar, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.) Meat and veggies (and most “real food,” in general), though, I go to the local supermarket. Better prices, better selection. Thread hijack here: I’m cheap, too – and I shop regularly at Aldi. I find their dairy products (fresh milk, eggs, butter) to be good and less expensive than the local supermarket. The cheese selection leaves a lot to be desired, though. I typically get some produce at Aldi, too. Their sale prices can be excellent. For example, every couple of months they have “baby carrots” – you know, the ones that aren’t immature at all but regular carrots peeled and whittled down to a small size – for $.49 a pound. I got raspberries there last week – quite good and $1.69 a package. I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/84 "2018-02-15T21:21:48Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I believe there has been a [proposal.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal) I don’t think many in the current administration would view that as a satirical publication. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Chetumal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Chetumal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chetumal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/85 "2018-02-16T04:30:02Z")
Kinda bummed that my thread has deteriorated so quickly into Hillary/bashing/politics and trolling.:mad: I had really hoped for a discussion on how/why these boxes are a good or bad idea. ---
**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 16, 2018, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/86 "2018-02-16T08:43:10Z")
> [@Chetumal](#): > > Kinda bummed that my thread has deteriorated so quickly into Hillary/bashing/politics and trolling.:mad: > \*\* > I had really hoped for a discussion on how/why these boxes are a good or bad idea.\*\* Well, for one thing, it’s the Pit. I think there’s been a pretty good discussion of why they’re a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/87 "2018-02-16T19:59:58Z")
Mentioned off the top of my head: Nutritional value is unknown. Makes no allowance for allergies or impact on health conditions of the recipient. Is a substantial cut - a least one poster barely makes it monthly now. No allowance for religious edicts and practices. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/88 "2018-02-16T20:17:15Z")
> [@Chetumal](#): > > Kinda bummed that my thread has deteriorated so quickly into Hillary/bashing/politics and trolling.:mad: > > I had really hoped for a discussion on how/why these boxes are a good or bad idea. You made a great choice putting this in the pit. Threads never deteriorate or go sideways in here. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/89 "2018-02-16T22:14:41Z")
There’s a [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=849317) for this subject in Great Debates, which is staying mostly on topic. That topic being that conservatives (notably HurricaneDitka) are embarrassingly bad at both logic and argument, and how it’s pretty clear that the only reason to support such a stupid idea is because you revel in the misery of others. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/90 "2018-02-16T22:42:11Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Yes. Plus a lot of them are probably illegals anyway. Good Americans have their own food money earned with the sweat of immigrant labor. In the goode ole days, they had slaves and debtors and orphans for that. The idea of actually paying anyone for their work is un-American. Fucking poor people. Fucking working class. They should be grateful the upper crust even bothers to flog them once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/91 "2018-02-16T22:45:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > How about an [_Eat The Rich_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F05TJv9vl64) trailer? How about … \*Ladies and gentlemen May I have your attention,please? Are your nostrils aquiver and tingling as well as that delicate, lushious, ambrosial smell? yes,they are,I can tell Well,ladies and gentlemen that aroma enriching the breeze, is like nothing compared to its succulent source as the gourmets among you will tell you,of course. Ladies and gentlemen you can’t imagine the rapture in store, just inside of this door! There,you’ll sample Mrs.Lovett’s meat pies.savory and sweet pies,as you’ll see. You who eat pies Mrs. Lovetts meat pies conjure up the treat pies used to be! \* ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/92 "2018-02-16T22:47:25Z")
> [@andros](#): > > {{Citation needed}} Yes. We demand evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/93 "2018-02-17T05:38:30Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Oh OK, just your run of the mill government deliberately trolling its citizens then. > > Wait, what ?! _sigh_ It’s rabbit-hole all the way down, isn’t it ? You know, at least the guys from forocoches\* will actually give serious advice on cars and driving. The current US government… I wouldn’t ask them how to put my car in gear. - Their two biggest international-level trolling stunts so far have been getting [these guys](http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/eurovision-2008/eurovision-2008-actuacion-espana-rodolfo-chikilicuatre/96812/) into Eurovision and proposing that a new ship in Her British Majesty’s Navy be named after [the Half Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo) (and I don’t mean any Lannisters). ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/94 "2018-02-17T07:17:30Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Good. Like I said, I like watching people mock fuckwits, and you definitely qualify. You keep banging that drum and misusing quotation marks like the drooling moron that you are, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. > > Ahh, the classic “they laughed at Einstein” defense, while failing to note that they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. It had nothing to do with how “accepted” your opinion was, it had everything to do with how shitty your opinion was. The contempt you show to the poor people receiving this benefit showed in every post you made, and that contempt is why I’m calling you out as a shitty human being. It’s not because you want to “exercise an alternative opinion,” it’s because you’re acting like a shit person. > > Savvy? > > I’m not trying to educate you. I’m calling you out as a shit person. First, I use quotations to highlight words, I wasn’t under the impression that many cared for such trivial and petty nonsense. Second, no, it is not any type of defense, simply an opinion that differs from yours. I have nothing against the poor or those who are not decent off, I was explaining that there are some that do not efficiently use their assistance. Don’t give me any of that “its not of my business” crap like some others have, it is an opinion of my own and you don’t have to like it. I don’t care if you do. If you had any sense of reading comprehension you would also notice that I said that I understand the intention of the plan (for boxed food) but it is being done the wrong way. That’s it, cut and dry and you think I am a shitty person for that opinion? Alright then. I am a shitty person because I have an opinion that differs from yours. Before I could even explain further, I got jumped on by thinking somewhat differently than others (I understand its the pit, goes with the territory). Now If I may I will finish my thoughts, savvy? If there is a plan where people could have these boxes of food, adjusted to their nutritional standards and in sufficient amount that it will help them, or even a hybrid of giving allotments and boxed provisions all the while saving money. I don’t see a problem with that in itself. The plan is sound on the surface. That is all I am saying. Of course other aspects are in question, but all I’ve seen are worst case scenario’s posted. It’s an opinion. If having a different opinion makes someone an shitty person as you so eloquently put it, that makes everyone here a shitty person. I actually don’t believe a person with a different opinion makes them a troll or shitty person. I bet it’s lonely up there on your pedestal. You can come down now. Also; To those that echo the sentiment “How is it any of your business?” I reply the same question if you are not using SNAP or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/95 "2018-02-17T07:19:04Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 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. Not confused. I was heavily illustrating a point of the double standards that exist here. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/96 "2018-02-17T08:12:02Z")
I must respond to this. > [@anomalous1](#): > > …If there is a plan where people could have these boxes of food, adjusted to their nutritional standards and in sufficient amount that it will help them, or even a hybrid of giving allotments and boxed provisions all the while saving money. I don’t see a problem with that in itself… Nor would anyone else here. > [@anomalous1](#): > > …The plan is **sound on the surface**. That is all I am saying. Of course other aspects are in question, but all I’ve seen are worst case scenario’s posted… And here we run into problems. There is no plan, no real estimate. How do you consider this non plan to be sound? Other aspects aren’t in question. They are facts. This is something that some might consider with your buddies over a couple of beers for 5 minutes before realizing it just can’t work. It makes no sense at all. Consider what the half stipend of $50 a month in canned and dried food would weigh. Now think about shipping it. To 16 million people. Every month. trumps team thinks this is somehow going to save money. They’re either stupid, lying or both. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/97 "2018-02-17T09:32:37Z")
Of course there is no plan, all of this is hypothetical, just like the worst case terrible scenarios others have depicted if it came to fruition. I am saying IF this were to be done. If what I said was the basic idea, I could get behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/98 "2018-02-17T10:54:11Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > I see the point the Pres is trying to make Still waiting on your answer: What point do you see? ---
**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 17, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/99 "2018-02-17T14:45:10Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Second, no, it is not any type of defense, simply an opinion that differs from yours. I recognize your opinion and support your right to have it even as I disagree with it. > [@](#): > > I have nothing against the poor or those who are not decent off, I was explaining that there are some that do not efficiently use their assistance. Don’t give me any of that “its not of my business” crap like some others have, it is an opinion of my own and you don’t have to like it. OK, but some of us have the opinion that perfect efficiency is unattainable and you (general) don’t always know what’s best for someone else. We also may have different ideas of “efficient” and what’s the best way to help the poor. > [@](#): > > I don’t care if you do. If you had any sense of reading comprehension you would also notice that I said that I understand the intention of the plan (for boxed food) but it is being done the wrong way. That’s it, cut and dry and you think I am a shitty person for that opinion? I’m NOT the person who called you shitty, just to clarify, but I think you do look down on the poor. We both agree that this plan as laid out is the wrong way to execute the stated intentions. Where we disagree is that I think it’s a bad idea all around, or at least not as good an idea as our current system of aid distribution for food. That is because the government as far back as the Great Depression did, in fact, distribute actual foods to the poor and we _stopped_ doing that because depositing money into a virtual account and letting the poor do their own shopping is a cheaper program to run and thus more of the allotted budget goes to food rather than administrative or logistical costs, and it’s harder to divert stuff out of the program. That, along with the “estimates” of costs being bogus, is the main reason why I object to this plan - we used to do this and stopped because it wasn’t as efficient as our current system. We’ve tried this already and found it wanting. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-to-replace-food-stamps-with-a-box-of-processed-food-everyone-gets-the-same-thing/808789/100 "2018-02-17T15:35:47Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Of course there is no plan, all of this is hypothetical, just like the worst case terrible scenarios others have depicted if it came to fruition. I am saying IF this were to be done. If what I said was the basic idea, I could get behind it. But - The worst case scenarios are not hypothetical. They are simple facts. [ul] [li]It would cost more.[/li][li]People would have less, or no choice on the food they receive.[/li][/ul] I have a VERY hard time giving the current administration a break on this. This actually got to the USDA level of an ‘estimate’. So I don’t think it was just a stupid idea that was thrown out at a spit-ballin session. This was supported by trumps appointee at the USDA - [“USDA America’s Harvest Box is a bold, innovative approach to providing nutritious food to people who need assistance feeding themselves and their families – and all of it is home grown by American farmers and producers. It maintains the same level of food value as SNAP participants currently receive, provides states flexibility in administering the program, and is responsible to the taxpayers.” - Secretary Sonny Perdue]([https://www.agri-pulse.com/ext/resources/pdfs/Americas-Harvest-Box.pdf](https://www.agri-pulse.com/ext/resources/pdfs/Americas-Harvest-Box.pdf)) [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=4) [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=6)