15% of Americans on food stamps

[BamaDrifter64]

Wow...it wasn't too many years ago that people around here were embarrassed to be on food stamps...now it seems every time I go to the store everyone I get behind is using an EBT card or some other type of government aid...to the tune of $6 BILLION per MONTH...and it's just going to get worse...

http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/05/13682742-report-15-of-americans-on-food-stamps?lite

[BF]

They're Obumer's voting base. 

[Patrick]

I thought it was more than that..  Only half of the working folks are not paying any tax and half of the population is on some form of assistance.. At least thats how it is in this area.. 22% of our state budget is for welfare..

[musclehead]

NBC reports %15 on food stamps.

CNN money reports it at 46 million. the USDA is running ads actively trying to get folks on food stamps

http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/25/news/economy/food-stamps-ads/index.htm

[Master Blaster]

NBC reports %15 on food stamps.

CNN money reports it at 46 million. the USDA is running ads actively trying to get folks on food stamps

http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/25/news/economy/food-stamps-ads/index.htm

What that gets me the most is they are running them on the Latino stations to attract the illegals.  OOPS I mean the undocumented workers, wouldnt want to offend the liberal side of the house.

[alph]

You have to understand, these government agencies MUST get more people onto their program so that they can "build" their budget.  Whatever money they DON'T spend, they don't get in next year's budget. The bigger the budget, the more administration pay and that means a better pay rate for the administrator.....   SOOOO, they must drum up "customers" or what we working people call "dependents".....  that's why they want illegal aliens, pregnant teens, fat people that they call "disabled"..... so on and so on.  You can't blame the 15% using the agency; you've got to blame the government that wants to KEEP these people dependent on the handouts.  

The next time you're in line paying with your hard earned cash, don't hate the person that's using something that's "given" to 'em.  They probably didn't look for a freebie hand out, that handout probably came looking for them.

[BigAl]

Food Stamps when I was young,

Dad's Business was failing, Recession of 73 and Carter need I say more.

History is repeating itself.

Obama is in charge now.

Dad is retired,

History is going to really look different if Obama gets reelected by the fine Americans.

Heaven help us.

[BigAl]

You have to understand, these government agencies MUST get more people onto their program so that they can "build" their budget.  Whatever money they DON'T spend, they don't get in next year's budget. The bigger the budget, the more administration pay and that means a better pay rate for the administrator.....   SOOOO, they must drum up "customers" or what we working people call "dependents".....  that's why they want illegal aliens, pregnant teens, fat people that they call "disabled"..... so on and so on.  You can't blame the 15% using the agency; you've got to blame the government that wants to KEEP these people dependent on the handouts.  

The next time you're in line paying with your hard earned cash, don't hate the person that's using something that's "given" to 'em.  They probably didn't look for a freebie hand out, that handout probably came looking for them.

As I work in government plant for National Security I have to say Alph is exactly on the money here.

[musclehead]

You have to understand, these government agencies MUST get more people onto their program so that they can "build" their budget.  Whatever money they DON'T spend, they don't get in next year's budget. The bigger the budget, the more administration pay and that means a better pay rate for the administrator.....   SOOOO, they must drum up "customers" or what we working people call "dependents".....  that's why they want illegal aliens, pregnant teens, fat people that they call "disabled"..... so on and so on.  You can't blame the 15% using the agency; you've got to blame the government that wants to KEEP these people dependent on the handouts.  

The next time you're in line paying with your hard earned cash, don't hate the person that's using something that's "given" to 'em.  They probably didn't look for a freebie hand out, that handout probably came looking for them.

As I work in government plant for National Security I have to say Alph is exactly on the money here.

they are looking for 'customers' for sure.....

[Moonshot_1]

 You can't blame the 15% using the agency; you've got to blame the government that wants to KEEP these people dependent on the handouts.

Yes. Yes you can blame them. This is a country of FREE people. Just because the government wants to keep them dependent doesn't mean they have to go along with it.

I got no quarrel with the person or family that has hit a hard time and needs the assistance to get them through it while they work hard at getting out from under.

It's the people who walk into the store, put their baby in the cart, get out their government coupons and cards, then go to the checkout with steaks, oysters, crab legs, and high end food stuff and then pull out the cash for beer and cigarettes.

I worked retail for over 30 years. Seen it first hand. The abuse is rampant. And been going on for a long, long time.

Just the other day, my Mom related a story about how, when I was just a boy, I wanted a toy firetruck. It was at one of the local chain retailers. It cost $30 which back in the 60's was a chunk of change for a toy.
Anyway, earlier on this particular day, we were out grocery shopping. A woman and her Mom were ahead of my Mom in the check out and were paying for their groceries with a load of food stamps. My Mom said she was really put off by what they were buying with the food stamps. Steaks, seafood, other high end things. My Mom and Dad easily qualified for the food stamp program at the time but were too proud to sign up for it.

Anyway, my Mom is a little disgusted about the whole deal.
A little later at the local Chain retailer, there were those same 2 women with TWO of those firetrucks in their cart. My Mom overheard them say they better get two so the kids won't fight.

Mom blew a gasket. The thought still fries her 45 years later.

[Patrick]

I've mentioned this before and it may be getting a little of subject,, but,, it still concerns welfare and food stamps.. I live in a welfare town[ upstate NY] with a huge population of low-lifes [4th in the country of 'undocumented workers].. I see these abuses every day and can't keep my shut sometimes..
One instance,, One gal grew up in this town and I see her everyday.. New clothes, 2 cell phones[welfare supplies cell phones], at least $20 lottery tickets every, Escalade, etc.. She has been in prison 3 times I'm aware of for ' illegal substances ' and still runs a fairly profitable ' nightly business' and brags about receiving $53K/yr in welfare..
2nd instance.. My ex-wifes kid [ not mine ] has been on full disability since high school for depression [ I'd be depressed too having to live with her].. He has never had a job of any kind and has new designer clothes, a pocket full of money and a new car every year.. That stuff is not supplied by his mother..
I've also been involved with work-fare.. These people they sent for work are useless.. I didn't dare let them even wash a car or change a tire,, I tried teaching them how to wash windows or sweep floors and they couldn't [ or wouldn't ] do that and would walk out,, but,, they continued to get their 'well-deserved' benefits..
This country is so out of control I don't if it could every be corrected.. Don't get me wrong,, if someone really needs help then fine,, but,, there has to be reasonable limits and once back on their feet I believe it should be paid back..  But,, I'm sure I'm wrong about that.. OK,, I'll stop now..

[Hoser]

From the checkouts in the stores around here, it's probly twice that.    Hoser

[Fudd]

Food stamp spending has increased over 100% since 2008.

http://news.yahoo.com/sessions-food-stamp-spending-100-percent-since-obama-224804723.html

Lemme guess......Blame Bush....right??

[scoot]

Food Stamps when I was young,

Dad's Business was failing, Recession of 73 and Carter need I say more.

History is repeating itself.

Obama is in charge now.

Dad is retired,

History is going to really look different if Obama gets reelected by the fine Americans.


Heaven help us.

So quick to blame someone. It was actually every Rebublican's hero in 1973, "I not a criminal" Richard Nixon, that was to blame. He was president in 1973

[musclehead]

Food Stamps when I was young,

Dad's Business was failing, Recession of 73 and Carter need I say more.

History is repeating itself.

Obama is in charge now.

Dad is retired,

History is going to really look different if Obama gets reelected by the fine Americans.


Heaven help us.

So quick to blame someone. It was actually every Rebublican's hero in 1973, "I not a criminal" Richard Nixon, that was to blame.

I'll never quite know how some guys get elected president Nixon is one of them  Obama is another. before you go off and start calling me a racist or sumthin, some people were vetting Obama and they were called RACIST. just Obama's past associations would have barred him from working for the secret service.

[O-B-1]

I thought it was more than that..  Only half of the working folks are not paying any tax and half of the population is on some form of assistance.. At least thats how it is in this area.. 22% of our state budget is for welfare..

Keep in mind that the oil comapnies can mke $10 billion in windfall profits and not pay a cent in taxes... But that is okay... They have lobbyists and money for the politicians.
The corporations have to quit outsourcing all the jobs to cheap overseas labor. It was a good move on a temporary basis, but in the long haul it is the downfall of the consumer-based economy. Consumers with low or no income won't be buying your $75,000 automobiles or your $5.00/gallon gas.
It created an unsustainable economy when they started that.

[G-Man]

I've mentioned this before and it may be getting a little of subject,, but,, it still concerns welfare and food stamps.. I live in a welfare town[ upstate NY] with a huge population of low-lifes [4th in the country of 'undocumented workers].. I see these abuses every day and can't keep my shut sometimes..
One instance,, One gal grew up in this town and I see her everyday.. New clothes, 2 cell phones[welfare supplies cell phones], at least $20 lottery tickets every, Escalade, etc.. She has been in prison 3 times I'm aware of for ' illegal substances ' and still runs a fairly profitable ' nightly business' and brags about receiving $53K/yr in welfare..
2nd instance.. My ex-wifes kid [ not mine ] has been on full disability since high school for depression [ I'd be depressed too having to live with her].. He has never had a job of any kind and has new designer clothes, a pocket full of money and a new car every year.. That stuff is not supplied by his mother..
I've also been involved with work-fare.. These people they sent for work are useless.. I didn't dare let them even wash a car or change a tire,, I tried teaching them how to wash windows or sweep floors and they couldn't [ or wouldn't ] do that and would walk out,, but,, they continued to get their 'well-deserved' benefits..
This country is so out of control I don't if it could every be corrected.. Don't get me wrong,, if someone really needs help then fine,, but,, there has to be reasonable limits and once back on their feet I believe it should be paid back..  But,, I'm sure I'm wrong about that.. OK,, I'll stop now..

I have a family member in Dutchess county NY who works for a gold buying company.  They also buy gift and store card, including Food Stamp cards at 50% of their value.  He routinely buys food stamp cards from their recipients.  Why you may ask........... here's a couple of reasons he was given when he asked the question....  "They give me too much"  "I can't buy what I want to buy".  Bodegas (small grocery stores in urban NYC) buy them as well, or trade for cigarettes....loose cigarettes (loosies they are affectionately called) at that.  There is so much scamming going on with the welfare system that it's almost comical. 

Oh, and about those oil companies making billions (I know it was placed in the thread to make us look away), next time your 401K does a little better, just send the check back.  A lot of investors are making good money in dividends off of them.  Helps my retired parents an awful lot.  Probably one of the only things in the market that isn't a pyramid scheme.

[Patrick]

Quote :  I have a family member in Dutchess county NY who works for a gold buying company.  They also buy gift and store card, including Food Stamp cards at 50% of their value.  He routinely buys food stamp cards from their recipients.  Why you may ask........... here's a couple of reasons he was given when he asked the question....  "They give me too much"  "I can't buy what I want to buy".  Bodegas (small grocery stores in urban NYC) buy them as well, or trade for cigarettes....loose cigarettes (loosies they are affectionately called) at that.  There is so much scamming going on with the welfare system that it's almost comical.  End Quote ::

It is a joke,, if you didn't laugh about it it would really get to you.. Bar owners take them at half value too.. I thought they were supposed to go through card readers,, so I don't know how they are still getting away with this,, but,, they are a lot smarter at this stuff than I am.. Its just life as usual in New York..

[musclehead]

I thought it was more than that..  Only half of the working folks are not paying any tax and half of the population is on some form of assistance.. At least thats how it is in this area.. 22% of our state budget is for welfare..

Keep in mind that the oil comapnies can mke $10 billion in windfall profits and not pay a cent in taxes... But that is okay... They have lobbyists and money for the politicians.
The corporations have to quit outsourcing all the jobs to cheap overseas labor. It was a good move on a temporary basis, but in the long haul it is the downfall of the consumer-based economy. Consumers with low or no income won't be buying your $75,000 automobiles or your $5.00/gallon gas.
It created an unsustainable economy when they started that.

patently not true, even mother jones website claims Exxon paid 39 million in taxes last year. they made a bit more then that 

[scoot]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/23/the-worst-welfare-abusers-are-college-students/