Subject:
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Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 14 Dec 2000 15:39:52 GMT
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Viewed:
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7015 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tom Stangl writes:
> When I was working at a Krogers in college in the Seafood dept, I had several
> people ask me if food stamps could be used to buy lobster. I also saw people
> buying sirloin with foodstamps.
>
> Why should someone that is on foodstamps be able to eat better than someone
> working for their food? Why should the person working for their food pay for
> the other to buy better food than they can?
Testify, brother! I worked at a 7-11 some years ago, and a new car with
the factory sticker on it pulled into the lot. Out climbed a guy in an
expensive and new-looking suit, and he came in and bought his candy bar with
foodstamps. On the other side of the spectrum, a known drug dealer
routinely came in during the night shift, and he'd always buy a bag of chips
or something small. From his pocket he'd produce a big fistful of 50's and
100's, but he'd pay using a crumpled foodstamp tucked in the middle of the cash.
Similarly, I once saw a mom and six kids trot through the store in
sequence, each trying to use a $1 foodstamp to buy a $.05 piece of gum,
netting each of them $.95 to spend on whatever they wanted.
These are, I recognize, anecdotal examples rather than
universally-consistent standards of abuse, but they point out some of the
shortcomings of the system.
> I also saw many people buying the necessities only, in order to feed a large
> family when they were in tough times. But the current system is too easy to >abuse, it needs a rework.
What about a system of vouchers (for lack of a better word) specifically
coded for particular purchases, for which no change need be given. A coupon
for chicken, or milk, or bread, for instance, rather than a means to fleece
the merchant et al? I mean, if a person is living on the government dime,
whether for legitimate reasons or not, why should they not be given specific
rules for acceptable purchases?
Dave!
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: IP ( was Re: LP POINT 1
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| (...) When I was working at a Krogers in college in the Seafood dept, I had several people ask me if food stamps could be used to buy lobster. I also saw people buying sirloin with foodstamps. Why should someone that is on foodstamps be able to eat (...) (26 years ago, 13-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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