Should food stamps be used for sweetened drinks?

RodaRose

If government wants to regulate something, why not go directly after the sweet drink manufacturers. If "its very likely to reduce type-2 diabetes and obesity among low-income Americans" (- See more at: http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2014/june/snap.html#sthash.dLAfgVPp.dpuf), why stop there? Lets reduce type 2 diabetes and obesity for ALL Americans by implementing a Warning label such as the ones on cigarettes, to warn EVERYONE that sugary drinks may cause type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Exactly we can make changes in the companies that run manufacturing.

Justkeepswimmin

I don't think it's any of my business what people use food stamps for.

Also, I always find it interesting that the same people who argue for less government involvement in people's lives, want to legislate what individuals can and can't use their food stamps for. Crazy.

Excellent point - I think that many who believe in less government involvement believe fewer people would be on food stamps if the government interfered less....that's a whole new can of worms and its almost 2 am.

Velum_cado

When you borrow money from whomever because you're in a rough spot, do you spend that money frivolously or responsibly? Soda is not "needed", so why if you can't afford it on your own would you get it?

That analogy doesn't quite work. People who are on food stamps get a finite amount per month. Why can't they determine how they use that amount? If they choose to spend it all on steaks and soda, it just means there will be less at the end of the month for other things. It's their problem. The government doesn't come in and give them more if they blow the lot.

And how far do we take that? Should people be required to buy all store brand things? Only shop at certain places? Bottled water isn't "needed", should they be able to get that?

TadaGanIarracht

When you borrow money from whomever because you're in a rough spot, do you spend that money frivolously or responsibly? Soda is not "needed", so why if you can't afford it on your own would you get it?

That analogy doesn't quite work. People who are on food stamps get a finite amount per month. Why can't they determine how they use that amount? If they choose to spend it all on steaks and soda, it just means there will be less at the end of the month for other things. It's their problem. The government doesn't come in and give them more if they blow the lot.

And how far do we take that? Should people be required to buy all store brand things? Only shop at certain places? Bottled water isn't "needed", should they be able to get that?

I'm not saying they can't, saying they shouldn't. And if you're not wise enough to use what is given to you responsibly you don't deserve it.

Btw, they are only allowed to shop at certain places. Not everyone accepts foodstamps.

I'm just living in a perfect world. I'll join reality later.

Justkeepswimmin

When you borrow money from whomever because you're in a rough spot, do you spend that money frivolously or responsibly? Soda is not "needed", so why if you can't afford it on your own would you get it?

That analogy doesn't quite work. People who are on food stamps get a finite amount per month. Why can't they determine how they use that amount? If they choose to spend it all on steaks and soda, it just means there will be less at the end of the month for other things. It's their problem. The government doesn't come in and give them more if they blow the lot.

And how far do we take that? Should people be required to buy all store brand things? Only shop at certain places? Bottled water isn't "needed", should they be able to get that?

IF I am forced to pay for other peoples health insurance THEN they damn well should regulate what the food stamps can be used for. However, I would prefer that the govt' got their as*** out of the way in both arenas.

Cryptonomnomicon

Yagisama

As an aside, only about 12% of the federal spending goes to safety net programs.

And if you're worried about poor people spending that $1 on a bottle of soda, take note that each JASSM missile costs $1.327 million.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JASSM

Just because my health insurance (and copays) are 30% of my monthly budget does that mean that I shouldn't worry about spending $2.00 per protein bar????

You should worry about whatever you like to worry about.

And health insurance being 30% of your monthly budget? I would say that my point of view is that we should be more concerned with bringing health insurance costs down rather than worry that someone uses their food stamps to buy soda.

When I review my monthly budget I look at what is necessary and discretionary and how to spend discretionary money. If I was spending other peoples money (ie from the government) I would only buy what is necessary. I don't "just" look at how to bring one expense down - I look at the whole picture. As a wife I can manage that - why can't our government manage to handle both food stamps AND health insurance costs? And if they can't - perhaps they should not be the ones governing....

Because the government has control of fiat currency and government spending is completely different than household spending.

Is this some excuse for why the government can't competently worry about both of these problems?

For starters I don't see how how food stamps are a problem that need to be handled. So a small portion of the federal budget is spent on making sure poor people don't starve, and a few of them end up living the luxurious life of having access to coca cola. I'm OK with that.

As for health care costs, the main driver of those are our (the general US population) reliance on costly specialists, overuse of unneeded advanced technologies, and costly surgical or medical procedures. And many doctors have incentives to utilize more expensive medical services than needed (unneeded CT/MRI scan, etc) since they try to bill the insurance companies as much as they can, and who pass the costs to the consumer.

Of course government can come in and regulate the system but there are big lobbying groups that unsurprisingly don't want things to change. Including the fact that doctors in the US make MUCH more than most other countries. The American Medical Association is the second largest spending lobby in the US.

Snarky answer: I have awesome health insurance and a huge HSA account. Obviously those whose health insurance costs are a huge percent of their monthly income are lazy and not trying very hard and should get a (better) job. Of course I don't really mean this. I don't believe in the "I got mine, screw you" approach.

TadaGanIarracht

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

Yagisama

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

I don't think that anyone said that everyone on food stamps is struggling. On the other hand, I would say that the majority of people on food stamps are struggling.

snazzyjazzy21

Wow. I honestly cannot find anything to say that does not contain swear words or insults to people's intelligence....

TadaGanIarracht

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

I don't think that anyone said that everyone on food stamps is struggling. On the other hand, I would say that the majority of people on food stamps are struggling.

That I can agree with, but your posts have implied that there is no one misusing what has been given to them.

Myhaloslipped

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

No one is being naive or saying that every single person on food stamps is struggling. No system is ever perfect, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be in place for those who do genuinely need it or that the government should scrutinize people's food choices down to the last detail. You are not in the position to pass judgment on what people should or should not be eating.

kdeaux1959

There is too much government micromanagement into the private affairs of the people already. Regulate drugs, alcohol, and tobacco? Sure.. But to regulate Sugar? These are the same people that can't pass a budget in 3 years, let alone balance one and we are going to trust them to tell us what we can eat and what we cannot? I understand the concept of regulating government waste... I'm all for that, but to deny a family a box of cookies?... A few years back, I remember the story of a man who wanted to buy dog food with his food stamps; he was told that he could not do that... He left the line and went back and got a steak and responded, I guess my dog can eat this... Of course they rang him up... it was legal... Which would have been the least wasteful in that instance... the dog food of course. Such is the outcome of so much government regulation...

TadaGanIarracht

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

No one is being naive or saying that every single person on food stamps is struggling. No system is ever perfect, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be in place for those who do genuinely need it or that the government should scrutinize people's food choices down to the last detail. You are not in the position to pass judgment on what people should or should not be eating.

You've passed the same judgment. And it's money, honey. Use it wisely or lose it.

Yagisama

You guys are either being naive or you honestly believe everyone on food stamps is struggling.

I don't think that anyone said that everyone on food stamps is struggling. On the other hand, I would say that the majority of people on food stamps are struggling.

That I can agree with, but your posts have implied that there is no one misusing what has been given to them.

Nothing is perfect and there will always be people taking advantage of any given situation. And sometimes trying to fix the problem costs more time and money than accepting that a given solution is only going to be 95% effective.

And if there is anything my posts are implying it's that the costs associated with the tiny percentage that are involved in food stamp, welfare, etc fraud are hugely dwarfed by fraud (the aforementioned tax evasion being one, consultants siphoning money,etc) committed by rich/powerful groups.

TadaGanIarracht

That's like comparing the pro leagues to the HS jr. Varsity. Of course more money is going to go into something that is much larger, but currently we are giving these handouts with nothing in return. We are negatively reinforcing lazy behavior.

Yagisama

That's like comparing the pro leagues to the HS jr. Varsity. Of course more money is going to go into something that is much larger, but currently we are giving these handouts with nothing in return. We are negatively reinforcing lazy behavior.

I have no idea what you're getting at, and honestly, I'm not sure it matters at this point.

Justkeepswimmin

Why do people think that one problem negates that something else is a problem? I pay my taxes, begrudgingly, but I do not appreciate it being abused and mismanaged.

TadaGanIarracht

That's like comparing the pro leagues to the HS jr. Varsity. Of course more money is going to go into something that is much larger, but currently we are giving these handouts with nothing in return. We are negatively reinforcing lazy behavior.

I have no idea what you're getting at, and honestly, I'm not sure it matters at this point.

Nope. I think it's bedtime, Mr. Mister.

Madame_Goldbricker

That's like comparing the pro leagues to the HS jr. Varsity. Of course more money is going to go into something that is much larger, but currently we are giving these handouts with nothing in return. We are negatively reinforcing lazy behavior.

Erm, I'm not entirely sure how subsidising people without current employment, or disabilities is reinforcing 'lazy behaviour'. The standard rates of welfare benefits are considered well below the threshold of an 'average living wage'. The majority of benefits that are paid out consist of housing benefits. The actual amount people are paid for living expenses is a pittance.

I'm frankly baffled how stimatising factions within society would be a positive reinforcement for behaviour.