Obesity and Welfare

I think there needs to be more education. I think there should be required education for welfare and food stamps. It should not be a lifestyle, it should be a temporary help for a bad situation. The only way to better the situation is through education. I would rather my tax dollars go to improving the situations of people that are in the system than to just providing a "hand out". Teach money management, teach life skills, teach health and fitness, help them help themselves get out of the system.
Not willing to learn these things then you shouldn't be handed any assistance. There are always circumstances for why people can't do this but there is a huge difference between can't and won't. A good example is... my employer expects me to do my job in order to pay me. I don't do my job... I don't get paid. I have to get a new job and I have to agree to be tested for drugs in order to be hired.

Fun fact: Most states welfare programs require the recipient to be actively seeking work and some already offer job skills classes.

offering job skills classes and making them mandatory are two different things. Withholding benefits until these classes are completed is what I was saying. There are a good number of people that welfare and food stamps are a way of life and what they think they are "entitled" to. That is the cycle that needs to be broken. Teaching people and giving them the tools to improve their own lives. There will always be people that abuse the system.

I think food stamps should be structured exactly like the WIC program. You can only buy what's on the approved list. It might be good incentive for people to get their own money so they can buy what they want. Win-win.

yep! very smart assertion

I think there needs to be more education. I think there should be required education for welfare and food stamps. It should not be a lifestyle, it should be a temporary help for a bad situation. The only way to better the situation is through education. I would rather my tax dollars go to improving the situations of people that are in the system than to just providing a "hand out". Teach money management, teach life skills, teach health and fitness, help them help themselves get out of the system.
Not willing to learn these things then you shouldn't be handed any assistance. There are always circumstances for why people can't do this but there is a huge difference between can't and won't. A good example is... my employer expects me to do my job in order to pay me. I don't do my job... I don't get paid. I have to get a new job and I have to agree to be tested for drugs in order to be hired.

Fun fact: Most states welfare programs require the recipient to be actively seeking work and some already offer job skills classes.

offering job skills classes and making them mandatory are two different things. Withholding benefits until these classes are completed is what I was saying. There are a good number of people that welfare and food stamps are a way of life and what they think they are "entitled" to. That is the cycle that needs to be broken. Teaching people and giving them the tools to improve their own lives. There will always be people that abuse the system.

For cash assistance, it is mandatory to attend classes weekly. Workshops... training, a bunch of stuff.

I think they should make the price of healthier foods more affordable. Its far cheaper to eat sausages, potatoes, eggs, fried foods etc than premium mince, veges fruit etc.

And THIS is the root of the problem. Lobbyist (I'm certain) will keep anything from changing.

i was just in the store this past weekend when a woman was told her wic didnt cover her red potatos.... She told the clerk she couldnt afford them. She then paid with her ebt. She then pulled out cash to pay for her 3 bottles of wine..... This is why my view on "assistance" is skewed.

I'm not sure about all food stamp programs in the U.S. but in Washington DC with SNAP there is already regulation in place to encourage families to buy healthy:

What do you get with Food Stamps
December 12, 2012
In the United States, US citizens and legal non-citizens have the option of applying for food stamps. Food stamps have changed their name to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and offer a set amount of money to spend each month on groceries for your family. It is a federal program set to help low income families get healthy food when they can't afford them any other way. To get the benefits, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements such as being at a certain income level based on how many people live in your home, be disabled or unable to work in some cases, be a US citizen or legal non-citizen, and other requirements. The following goes over what you can do with your benefits, what you get, and how to obtain them.

What you can Buy
When you receive SNAP benefits, there will be a dollar amount put onto an EBT card. While it is free to use as you choose, there are only certain items that you will be allowed to use it for. If you attempt to purchase something not allowed, the transaction will be denied and you will need to use other means of paying for said items. However, you are free to use the benefits for bread, cereal, milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, all meats including fish and poultry, and additional dairy products like yogurt and butter. You may also purchase fruit, vegetable or herb seeds to plant produce for your family.

What you cannot Buy
There are also items you are not eligible for purchasing with the EBT card. This is mainly because the food stamps SNAP program is intended to feel your family healthy and nutritious foods. They aren't meant to purchase these items. Items you can't use SNAP benefits for are cigarettes or tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, vitamins, medications, hot foods, and non-food items like toiletries, cosmetics, diapers, household supplies, cleaning products, pet food and treats, and similar items.

http://www.foodstamps.org/articles/what-do-you-get-with-food-stamps

I think ugly people should wear bags over their heads. I mean...they take up MY air! How dare they?! Plus they hurt my eyes.




...........yeah...ridiculous huh?

Sorry...:sad:

i was just in the store this past weekend when a woman was told her wic didnt cover her red potatos.... She told the clerk she couldnt afford them. She then paid with her ebt. She then pulled out cash to pay for her 3 bottles of wine..... This is why my view on "assistance" is skewed.

Maybe someone gave her money to buy them the wine... idk just playing devil's advocate....

I agree completely people abuse it. I know people that do! But I hate being lumped into those assclowns that do abuse it. It's not fair. My husband and I are hard-working and something horrible happened to us and we need help. THAT'S what the assistance is there for.

Oh and being called lazy for receiving some help... Yeah that's awesome.

One person sees what someone can get and they feel they are entitled to it also, whether they need it or not. My sister abuses the childcare system because she can although she complains to me how she has too much money and is getting charged. People in Canada that ar 1/8 native can get free education because, although they probably can't name the person, someone in their blood line was native.
Point is: people abuse the system and there is nothing anyone can do about it

Ha me and my fiance were talkin about what should be allowd for purchase on food stamps. We talk all the time why Americans are obese is because they can buy cakes cookies and candy on food stamps. I used to be a cashier and there would be families buying meal food such as meet sides and canned veggies but 85 percent of them would have massive amounts of chips cookies, icecream, and all kinds of junk food in thier buggies. But I do live in the South and I am not typically saying everyone on food stamp benifits does this. I am saying that sweets should be limited as well. I don't have an issue with families being on these assistance programs and I understand that people need help at times to be on these programs. Down in the south you have families on food stamps but driving these nice vehicles with big expensive rims, thats what I have issues with. People like that who can obviously afford nice things abusing the system.

They can afford those "nice things" precisely BECAUSE many of them are abusing the system.
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Your right, where we live, they buy these items because they sell drugs on the side.

We need a Punch A Poor Person Day.

Weekly. Those *kitten*!!!

As an American I am for assistance programs for the needy, do they need a serious overall to improve effectiveness and reduce waste? Yes. Do people abuse the system? Yes, but there will always be abusers, and (maybe naively) like to think that those who really need the assistance outweigh those abusing it....

I dont agree with the abuse, but I also agree with this. It's a double edged sword

WIC is an effective program. i do like the fact that they have added fruits on it.

Here's my uncensored response: Cut everything! If I have to pay out of pocket for things, they should have to pay that way too. I don't want my tax dollars going to anyone that is either lazy as all hell or has made a series of horrible decisions to land them in their current state. Plus without money for food, they'll go into the dreaded "starvation mode" and become thin or die within no time! Either way, the tax payers win.

That being said... Do I know people on food stamps? Yes, and almost all of them abuse it. Do I know people that abuse their government/state issued healthcare? You betchya! If these people had to pay for everything the way I do, they'd spend smarter. They would make a budget. They would cut unnecessary things. You don't need junk food or soda or unlimited data on your phone. You don't need cable and internet. You don't need manicures and pedicures or the latest Coach purse.

Since none of you will agree with me on starving out the people... Can you at least agree with this? People on government assistance should have to prove that they're making smart choices with the money if they qualify for it, no drugs, new tattoos, fancy new clothes, and have to be applying for jobs or working.

After I have paid for my food, insurance, gas, etc, I have enough left over each month to TREAT myself to having a phone, cable, internet, and going out to eat once a month. Why can't other people do the same?

And yes, go ahead and call me names and negate my opinion. I will change my stance for no one.

Nay for obesity and welfare but YAY for mandatory drug tests.. I have to take em every time I had to get a job or even during a job for my checks and so should they!! :grumble: