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11/15/08
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224 comments
Drawing the line with food stamps
Admit it. We’re all tempted occasionally to peek into someone else’s grocery basket. And most of us, at one time or another, have stood in line, stared straight ahead and prayed that no one looked into our own. It is at the grocery store that we mingle with strangers and neighbors all while tending to some of our most personal and intimate needs and desires — in full public view. Food, hygiene items, medicine, sexual aids and reading material. It’s all tossed into our cart for all to see as we shop row by row. It is there that the newly divorced middle-aged mom inevitably runs into her son’s social studies teacher just after having slipped a package of condoms into her cart; or where the overweight man runs into his Weight Watcher’s support coach with a gallon of “full-fat” ice cream in his basket. The scenarios of embarrassment are endless and have been reenacted on nearly every sit-com ever aired. When I was a teenager I worked after school and on weekends as a bagger at the town’s grocery store. It’s true that after a while you don’t really see what you’re packing into those bags. Baggers are much more concerned about even weight distribution than the actual items being purchased. But back in those days one thing was always obvious, and that was who used food stamps. Food stamp users, you see, slowed things down. There were coupons in various monetary increments, each having to be torn out of the food stamp coupon book. There were things that could be purchased with the stamps and things that couldn’t, so certain items often would have to be set aside and paid for separately with cash. That took extra time. Customers and employees alike often rolled their eyes at the delay. The person frantically tearing out those coupons as the line grew longer behind her most certainly heard the audible sighs of those who were waiting. I thought about that this week when I first read about Dr. Jonathan Shenkin’s idea to eliminate soda pop from the list of items that could be purchased with food stamps. Shenkin is a pediatric dentist in Bangor and last month the American Dental Association at its annual meeting in San Antonio endorsed a resolution in support of banning the use of food stamps to purchase soda and other sugary drinks. There are about 178,000 Maine households that participate in the food stamp program. The list is pretty short of the items that may not be purchased; it includes paper products, such as toilet paper and tampons, alcohol and tobacco. There is no limit on soda, chips, candy or other “junk food” items. This rightfully disturbs a lot of people, including Shenkin, who notes the number of children he sees in his practice whose teeth are rotting out of their heads in part due to the enormous amount of soda they drink. It certainly is reasonable to argue that a public assistance program such as the federally funded food stamp program be limited to nutritious foods. It is a “supplemental program” after all, and one would hope that a mom or dad trying to feed their family would opt to use that assistance for healthful food and reserve the occasional sugary treat for when they had a little extra cash on hand. It certainly wouldn’t offend me if Maine became the first state to prohibit food stamp recipients from using those funds to purchase soda pop. But where do we draw the line? Should we also prohibit them from purchasing potato chips? Perhaps cereals that contained more than 10 percent sugar? Marshmallows have absolutely no nutritional value. And drinking too much soda is not limited to people on food stamps. I have a friend who would be considered by most to be middle class. When his son was a teenager his dentist had told him, “Your son’s teeth are rotting. How much soda does he drink?” This middle-class kid drank a liter or two of Mountain Dew each day. Shenkin doesn’t have a bad point, but take a moment to think about it. When you are making your judgment — and it’s OK for you to make it because you are a taxpayer — don’t forget what’s in your own cart.
Comments
This is bullcrap any thing that is editable and drinkable should be allowed to be bought with food stamps it is our right to buy our food with food stamps I under stand that drinking alot of soda can rotten your teeth but most kids 9 times out of 10 dont really brush there teeth and for kids that do its not fair for every one to suffer You prove a good point, teeth are decaying and america is becoming more obese. You're also right that it isn't just people with food stamps that buy to much junk food. Amy_adams you say its your right to buy what you want with your food stamps but what about the people that are paying taxes for you to have your food stamps shoudln't they get a say since it is the hard working people dishing out tax dollars for you to eat when junk food isn't a necessity. Get a job and don't rely on the state to cover your junk food habits and no one would be trying to limit what you can purchase with your food stamps. I agree with Amy_Adams...It is bull crap. A lot of people don't let their kids have soda anyway. Usually it's for the adults. It's a beverage and you should beable to buy it. I think sportz28 is frigen ignorant for dising people that have food stamps. It might not be their fault that the fathers walked out on them, and now they have to receive food stamps just to get by. You're complaining cuz it's your tax money that's paying for everyones food stamp but if they didn't have food stamp then it would be your tax money paying for the kids that are in foster care!! Amy_Adams might have a job. How the heck do you know! Because you can still get food stamps if you have a job. So....It's her tax money too that's paying for her food stamps!!! You don't actually know unless you've been there!! You must think you're high class and never had to be on food stamps or was too embarresed to be on them! Sooooo... Say, let's prohibit the use of Food Stamps to buy certain products. In a couple of years, let's extend that PROHIBITION to the entire population and limit the sale of those same products. Then, later, just plain outlaw their sale at all. Now you're talking! Before long, the government will be in your shopping cart every time you shop. Next in your bedroom every night. And checking out your reading material. I know we just elected a Democratic leader, but there should be limits on government in ordinary life. We are over-legislated on every level already. This isn't just about abuse of welfare. It's about too much government. It already stinks that people on welfare can't buy toilet paper. Does anybody else remember the former programs of food distribution--the cheese, butter, lentils, canned meats, etc.? The Food Stamp program was implemented in part to give users of the system more control over their diets and ease the restrictions on items they could get on the program. I say, keep outta peoples' personal lives. Live and let live. You know, we don't have to, nor are we called to judge other people. The Bible says there is only One who has the right to judge. ya your right that was kind of ignorant but food stamps weren't created tohelp people get junk food it was created to help people get foods that are healthy and will help them grow and stay healthy i don't believe it isthere for people to get whateva they want. if it was they'd be able to get alcohol with it thats a beverage to so why can't they get that. you can always work more the only difference being is that the more you work the monre money you make what takes away state help because than they say you make to much so your better off not working. there are a lot of peoplethat abuse the system that really don't need the help and are able to go out and work but choose not to.like the mother in the other artilcle said she refuses to buy junk with food stamps. thats how it should be itshould be for fruits, veggies and meat. nutritional value items. Compromise, throw out junkfood and add in BEER! Dr, Shenkin has a a good point, to that I will agree. My husband and I are middle class hard workers and our 2 children have grown married and have children of thier own. we are in out late 4o's. I do not agree with Dr, Shenkins idea isnt this the land of the free..................? I think in"my opinion" this is discrimination agains people who have little or no choice that they get food stamps in this economy.And yes there are some that get them for no good reason. I know for a fact that Dr, Shenkin is a wonderful dentist loving and caring with his patients. But let me tell you his office has rules and they dont like them broken and they are rude about it. would he like some one telling him what he could buy and not buy? I dont think so! come on here be fair. Let People make thier own choices and people our going to buy soft drinks and sugar drinks even if they cant get them wilh food stamps.He is not being realistic, And I pay taxes just like the rest I dont like abuse of the system but it happnes what can we do about it NOTHING!. The judgement is not yours the people who let thier children drink too much of this will have to judge, maybe DR, Shenkin shouldnt treat Maine care chilren if it is a problem, as i know the reimbusment probably isnt that great?
Say sportz 28 it appears to me that you must be just another one of the ignorant s.o.b,s. that have nothing to do in life except look around the world and find some thing to harp on or try to harm sombody ,with your jelousy .First of all if your telling people [amy] to get a job and get off the foodstamp help ,it must be that if you are up at 1;59 in the middle of night , early morning ,after hours, way too late for working people,etc etc etc. Get my point on this? no you don't. Let me gripe. If you are a working person why in hell are you up at these wee hours of the night ?shoudn't you be slepping,getting your rest for the next day of work.My not knowing you ,whitch is a good thing, you are probrobly a 300pounder from eating to many macs and chips and sodas yourself. woops there I go again being like the government wants to be ,juging people and wanting to tell and control their every breating moment.Let me tell you about my experience with food stamps. I am 55years old .Ihave rased three children since 1975 with gov. food [as freindly writes] the cheese and meats in a can and etc. etc. I then stood in them lines ripping out stamps from the programs book waiting in those lines too for all the people with money to wrie out there damn checks and then the wait to verify if it was good or not. I now today 33 years later now use the systems maine card. Does this make me lazy and want to leach on stamp from you so called hard working people that have to pay taxes? I have been a hard worker for 35years of that 33 raising 3 children .In fact I will at 55 right now chalange you or anyboy in this state of maine to try and keep up with me working right today .After 33years of supporting pepsi and humpty dumpty [with my food stamp] I still weigh in at 190 lbs. I couldn't eat at macdonalds with my food stamps. I couldn't glot myself on friday nights at the local restaurant getting fat with roallty with my stamps. Your government prohibits me from bying hot foods at the deli ,hot barb chiken,hot potatoe logs, pizza, hot sandwitches etc. etc. etc. hotstuff. By the way I worked my ass off for those first 18 years raising the three that are on foodstamps today rasing their two children. Check the books in the IRS and find that we all 4 and my wife aswell worked hard for 33yeras to support with food stamps. Iv'e now been2 years wating for my disability with zero $$$$$ to live on . Nothing but food stamps ,THAT"S IT. I could go on and write a book about fat bitching bums that think you and this cheap government wants and then i'd be a rich man with my books and off foodstamps. But you are not woth writting a book about . So just SHUT UP and go to bed for its early in the morning and you got to get up early to go and continue paying taxes to help needy people like me that have vey little or nothing but a MAine food stamp plastic card. Sportz, you wanna bitch about something worth bitchin about? Come see me in palmyra maine and we"ll start a partition to repel having to wear a seat belt while I drive into the store at 25 mph to get my food. That's what's worth bitching about. Never mind soda and chips, flapping your lips on something that is not worthy as a law, not on eatting chips and soda ,which is a law. You go Amy_ Adams,Kayleighnkayceesmom, you go freindly you all three keep on drinking with me,,,,,, Stortzy you keep on bithching and chip away at your persoal problems not ours. HAVE A SHITTY DAY!!!!! Jeddy53, WOW YOU ARE A HYPOCRIT, If you can challenge anyone to keep up with you in the State of Maine working and then say you have been waiting 2+ years for disability, mabye the disability people should get a look at your comment, because it's because of people who ABUSE (SORRY I GOT SO P'D OFF AT THIS GUY I HIT ENTER TOO EARLY,) ANY WAY, PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SYSTEM THAT REALLY MAKE ME MAD, IF YOU CAN CHALLENGE ANYONE IN MAINE TO KEEP UP WITH YOU WORKING TODAY, GO GET A F*&^ING JOB AND WORK AND QUIT WAITING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY TO PAY YOUR ASS. AND BY THE WAY FOOD STAMPS ARE TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR FOOD NOT SUPPLY IT FOR THE WHOLE MONTH. I work every day with a split disc in my back and arthritis in my hips and back and Jeddy YOU'RE WELCOME SO WHEN YOU GET YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY RETRO AND DON'T REPORT IT, REMEMBER TO PAY US WHO ARE WORKING SO OUR GOVERNMENT CAN SUPPORT YOU. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOVERNMENT HERE MOVE TO CHINA, MABYE YOU WOULD LIKE IT THERE BEING TOLD WHAT TO EAT, WHEN TO EAT IT AND NOT OWN ANYTHING WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT SAYING IT IS OK. GO TO HELL JEDDY53 AND QUIT YOUR BITCHIN BY THE WAY MABYE YOU SHOULD TAKE SOME OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY YOU DO GET AND TAKE AN ENGLISH CLASS TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL. GRANTED I MADE SOME SPELLING ERRORS BUT IT IS SELF RIGHTEOUS SOB'S LIKE YOU THAT REALLY BURN ME. I HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE AND DESERVE MORE RESPECT THAN YOU SEEM TO THINK. AND MABYE SPORTZ 28 WORKS NIGHTS TO SUPPORT YOUR ASS. EVER THINK OF THAT????????? YOU CAN AFFORD A COMPUTER BUT CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY? FUNNY IF I WERE STRUGGLING THAT HARD I WOULD SELL MY COMPUTER AND USE THE MONEY TO HELP THE FAMILY. SO AGAIN, I SAY IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOVERNMENT HERE, GO THE HELL SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LIVE FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S JEDDY53, I HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 14, YES 14 YEARS OLD SO YOU ARE WELCOME I agree with Dr. Shenkin. No soda with food stamps! Let's add candy, sweets, and chips to the list while we're at it!! good morning hardworkingmom.........I got up this morning in pain with my arthritis and am not in the happiest of moods because of it. But that's my life every minute of everyday....it's not my choice to have this and I have applied to SSI disability and have been denied 3 times. I can barely move and have to have help getting dressed and bathing and cleaning the house. We don't have anyone else to help us here and my husband and kid travel great distances to work everyday, that leaves me alone for 12 hours a day. Needless to say it's dificult. It would be nice to have the extra money to pay for someone to come and help us, but there isn't so I am sucking it up and getting more depressed each day..... I am glad that you have an associates degree,but with your rotten mouth and attitude I don't believe that you deserve any respect for it at all. Let them buy junk, it's cheaper, you don't get much in food stamps so of course buy the cheapest thing. Then we pay for dentist visits with our tax dollars already. So people getting free food from the gov't are upset that we do not want them buying crap with the food stamps? Exactly what is the USRDA for soda and chips? If they do not like it, too bad - it's my money they're spending.
Funny, isn't it? Beggars being choosers. ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE STORE WITH FOOD STAMPS THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN BUY EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED AND YOU STILL HAVE ENOUGH TO BUY SODA AND CHIPS? I DON'T Those on FoodStamps need to learn that the money that they are being given is to suplement their diets and to allow them to provide nutritous options to their families. Why is it that those who take the most from this state get the largest say!? Food stamps should only be used for the purchase of meats, veggies, pasta, potato, 100% juice, whole grain breakfast cereals, milk, cheese, and other items that are necessary for the proper development of their family. Chips, cookies, soda, ice cream, TV dinners, and other forms of junk food and food that has no nutritional value should be taken off the list. Period. You did not earn the right to have Food Stamps - the state deemed you eligable. And you should not have a say in how they are used. If you want to buy junk and waste money - waste your own! Not mine. omg Amy_Adams...get real!!!!!!!! Food stamps should be for necessities only, not junk food and crap. It's an entitlement-minded society that says people on welfare are entitled to luxury items. It doesn't matter who the person is. No need to diss food stamp users or welfare recipients. It's not your right amy you stupid idiot. It's the taxpayers right. Feel privelaged your on them and at least try to buy healthy. Food stamps are a stepping stone to hopefully get off them, and achieve some sort of financial independence, unfortunalterly most mainers, especially here downeast dont give a f***, and prefer to stay on welfare, and not do anything, so the rest of us can support them and they can sleep all day and do drugs and get payed to drive to a clinic. I was at the store the other day and this guy bought beer and smokes with the cash portion of his foodstamp card, so us taxpayers are paying to support his drinking and smoking habit. Now thats wrong! Welcome to maine Baldacci. We are a welfare state, lets face it,run by dems for over 30 years. If you want a glimps of how the country will be run for the next 4 years anyway look at maine. So amy get a clue you stupid Morrrron! Food stamps were not created to provide low income families with nutritious food. It was a way of supporting farmers. It still is; keep the demand up, keep the profits up, keep those big donations from agribusiness coming to the politicians. And if any of you think you can support a family on welfare and food stamps, you haven't tried it. You can't do it with welfare, food stamps, Medicare, and working full time at minimum wage. I say that low income people are as entitled to set their kids up for an early death from heart disease and diabetes as the rest of us. Besides that high fructose corn syrup that is rotting the teeth of soda drinkers comes from farm products so the maiin purpose of the program is still working. My husband and I were talking last night about our tanking economy. We decided that as bad as it is, it may be a blessing in disguise. It will give millions of Americans the opportunity to see how the rest of us must live day to day. We lost everything we had worked for, (we both joined the workforce at the age of sixteen), when we became seriously ill at about the same time and had to do the three year social security waltz. We ended up on food stamps and whatever aid we could qualify for while we fought the government for the right to collect on insurance that we had been paying into for over thirty years. Now, everyday, we hear about hundreds of thousands of you losing your jobs and finding yourselves in similar financial situations. Don't believe it will not be so for you if you lose your paycheck because there are few job opportunitie left out there. Yes, the depression just may be a blessing, it will give the rest of you a taste of what so many of us endure. And by the way "klaive99" food stamps are a right. We paid the taxes that fund the program. Certainly in an ideal culture everyone would be educated enough to realize the need for nutrition over pleasure, but until you have walked a mile in my shoes, keep your damn mouth shut. (Pardon me, sore subject.) We need a study to correlate sex frequency with income levels. I think folks have forgotten what this program was intended to do. I remember having to go to the town hall to pick up, butter, rice, oatmeal, powdered milk, canned meat, cornmeal, cheese, etc. This was the original "sort of" foodstamp program. It was meant to help those with little or no income to have enough food to eat. I went once a month. Anything that was left over from month to month was cooked up and fed to our pig, which was butchered in the fall to feed us for the winter. There were no sugary treats to be found. I think we need to get back to this criteria in order for the program to work properly. We must stop taking advantage of a great program and purchase what is healthy for our families. If we can't or choose not to do this, then YES, I propose that the gov't has to dictate right and wrong. I wish we were all intelligent enough to make these decisions on our own, then no one would be able to complain about gov't infringement. The Food Stamp program wasn't designed to help people buy snack food. It was designed to prevent them from starving. The fact that crap food can be purchased is partly about the kinds of cash registers that were being used at the time... they couldn't be programmed the way new register systems can. I think it's time to overhaul the whole system.... food stamps need to be changed to "household" stamps, for the purchase of nutritional food as well as such things as toilet paper, tampons, laundry detergent, etc. Several years ago my then husband and I were both only working part-time.... there were no full-time jobs available. (I've since moved out of state because of it) We had to rely on food stamps - it was aweful. I was VERY poor, so we qualified for over 400 dollars a month in food stamps. I'm a good shopper, that was more than I needed to feed my family. (it wouldn't be now) BUT, I couldn't afford to buy the other things I needed. It drove me nuts!! I could have bought lobster if I wanted to, but had to ask the neighbors for liquid tylenol for my baby's fever. To all the people on here scolding each other, here's some advice: If you've never needed the help, you are blessed, don't knock those that do need the help. To all of those that are recieving benefits, don't act like it's your business to buy crap for your family. It isn't. It's your business to bust your ass to do better for your family. sacurtis: first of all the comment was not directed to you if you could read, I was commenting on jeddy53, so if you take everything someone on a comment board says personal sorry, next time you say that my attitude is rotten, let me tell you my story of ss disability and what has happened to my daughters father, till then read and understand what you are reading. Let's face it people. The system has been abused since it was created and the "some" who have been in the system for years know how to work it to their advantage. This state dont "check up" on anyone to see if it is legitimate. I know a woman who has been "working the system" for 15 years and as far as my knowledge even has been reported but still lives high ont he hog. She receives almost $1000 a month cash, and over $600 with Food Stamps. She didnt work, her husband who has worked under the table his whole life pretends to have a mental problem so collects disability but yet never paid a cent to this state for taxes or child support for the 6 kids (only 2 are this woman's)he has at the age of 32. (He is in jail right now though...how sad.) She received a $10,000 inheritace. Instead of reporting it as income, she tells our grand state that she gave $7000 to her mother for rent (with whom she has never paid a dime of rent since she moved in 2 years ago) and the other 3 grand went to clothes. Her and her husband are full of tattoos...thats where the bulk of the money went. She continued to collect her monthly check and all her food stamps. Her mother got a partial inheritace (who she lives with) of 45 thousand. Tell me...is it fair that the taxpayers continue to pay these people's way? Do we not have a right as taxpayers to say NO when it comes to the distribution of taxpayers money? YES we do! But..thats not how it works. Itis people like this that ruin it for those that really need the help and who dont abuse the system. This woman is now working full time 40 hours a week @ $10 an hour and still is going to get a little over $500 a month in welfare check and the same amount of $600 in Food Stamps. And..let's not forget...they are not only allowed to buy chips, soda, and candy..they also can buy live Lobster which I see alot of living here in Southern Maine. , Fresh Shrimp, crab ragoon from the freezer section. Ive worked in these stores and I have seen it for years. I know this to be factual. Until this state draws up some new implements of how the system can be run and "keep track" of whats actually going on, it will continue. Oh yeah...I almost forgot. For those of you in the system are now mad at me for my comment just remember this...I, Too, live check to check. I have 8 dollars and 32 cents in my check book after paying my bills and I dont qualify for 1 single penny of assistance. I have not 1 cent of "leftover money" to spare to fill my fuel tank which only has a quarter tank of fuel in it or have enough to pay my taxes. I ate bologna and toast all last week...what did you eat????? There will be a lien on my home by June but because I WORK...PAY MY TAXES (or try)..I dont qualify for any type of repreive from anyone....you have Free Medical..Food Stamps..A roof over your head and if you didnt/dont..then maybe I will see you sometime when I end up at the Shelter....ok...I'm done. Thank you very much. And I approve this message. Rick, excellent point, I agree. And alot of you defending the food stamps are becoming quite hypocritical. Funny how some people can be disabled and BARELY able to move, yet they can still manage to get to that seat by the computer! Git r done! I love it....BEGGARS being CHOOSERS.....Couldn't be described ANY better.... I would like to reply to jaguarsky.... I have been in your shoes. A few years ago my husband lost his job and both him and myself spent weeks looking for work, for any work. And after nearly 3 months of being unemployeed, after depleting our savings and maxing out credit limits I was forced to apply for food stamps to feed ourselves and our 2 toddlers. And i was greatful for the help, and I used that money to stock up on everthing necessary to feed my family - Not junk food!! But you want to know the sad part, when I applied the woman told me not to worry, that it was ok and it wasnt. It is my job and my husbands to feed, shelter and clothe our family, but the nanny-state of Maine doesnt see anything wrong with anyone using and abusing the welfare system. I tell you what, I did not feel entitled to use food stamps, but the state sure told me that I was. So we stayed on them for a month or so, was lucky enough to finally find employment. And you know what, when I called to cancel they asked me why? And they tried to tell me that i was still eligible! Eligible?? How is anyone eligible for free money?! Its baffles me! So you know what, I have been there and I have used the programs available, but only when i needed them, and as soon as I was working again i stoped using the program regardless of being told that i still could, becuase that is what responsible and independant people do! These programs are there to aid people when they are at their worst, and help them get going again, not to be used as a way of life like they are currently being used. Laws need to change. Requirements need to change. Benefits need to change. Restrictions, lots and lots of restrictions need to be added. This program and other welfare programs are being used and abused and I am sick of watching it happen and paying for it too happen. The Govenor wants to balance the budget and pay for new programs... well cut out all of the unneccesary welfare and there will be oodles of money for that to happen OpinionatedinMaine, bologna is expensive and unhealthy. You would have more money left over in your checking account if you switched to beans, rice, potatoes, and onions. Maybe you should get a better job. I agree with opinionated %100 as I see alot of the same antics. anne_of_mdi. bologna may be unhealthy yes, but expensive? My husband eats .99 a package bologna sandwiches for lunch, not the the 3.99 deli cut stuff. Yet a guy he works with making more money, which he hides somehow, "qualifies" for food stamps and he eats 6.99 lb deli roast beef!! Somehow 10.00 /hr wages are the new middle class and qualifies for 3.00 a month food stamps. Boy we could live like royalty on that! These programs were meant to supplement lower income WORKING families that needed a little help, not for people to live on as the ONLY source of income. The system has been abused for many years now, and after reading people bitching because they can't buy junk food with them makes you realize how badly the system needs to change. Jimmyb, are you a man or a woman? Yes bologna is more expensive and less healthy than beans, rice, potatoes and onions. Plus it's filled with carcinogenic nitrates. That's a horrible thing to be eating. Obviously you're not taking good care of your husband. Anyway, your post is a little confusing, but you say a guy who works with your husband makes $10/hr and, I'm guessing you meant, $300/ month food stamps. You just said he was working so I don't understand how this guy can be not working and living off food stamps. And are you saying that your husband makes less than $10/hr? Maybe we would all be better off if we demanded better wages!! Duh! I have to respond to klaive99. A few years back, before the latest heating "crisis" there was a news story about the heating assistance program, and how they had so much available money, yet they felt that many who qualified were not coming forward to get it. They even went as far as to buy television ad time to get the word out. I just remember saying to myself, what is it that they don't understand about just because someone "qualifies" for a handout, does not mean they want it. Maybe they have this little thing called pride, and they figure that, yeah it's difficult, but I'll just manage it on my own, I don't actually need the handout to survive. Seems there are fewer and fewer of those people around these days. hey anne....the bologna I buy id $1.99 a pound...alot cheaper than soem of the cat food you would probably widh I ate...ans as for a better job...Do you have one? Ive tried to switch jobs for months now with no luck...do you have any hidden secrets you can share since you are eating so well? The rest of the taxpayers who are also living check to check would love to know how you balance $1.oo for a half pound of bologna or a green pepper at 2.99 a pound? maybe you should try some bologna anne...much better than the crow you should be eating for your reply. While you are opening your mouth and inserting your foot...ill be eating my cheap bologna while you eat your green pepper. hardworkingmom.......(if I could read!) are you for real? how rude! I know it wasn't directed to me but once things are said they are OUT THERE! Didn't you learn anything in college about being civil to your fellow man? I forget you have an ASSoc.degree and are a special person......pardon me! anne, you just get a kick from pissing people off don't you? .Isn't it unfair for the public to pay for other people's soda, and then for the public to also pay the medical bills when the people drinking that soda become sick or go to the dentist? . Seems to me that food stamps should only be redeemable for nutritional food, and not luxury foods or unhealthy foods. . Public support of the unfortunate should be limited to preserving life AND health, and to helping people get back on their feet economically. anne...you wouldnt happen to be one of the ones buying Lobster with your Food Card are you? We all used to live within our means years ago but the system has taken it away from us and decided it needed to go to people and places that dont necessarily need it as much as they claim it does. Like I said before...there are alot of people in this state that legitimatly need the help supporting their familys in such rough times andthen you have the ones working under the able and collecting everything. Monthly Cash Food Stamps Free Medical Any of 178,000 recipients qualify for the Bruce Roberts Santa fund (the woman I spoke of earlier takes advantage of this and puts her name on all the gifts) My point being...ANNE...is that unless you are a Food Stamp recipient or receive a monthly check from the taxpayers...You cant even go to the nearest Food Bank and get any help. It use to be for "Anyone"...but not anymore. It is only for those who are eligible for the system. If you are a taxpayer anne and feel you are not contrubuting enough to the cause and feel I am talking out of my Asspa then maybe you can throw a little of your money my way so I can buy those fruits and vegetables you are talking about and in return I will make you one heck of a bologna roll up. I think most people use food stamps correctly. I don't really think its necessary to overhaul anything, but I can see the point of trying to steer people who use food stamps to make better eating choices. People will eat whatever they want to eat and why should I care. I think we should blame the makers of foods more than the people buying the products. With the State budget getting tighter and tighter, and money also being very tight for those who work and pay taxes, all of these welfare type programs need to be looked at to make sure they are operating as intended. That way, struggling tax payers can be reassured that at least their hard earned tax money is being put to good use by people who really need it to survive. Very few of us mind helping someone who is hungry until they can fend for themself, but not too many taxpayers that I know are thrilled about having their tax money going to buy people things that are not nutritious and/or damage health, which the the same taxpayers will also have to ante up to pay for.
Every time someone uses food stamps to buy something that's totally non-nutritious, they are making a statement that they don't really need all they are getting from the state in order to have adequate nutrition. Eventually, taxpayers who can barely afford to buy any luxury items for their own families will notice and object to such waste and the program will be cut and unfortunately some who have a genuine need will be hurt. The best thing that current food stamp recipients can do for other needy people is to make sure they put every bit of assistance they get to very good use so the tax payers can see that this program shouldn't be cut. Food stamps should be used strictly for necessities and NOT for unhealthy things like soda. Why is it that articles about food stamps bring out the worst in people. So many of these comments are judgemental, stereotypical and really thoughtless. Are we Mainer's really this nasty to each other, or do some of just enjoy killing time on a rainy Saturday by taking shots at people who are disadvantaged? My brother had friends that were on food stamps some time ago. They would give him $100 worth of stamps for like 60-70 dollars cash. They would go buy cigarettes, booze, pot and what not and my brother would go buy himself groceries and things he needed. I bring this up just so people know that this type of thing goes on, in this case, by single, male twenty-somethings. Listen, This dentist is crazy!!!!! What NOTHING else better to do with your Time there buddy!!!!!!!!!!!! Hell, we get food stamps... We work and bust are asses just like you.......... we buy gas, and alot of things and we PAY taxes!!!!!!!!!! Hell,if you want to change and make all theese damn laws your in the wrong ocupation.. Do you think because, you stop soda pop, and candy from food stamps.. that kids teeth are not gonna go bad..THEY STILL WILL!!... THE KIDS HAVE TOO BRUSH THERE TEETH TO START WITH!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE ON HERE THAT TELL THE PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS TO GET A JOB!!!!! THATS BULL TOO.... ALOT OF PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS WORK..... THINK ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE IN AUGUSTA THAT WANT TO RAISE THE HRLY WAGE!! AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ON FOOD STAMPS.... I DON'T GET PISSED WHEN PEOPLE BUY POP OR COOKIES... I GET PISSED WHEN PEOPLE BUY LOBSTER, AND $14.00 STEAK!!! NOW COME ON... USE YOUR HEAD HERE!!!! YOU, HAVE A DOC THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE FACTS... THINKS HE DOES BUT, HE DOESN'T!!! LOOSER!!!!!!!!!!!! So start educating on proper hygiene.... Oh ya SOMEONEFROMBANGOR HA A GOOD POINT!!!!!!! GOOD DEAL.... tHIS DENTIST IS REALLY PISSING OFF ALOT OF PEOPLE....... WHAT IS HE TRYING TO BE MR. BIG MAN OF THE STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!! GIVE IT UP!!!!!! OH, NO SMOKING IN YOUR CAR WITH KIDS... NOW THIS..... WHAT DO U WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! WHY DONT YOU RUN FOR OFFICE IF YOU WANT TO BE SO POWERFULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR JELOUSE!!!!!!!!!!
SOMEWHEREDOWNEAST........... YOUR WRONG.... THE CASH PART OF THE CARD IS TANF......... THEY CAN DO WHAT EVER THEY DAMN WELL PLEASE WITH THAT PART OF IT.... ALSO, SOME PEOPLE IN SOME CASES CAN HAVE THINGS ADDED TO THAT PART OF THE CARD..... ALSO, WANTED TO ADD THAT I AM DISABILED FROM THE MILITARY... AND IF I WANT TO BUY POP WITH MY FOOD STAMP CARD I WILL.. IT AIN'T NO DAMN DENTIST THAT WILL STOP ME......... Honestly, you sound crazy jd. I don't understand what a well-off denist has to be jealous of? People who make less money than him? Hmm I dont think so...
Beggars become choosers....Right Opininatedinmaine you have it right you have people like yourself and many others that could make $2 over the limit and the state won't give you any funding. when its kinda like the state is telling you to work less and they will help you than you'd be all set becuase most of your bills would be covered. And ya everyone pays taxes but some pay more than others and the ones paying more normally get a lot less back. Than theres the people that get state help and pay barely anything in to the government in taxes and get 3x more back than they put in when some are left paying more into the government. just not fair to penalize people for making more money than others. You're better off having kids and not working and the state will help you out hardworkingmom you were right i do work nights and i don't even get 25% back of what I pay in for taxes back. why is that so i can support people that don't work or to support their junkfood/ eating habits. does that sound right i work and pay for you to eat and get medical covereage when i have to pay all my own medical bills. Klaive99 completeyl right maine nannys people and tells them its alright not to work not in those specific words but they help so many people and not all but some of those people learn how to play the system to always benefit from it. A lot f things need to be changed in this state/country but never will because state help is just like insurance its everyone pooling their money together incase something ever happens to them but its the same 25% of people using the help instead of supporting themselves. sacurtis, if I hadn't directed it to a specific person, then yes the comment would have been out there, so, think what you may, I do have compassion for my fellow man, and do realize that there are those who do need the help, so, keep running your chops at me and mabye your anger will go away toward the system that is taking it's sweet time finding you disabled, also having arthritis as bad as you claim, how can you type so much? Just worried about you being in PAIN from minding my comments and what you think are your business. NOW THIS WAS DIRECTED AT YOU. SO YES I CAN BE AN ASS. AND BELIEVE ME, IF COMPASSION IS DESERVED, I DO GIVE IT, BUT THOSE WHO DON'T DESERVE IT CAN GO TO, WELL YOU ARE SMARTER THAN I SO I THINK YOU CAN FIGURE THAT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!:) you have a great evening. Can't argue with an educated fool !!!!!!! All this crap about bologna is unbelievable! I guess we are all damn hard up for any entertainment, as we're all reading this And commenting! And where are the better jobs hiding out? I guess your lucky if you have any job at all in this time. Anyway, I've never cared much for beans or rice, and only like my bologna fried, with mustard! And mine only costs $1.89 for a Big package! People can have their paycheck, SSI, SSD or any other form of monthly cash benefit deposited to the EBT card. The cash they are spending may not be TANF it may be their own money. You dont know. If someone is making 10.00 an hour and getting 600 in food stamps, then they must not be reporting. While we were on food stamps, ONLY, my husband worked 40-45 hours a week at 11.00 an hour and we only got 120.00 a month in assistance for 6 people. We paid for our own insurance and everything else, we just needed help with buying food. I was out of work due to a lay off. We didnt buy junk either. Maybe a package of cookies once a week as desserts. We bought meat in bulk, divided and froze it. Not everyone buys crap. I understand both sides and wonder how many on here have actually been a part of this system? I dont think the answer is judgements and dentists spouting off. I think the state needs to get off its butt and fix the system. Well that was quite the daily discussion if anyone wants to continue it come on down to the seadog tonight! get a black and blue theyre mighty tasty! sacurtis, you are right I am a fool, a fool for believing that someone with your mentality could possibly comprehend the fact that not everything is ABOUT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mabye if you put as much of your energy into TRYING to understand where the majority of the people who commented on this article are coming from you would know that it is NOT ALL ABOUT YOU AND ONLY YOU. I directed my comment to one particular commenter and you seem to think that you are Savior to all. I always thought there was only one GOD, I must let people know that YOU ARE GOD forgive me for not knowing that before. And if you don't think I am educated, that is your choice. At least I, with my arthritis, and split disc, and yes pain every day WORK for my money. I was just sitting here reading all of your comments. I'm sitting here in an apartment my husband and I can't afford. We have two kids, and my husband does work. He makes $8.50 an hour for forty hours a week. Our rent is $503 a month, and we pay an $80 light bill. Know what the big surprise is?! Yes, you guessed it, we get Food Stamps. Let me just ask you people, have you noticed that foods that are healthy are expensive? We actually use our Food Stamps to buy our food for the month. My husband's money has to go for other bills. My kids eat junk once and awhile, but not all the time. What's wrong with them being able to have a treat once and awhile? My kids are still healthy, and their teeth aren't rottten. I think you'll find the problem isn't with the Food Stamps, it's with the parents not taking the proper care of their children. I live in a neighborhood where the single moms on TANF buy booze and cigarettes, and party all summer. Their kids are neglected and mal-nurished. Do think those moms work? Hell no! It makes me angry, but I don't let it get to me. Life is too short. There are people that abuse the system. I see it all the time. But I'd rather go through this life honestly, and raise my kids to be honest people. some of you might say, I could go to work. Yes, I could. But I like being home when my kids come home. I had them so I could raise them, not a babysitter. People should not judge other people by what they get or don't get. You don't know me as I stand in the grocery checkout line, and I don't know you. So, don't judge me, because I certainly won't judge you. I never said it was about me.......good night dear it's been fun chatting with you. Now tomorrow try to get up on the right side of the bed,k? God bless you . ghosthundersfan, I hear what you are saying, but I think so many of us have seen someone abuse the food stamp program. I can say that I live next to a couple, he who works under the table, making good money (he likes to brag), she is going to school for free (I can only take one class at a time as that is all I can afford), and they get food stamps and heating assistance. Now they have a new truck, a hot tub, a above ground pool, patio set that you would find in better homes and garden...but they go buy food with their handy dandy food stamp card. So I do hold a bad taste in my mouth, it is because of people abuse the system. I do agree that no junk food be allowed to be bought with food stamps, I know after my husband and I pay our bills, my kids go without junk food..simple...and my kids have not had a cavity, and by the way they don't drink soda :) I also have to pay for their dentist bills. Lets look at the childhood obesity rate, and look at money mainecare pays for childrens rotten teeth...it would most likely shock people. "I could go to work. Yes, I could. But I like being home when my kids come home." How about while your kids are at school, or in the evening while they sleep? Justification. I love it. This comment is to Ghosthuntersfan- Do you honestly think for one moment that the rest of us working moms wouldn't like to stay home and raise our own kids too? I cannot afford to because I have to work 40+ hours a week, and so doesn't my husband SO YOU CAN STAY HOME WITH YOU KIDS!!!! If you couldn't afford the kids you should have gone to school, got a good job(at least one of you) and THEN had the kids. I will judge you! You are a perfectly healthy person who can get oput and work, but you don't want your kids to go to daycare! Screw you! You are where the system begins to fail. The reason so many people are so angry about all of this food stamp business is because we are tired of working really hard and not being able to get ahead, and yet- there is your little family, getting by just fine. I am soooo glad I could be of service to you. I hope your kids school likes that fact that you can volunteer there during the day- I cannot- I have to work to make sure you can buy your kids get treats once in a while. What a joke. Ps- you can't afford to buy your own food but you can afford a computer and the internet, huh? Point made. I apologize for the typos in the last post- this really ticks me off! Computers and internet can be found in a school or library for free. A food stamp program is there to help people buy food. What kind of food they buy is their business. Some people will always abuse a system no matter what system is in place. So the real question is, are the majority of people being helped? When I was first married I too was using food stamps. It was no fun. And no one, no one, lives 'high off the hog' on food stamps or any kind of welfare. Getting it is humiliating and dehumanizing. All of you commenters really need to get off your high horses, learn to spell and be a little more understanding.
Yes- I'm sure that she was at the library reading to her childern at 7:53pm on a Saturday evening. As for the spelling I normally am a great speller but am so upset that this continues on that I tend to type too fast. I will help any person who wants to help themselves-staying home when you could be working and helping buy your own food is not helping yourself. Not only will I not get off my "high horse" I will be sure I feed him extra grain tonight from the money that I make at MY FULL TIME JOB! im not saying that food stamps are bad, but its how people use them. I work off my ass so people can buy soda chips and candy. Go buy some meats veg. fruit real food that you need for energy during the day. people are abusing this sportz28 & ParkAvenueJoe I agree, and then many of these children are having to see the dentist (on Medicaid) to have their teeth pulled because they are rotting (because of the sugary foods) or maybe they are obese and face many physical problems because of not getting nutritious foods. This program is to make sure families are fed and fed good food, not to fill their sweet tooth. If they want the occasional sweet, then save for it. It should not be up the the govt or taxpayers to pay for the low incomes people every WANT the system is there to take care of their NEEDS!! I am not high class or snobby, people who read this may think so, but I feel that people who need help should take what they get and if the govt deems that is is only nutritious foods then take it.. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Help yourselves you will feel good for doing so. Many of us have had help in the past and there is no shame in it, if you deserve the help take it and use it well. If you don't agree with the terms, then don't take the assistance. There are plenty of programs out there that help low income people get access to fresh foods/veggies so help offset the costs in the markets. Hell Lobster is almost as cheap per pond and Hamburg now!! _
whatever... I agree....I might add I am glad to see so many people that are on assistance and say they can barely get buy can afford a computer and the internet.... I would love to see your TV, bet they are better than mine! Yes they are available at the Library but let's be honest, most of these people aren't heading to the library! Some yes, most no!
This is bullcrap any thing that is editable and drinkable should be allowed to be bought with food stamps it is our right to buy our food with food stamps I under stand that drinking alot of soda can rotten your teeth but most kids 9 times out of 10 dont really brush there teeth and for kids that do its not fair for every one to suffer
With thinking like that i understand why you are on food stamps! ghosthuntersfan, you're name says it all. Your're sitting there on the internet, and your a ghost hunters fan, so you must have cable. Well you know what, most people think those two things are luxuries when you can't afford food. And thats the problem, we are not subsidizing your food, we are subsidizing you're tv and cable, which I bet you pay more for than you get in foodstamps. You know, you can still get TV with rabbit ears, and if your favorite show is not on one of those channels, than tough. And they have internet at the library, so if you're hubby wants to go on-line and see if he can find a better job, surely, he could find the time to go there. If you wanted to be able to afford to sit home and be with you're kids, then before you had them, you should have come up with a little better career path for your husband, so he could actually take care of his family. I am sorry, but you beg to be judged. GIVE UP THE CABLE AND INTERNERT, or at least get an on-line education while you're waiting for your kids to come home. Sacurtis you are right. Can't arguy with an educated fool you are right ,I repeat. So this allows hardworkinmom to keep on working so the food stamps keep on coming. By the way hardworkinmom who is it here that cannot spell with a degree in idiocy? You! It is spelled Juddy not Jetty. R--- got ya . have a shitty night. If you ever do get to china with all your inteligence please pick me up some residetial papers , seems to me that china is where all the work is in the world today so thats why we all live on foodstaps her in america. By the way be carful in china also if you should go there because over there if people stick their nose in other peoples business they get hooked up to a linching party, so if you do get there mind your own f----king business. Obviously the colledge you got your degree from didn't teach you mind your own business and shut your moth when you were not invited to a coversation out of your league. Again i do not apologize at all, I mean HAVE A SHITTY NIGHT! this is JUDDY 53 and I aprove this message! amy_adams.........learn to spell, get a job, and make your children brush their teeth!!!! I go to work every day, and I buy what my family needs, not what we think we deserve!!!!!! I've been behind stamp-tramps at the grocery store with a cart loaded with meat and seafood, while i'm buying no name brand goods because it's what i can afford!!! First off yes I'm a woman, jimmyb is because of I'm a Jimmy Buffet fan if must know. Second, where you work does everybody make the exact same wages?? You have tunnel vision if you can't understand that 2 or more people working at the same place can't make different wages. Thirdly, I did mean 3.00 food stamps not 300.00. I applied for them and that's the amount they said we would qualify for. And lastly, due to the fact that the high and mighty like yourself DEMANDS higher wages is the reason so many US jobs go overseas where labor is dirt cheap. Who the hell can demand higher wages is an area where you are damn lucky to even have a job. You must peform special favors for your higher wages. Previous reply for anne_of_mdi bendover........not foodstamps!!!! TRAMP-STAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT S@#T?? Evidently you can't use tramp_stamps to buy hooked on phonics!! Hey, does it occur to anyone that if employers paid a living wage then we taxpayers wouldn't have to be subsidizing so many people with food stamps? Or Mainecare? Priorities, people. Look up the word "proactive." And stop being such horrible busybodies. You all say you're working your asses off so other people can abuse welfare, but obviously your not working that hard or you wouldn't have the energy to be whining here. You know, if you want to be home with your kids then be home with your kids. But if you can not afford the money to feed said kids then get a job! There are plenty of places that allow you to work odd shifts so that you can be home. Try fast food places or convenient stores... they always hire for odd shifts. Its not that hard to work from 8a-2p while the kids are in school or 9p-whenever so you can put your kids to bed. I know... I have worked nights for the past 2+years - 9p-2a 3 nights a week at McDonalds and currently 8:30p-6:30a 2 nights a week at the local Circle K (Irving) and guess what!? I get paid and extra 50-cents per hour from 10p-6a for working the overnight. Plenty of time to be home, plenty of time to put my kids to bed at night, and enough money to make ends meet. And 'ya, I am a little tired after I get out of work, but I make it work - working around my husbands day off (when I can) so I can sleep and learning to deal with being tired. It's my and my husband's job to take care of our family and we do! And we have the wonderful sense of pride with saying that we have worker hard and earned the things we have. No sitter, no handouts. Just hard work, determination and self reliablity. Oh jimmyb I am so sorry for you. Here you are sitting in judgment of people on food stamps and whining about how lucky you are to have a job and don't have the guts to demand higher wages, yet you're just not able to see what a hypocrite you are. and what was the kicker? I must perform special favors for my high wages. I'm self-employed, so I must be blowing myself! Hahahahahahah. Stay classy, jimmy the girl. This is for all you people out there. We don't have cable, because we can't afford it. I guess you didn't read what my husband makes monthly. I do contribute. I babysit so I can stay at home. I have asthmatic children, I suffer from major depression, have degenerative disc disease, and I also suffer from anxiety. I have worked in the past, and my children suffered for it. And let me tell you, while staying at home for my kids, I had no help from the state except Maincare, which mine and my husband's tax dollars have contributed to. My husband and I seperated a few years back. I had a 40 hour a week job at the Brewer Wal-Mart. I got no TANF, and maybe $100 in Foodstamps for me and my two kids. I made $800 a month gross, and my rent was at least $300. I couldn't afford day-care for my son, because I would have had to pay full time for him. The state told me I had to quit my job, then get on the state, and then get my job back. Which is what I did. I went from forty hours a week to fifteen hours a week. Where is the justice in that? I did graduate high school, and I am damn smart! I would love to go to work but I can't. And to give you all a little clue, if you think we're just working the system, if we weren't able to get FoodStamps, my husband was going to work 2 jobs to buy food and pay our rent, and he's epileptic!!!!!!!!! He grew up in a home where his mother and father both worked and his brother and him were abused and neglected. I stay home because he wants me home with our kids so they have a good home life. We don't want a house, a fancy car, or all the little toys for our kids. I want my kids to grow up and be thankful that I stayed at home. I'll tell you another thing. My father retires next week at the age of 65. THe state of Maine has been taking taxes out of him for over 40 years. You know what he said to me? I've paid enough in, there's no reason why some of it shouldn't go to my grandkids if they need it. I saw enough of the single women on TANF and Foodstamps this summer getting drunk, stoned, and partying all around me to piss me off enough to not care if I get Foodstamps. I'm grateful for every damn cent I get from them. I don't feel that I am owed them or anything. We're in a tough situation right now, and the state is helping us out. My husband had a good job. He was an ssistant manager at the Dollar Tree on Stillwater Avenue, and he got hurt unloading a truck at work. When he reported it to his manager, she wouldn't let him go to the hospital to get it checked out. He punched out, and went to the hospital. When he reported everything to the district manger, she said he could come back but not as management. They took his position away, his rate of pay($10.80 per hour), and his confidence. They were going to give him 10 hours a week at $7.50 an hour. Surprise, can't afford a lawyer. So, he takes a job cleaning at night for $255 a week. I also shop at Save-A-Lot, and buy store brand food that sucks, to get the most out of what you call your hard working dollars. I shop at Good Will, and Hands of Hope. I also yard sale for my kids clothes. And just so you know, we haven't been on Foodstamps all the time. WE've only been on them since March of this year, and the only reason I did it was because we had to. How would you feel if you went to work everyday, missed your kids, and came home to see a TANF mother on her back porch getting drunk and smoking, every night!!!!!!!! Well, that's what my husband deals with every summer. It kind of makes you wonder why they can't get kicked off TANF and get a job. I stay at home because I choose too. I don't think what little bit we get for 4 people in Foodstamps is going to break the state. Drive through Capeheart to get a real look at your tax dollars at work. I don't live in low income housing either. And for your information, boogyman, I'm on a free month trial through my home phone service for the internet. When we can't pay for it, it gets cut. And by the way, to all you people complaining about my computer, it's three years old, and I was not on the state then. I needed it because my daughter has learing disabilities, and we needed it, and it was bought with my husbands tax dollars. ghosthuntersfan you do not have to justify anything to these idiots. I am proud to live in a state that can and will help support you and your children. I am appalled that you had a full-time job at Wal-Mart and made only $800 a week. That is criminal! The state gives Wal Mart all kinds of tax breaks because supposedly they are providing jobs, but look at the kind of jobs, and all the profits are going out of state. It's absolutely disgusting. Sorry, I meant to write "$800 a month." Well everyone.Do we remember how they used to recieve paper food stamps? I do, I used to watch people go into corner stored and buy a debbie cake for 25 cents so they got back 75 cents..Then they used the change towards buying a pack of ciggy butts...Or how many knew someone who sold their entire books of fod stamps to someone else for cash to buy alcohol and ciggy butts and go to the bar...Now I see they use a swipe card..How lucky we all are that atleast those scumbags can't seel them anymore to get cash! This is another instance of the ones WHO DO abuse the system...We all know there are plenty of them who don't because they love their children and they provide their every need... I don't agree with foodstamps being used for junk, I think there is a bigger problem with this than just their teeth..It's called diabetes, obesity, it's a proven fact that these children over weight have heart valves large enough for a 40 year old... In MY OPINION....the soda is not the only cause for the bad teeth, it's the parental lack in hygeine, not teeching their children to brush, not teeching them to floss, these kids are drinking the soda, eating the candy and their parents are putting them to bed without brushing and flossing!!! There is alot of anger in regards to the State funded programs right now and I am one of the angry ones..I am sick and tired of my money being taken from my children to pay for others whom have no regard for the fact they are taking away from my children to feed theirs junk! I get mad as hell when I stand in a grocery line and I have meat, dairy, fruits and vege's and the obese woman in front of me with 4 kids has ice cream, chips, soda, dip, candy bars, debbie cakes, and not one thing she is purchasing is healthy....Then she pulls out the infamous EBT card....My 5 year old is standing there, looking at the junk her kids have and asks for a candy bar..I loudly say..NO HUNNY WE HAVE GRAPES!!! He is quite content knowing when we get home he will have a mini bagel with cream cheese and some grapes!! All you food stamp recipients on here thinking we are just IGNORANT for feeling you are wrong....Try making your child a fruit smoothie, make them a banana milk shake, give them some grapes, apple slices and some celery with peanut butter!!! Believe me they will enjoy it so much more than the 2 minutes they enjoy a candy bar!! The State of Maine's welfare program is screwed because they are being screwed! No dentist regardless of how hard he tries will be able to change that! I think we all should set a date, march our asses right to city hall or Baldacci office and tell em all face to face how fed up we are with their WASTEFULL WELFARE PROGRAM!!!! To hrdwkngmom, I do buy my kids fruit and veggies. They get one "sweet" a day. I don't buy ice cream, or anything else that's junk on my stamps. What I call "sweets" are pudding cups, freezer pops, or pretzels. I bake them their cookies or cakes, and only on special occasions. I buy the chips and ice cream with our own money, and it's not that often because I worry about their health and their teeth. Hey did it occur to anyone that if employers were forced to pay a higher wage, then they would hire less people, and everything would cost more? Everyone who uses that argument knows absolutely nothing about economics, has absolutely no business acumen, and does not seem to understand that minimum wage is not intended to be a livable wage. Unskilled labor is not worth much, really, if you don't have a specialized skill, what makes you worth a lot of money. What have you done to improve your skills and make yourself worth more? That's your job, not someone elses. Anyone can do what you are doing. And don't tell me I don't know what it's like. My first job out of college 10 years ago was for 7.00 an hour in the feild I wanted to be in. I was making $10 an hour doing grunt work to work my way through college, it was a starting wage, foot in the door job. Within six months, I went to about 11 an hour, after working nights, weekends, and giving up just about any life I had. A year later, my wage doubled, then it trippled, now it's about quintupled. Well I could have pissed and moaned about making 7.00 an hour, and you know what, had I done that, I'd still be making 7.00 an hour. Now, I was married, but I was smart enough to know I could not afford a kid at 7.00 an hour, so I waited until I could pay for my own child before having one. It was actually pretty easy, birth control actually works, try it sometime. Now for those of you who say you can't go to college, you can't afford it, you don't have the time, keep making excuses, and take a good look at where you are today, because in thirty years your still going to be there, so I hope your comfortable. Now, in these economic times, I may find myself out of work soon, who knows. If that happens, the first thing that happens is the internet goes, the sattelite dish goes, the car payment goes, and I'll grab the first available work I can, even if it;s cleaning toilets at the mall until I can get back to where I was. Everyone should know that when you depend on the government for your survival that you risk losing your freedom to make your own choices. So many people want the government to provide health care and all kinds of other benefits to all its citizens, but how long do you suppose it would be before we were all told what we could eat or drink. We would be told how much we had to weigh and much how excercise we were required to get in order to be eligible for health care. I encourage everyone to strive to be selfsufficient so that you always have the freedom to make your own choices. Anyone can find themselves in a situation that requires social assistance but this should never become a permanent solutuion. People need to take more responsibility for themselves in order to overcome these down times. Stop playing the blame game! You and you alone are responsible for yourself, not the government. As long as you depend on the government for your needs then you should give up your choices as to what you are entitled to. Taxpayers should not pay for your poor choices of food or for bringing children into the world that you can't support. Eat healthy, work hard, and educate yourself and do it all for you! I also believe that food stamps should not be used to buy lobster of filet mignon, and I have witnessed that on several occasions!
well ghost hunter fan then you have nothing to worry about for you are not the "type" we are talking about!! My closest friend recieved food stamps because her husband had major back surgery and could not work for several months..She not ONCE bought junk, she went to the Meat Store and bought meat packages, she bought bulk of everything she could to make sure they got by...I love my friend to pieces and respect her wholeheartedly...It's the moochers we despise...The ones who stop at the corner store and buy slush puppies, bags of gummy worms, chips, soda, and JUNK!! Why is it that people can't read the comments we write in their ENTIRETY before they assume we are speaking of them??? Ghosthunter do you stop at the corner store and buy 3 large slush puppies, 4 bags of chips, a mountain dew, and 4 butterfinger ice creams and whip out your EBT card to pay and as soon as you finish paying with your EBT card you ask for a 3 pack deal of Marlboro??? Didn't think so...But this happened in front of my face as I stood in line to pay for gas!! Burns my rear end on fire and I am sick and tired of paying for it in the end for it is our tax dollars that's paying for that CRAP and then it's our tax dollars that pays for the Mainecare that pays for the rotten teeth!! GET MY DRIFT?? Maybe the state need to look closer into this. Someone needs to investigate these people. When someone is convicted of a crime, I think all state aid should be suspended for 5 years. I also agree with mandated drug testing for everyone on welfare. If these people can spend the money on a joint then they dont need to be getting help from me. Foodstamps are not a right for you. I think if I pay for your food I should have some say in what you are eating. Bempsgirl you are absolutely correct in saying that if you depend on the gov't you will be losing some freedoms. If you don't want the gov't intruding, dont ask them for a handout. Go find a job and stop having babies if you are having a hard time making ends meet. HARDWORKING MOM!!!!!!!... i was actually thinking about organizing and bringing this to augusta as I was reading the comments in the Capehart forum. Tell me when! PS to whoever said it: BEGGARS BEING CHOOSERS... I think that's a great way to put it. Soda is pretty terrible. and the last thing these poor kids need is tooth decay (in addition to the terrible odds of them being successful adults with lazy ass mooching parents as an example) And those who require assistance... let me put it this way, you've already proven yourself incapable of caring for yourself. Just like parents and the rules they have for their children, the government needs to implement rules that are in the best interest of the people they care for. So of course you're being babied by setting restrictions. But you've proven that it is needed.
And I just don't understand... I'm a BS nursing student, in addition I work 20 hours a week... I can pay my rent, utilities, gas, food (I'm a vegan and eat mostly organic, talk about expensive!), car insurance, cell phone, vet bills (I'm still under my parents health insurance)... not to mention about $500 twice a year for books... Why on earth are people having trouble paying their own way? And if people are unhappy with making min. wage, why can't you go to school? If there's a will there's a way. And a secondary education is within everyone's grasp (learning a skill that makes you worth more than min. wage). HONESTELY, PEOPLE ON THE SYSTEM COULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? what is a popular excuse? you can't work because you have physcial disabilites... is you're brain disabled? because there are plenty of jobs that aren't labor intensive.
and just a side note to JDBOYS about the no smoking in the car with children and you thinking it's stupid... "Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to young children. Secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year, and causes 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths in the United States annually." (right off the american lung association, and they're just taking about infants there). Get real dude. You're a d-bag if you light up with your kid in the car and think it's okay. I hope you stay home on voting day.
ghosthunterfan, you say you do contribute, you babyset while you are at home, is that income reported to the state? Hey Kristen sounds to me that maybe you and hardworkinmom aught to live with each other. Then america would have another home in it with two highly educated lezzies in it. This than would keep less food for you both to buy for you both would have each other to --well you know what i mean-- What you do to food is what i mean. I read the comments on the clergy pastors in the BDN nov 14 issue about those co called ministers of the word of GOD approving fags,lezzies and homos to be O.K. and to give them thier rights too marriage and in the comment catagory it appears that hardworkinmom has her likings too gabeeis as well as her jeloesy because she gets no foodstamps. Maybe by you two living togeather you both could come to some soultion how to invent something else for needy people above and beyound pepsi, chips, and food stamps. Cathilic fathers as child molesters, Clergymen of the churches of GOD backing up gabies ,homos and lesbians ,Highly educated hardworking moms and nurses bitching about us foodstamp tramps,What in hell is this world or should I state ,,,,THIS STATE of a weak minded few [such as you two] going to come up with next ? Someone to classify that people on foodstamps are BEGGERS maybe?I WOOPs ! I apologize RICK 32 ,I almost forgot to acnowledge you also, The next jerk of the world is already here.,but not with such a great honor to people of povery and disabilities. hope not because I personally don't need to beg for my foodstamps, they are all punched in to my card by computer every first of the month. So if you don't want me and 175,000 others to get stamps for our thanksgiving and christmas dinners than i would suggest you quit you nursing jobs and such as the like on the 30th. This way you can get your turkeys for thanksgiving and christmas with your food stamps,you 2 turkeys. By the way i hope you both choke on the next bite of potatoe you eat for that is where I spent and PAID my taxes for thirty-five years doing ,bending over all day long picking up potatoes at my now desaced fathers potato farm. Why now has JUDDY got a bad back and still needs foodstamps. Just so you three and the rest of the asses of the world could have your veggies and we our potato chips to eat. I LOVE HUMPTY DUMPTY BARBECUE. DID I DO AL RIGHT WITH MY SPELLING THIS TIME MOMMY?
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