Why do those paying for deadbeats want to know where the money goes?

[Carl]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026259645

Sat Feb 21, 2015, 10:09 PM

 eridani (43,701 posts)

Why Do Americans Feel Entitled to Tell Poor People What to Eat?
 



http://www.thenation.com/blog/198369/why-do-americans-feel-entitled-tell-poor-what-eat

Why do people think they’re entitled to decide how food stamps, in particular, are used? Not all government benefits elicit such feelings. When we give people assistance through the home-mortgage interest deduction, we don’t feel entitled to tell them what house to buy or what neighborhood to live in; when we subsidize a college education through student loans, we don’t tell students what school to go to or what to major in. When we tax capital gains income at a lower rate than income made from labor, we certainly don’t tell those stock pickers what to do with the extra cash.

One big difference is that mortgage and student loan help usually comes in the form of tax credits, part of what political scientist Suzanne Mettler has dubbed the “submerged state.” Benefits delivered through a tax break or subsidy to a private entity, rather than an EBT card or check, are made invisible to those who use them and everyone around them. Even Medicare, one of the largest government programs, is often delivered through private insurance, thus masking the fact that it’s a benefit. Mettler conducted a survey in 2008 that found that, while 57 percent of people said they’d never used a government program, 94 percent of those who denied it had benefited from at least one, usually one that was “submerged.”

The reason people in line at a grocery store get to feel morally superior to someone on food stamps is because she has to whip out a card that tells the world that she gets assistance buying food. No such card exists when applying for a mortgage or getting a federally subsidized student loan.

The other difference, of course, is that food stamps help the poor. (Tax expenditures, including mortgage assistance, overwhelmingly help the wealthy.) And the poor are assumed to be poor because they’re bad with money. More often than not, they’re poor because they can’t get work that pays them enough to not be poor. And they’re not any worse with their money than the rest of the country. In fact, low-income Americans spend larger percentages of their budgets on the necessities like housing, utilities, transportation and home-cooked food. The richest 20 percent spend more on “luxuries” like eating out and entertainment. The rich even spend more of their budgets on alcoholic beverages—so much for poor people’s wasteful spending on fine wine

How awful I want to see my earned money not wasted.

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sat Feb 21, 2015, 10:16 PM

Proud Liberal Dem (13,462 posts)
1. Furthermore

It's not as if poor people can afford to buy "healthy" food. However, usually, the "concern" tends to be that people on Food Stamps are getting Steak and Crab and eating better than the rest of us hard-working stiffs (see Reagan's Cadillac welfare queens)

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sat Feb 21, 2015, 10:24 PM

 BlueJazz (21,488 posts)
3. My input would be: This food that they're buying may be the only bright spot/thing in their life.

We SHOULD give them healthy food for free and then give them a card (with less money) so that they can buy treats, ice cream or whatever.

I mean, ****..when I give people money, I want them to enjoy it 'cause that may be the only joyful thing in their life.

i hope you eat shit and die.

Response to BlueJazz (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 11:57 AM

PasadenaTrudy (2,466 posts)
19. That's how I feel, too

You have to have something, no matter how small, to look forward to.

How about that thing called a paycheck?

Response to BlueJazz (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:55 PM

Erich Bloodaxe BSN (6,257 posts)
31. I'd like to see subsidized/free community restaurants.

Make them open to anyone who wants to eat there, and tie them to free clinics so people can have some input on whether they need to make specific choices for diabetic diets, low protein diets, etc.

 

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sat Feb 21, 2015, 11:05 PM

Wellstone ruled (2,460 posts)
7. Ronald Raygun started this crap.

Remember Kudlow and other Cabinet Members running their mouths off about peoples diet and assumed habits.

Do you cry about the first wookie pushing diets?

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 01:52 AM

Kalidurga (6,894 posts)
9. If only it stopped there.

It's not just people on food stamps. The working poor are also assumed to be spending their money unwisely. And it's not just that people assume they can tell poor people what to eat. They will say poor people shouldn't have children or even have sex because they could end up having a child. They think poor people shouldn't go to movies. Poor people are assumed to be uneducated, but most the poor people I know have at least a two year degree a few have a Bachelors. I know quite a few that were fairly well off and had owned a business who now work as sales clerks for various reasons, one was divorced so she opted out of the business she had with her husband, one was sick for a prolonged period her business didn't recover she did. There are a lot of people who think they have the right to tell poor people they are doing it wrong. Same people who have catastrophic events happen to them think they are the exception, not the rule. I have news for them they are likely the rule rather than the exception.

Poor people have poor ways.
It is always and I mean always the truth with the chronically poor.

Response to freshwest (Reply #11)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:40 PM

 Warpy (81,303 posts)
27. I don't feel pity, I feel a sense of relief

that some of my tax money is doing something useful rather than paying fat cats to produce bombs to incinerate brown people on the other side of the planet.

Do I look at what they're buying? Yes, if I'm bored, but I look at cash purchases, too. I also understand what I'm looking at since I've had real periods of poverty in my life. That dollar fruit flavored soda from Wally's will give the kids a treat and some of it has a little Vitamin C in it. The bologna will be put onto day old balloon bread for suppers the nights before the next deposit comes in for that EBT card. That bag of chips will be doled out to the kids a few at a time for lunches on the weekends, not inhaled by Himself in his recliner chair in one sitting during a football game. Poor folks buy the stuff that will keep the kids happy and keep their stomachs from hurting for the longest period of time. Poor quality food does that.

Ugly scrunt rambles on.

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 08:57 AM

Bluenorthwest (34,634 posts)
16. Straight Americans feel they have the right to trash talk LGBT Americans and tell us how to live.

 Why is that? Even in this Party, Straight Democrats are more than willing to defend the likes of Rick 'they are all pedophiles' Warren when he attacks LGBT Democrats.
 Why is that?

Sorry,this is not a faggot pity thread. 

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 11:10 AM

KG (25,457 posts)
18. Why Do Americans Feel Entitled?

Why do you mutts thinks you should have everything free?

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:31 PM

 closeupready (24,113 posts)
24. Welcome to American society.

I was born in the most whitebread part of the US, but almost all my friends are non-Americans. Our society is so lame, and this facet reflects it. Can't be bothered to socialize with hypocrites who - as the article points out - are big-time government welfare beneficiaries in the form of a mortgage interest deduction, and then turn around and begrudge their poor neighbor $100 in food stamps.

A tax deduction equals a welfare handout...yeah,that is dumbocrat think.

[Chris_]

Michelle?  Is that you?

[I_B_Perky]

Response to BlueJazz (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:55 PM

Erich Bloodaxe BSN (6,257 posts)
31. I'd like to see subsidized/free community restaurants.

Make them open to anyone who wants to eat there, and tie them to free clinics so people can have some input on whether they need to make specific choices for diabetic diets, low protein diets, etc.

Me too. Along with subsidized free community housing. We could use closed military bases.  Got everything on those bases you want. Housing, mess, medical. If it was good enough for the GI's, it's good enough for welfare pukes. The only thing different I would do is make the welfare pukes work to keep it up. No free ride in other words.  You will learn a trade while you are there and you will get experience in using that trade to keep up the base.

Oh and did I mention that I would end all welfare benefits? No? Oops. Sorry about that.  You want to be taken care of by the state, we'll oblige. You will do it our way, though. You want freedom? We'll then get a job and pay your own way.

Warpy (81,303 posts)
27. I don't feel pity, I feel a sense of relief

that some of my tax money is doing something useful rather than paying fat cats to produce bombs to incinerate brown people on the other side of the planet.

Do I look at what they're buying? Yes, if I'm bored, but I look at cash purchases, too. I also understand what I'm looking at since I've had real periods of poverty in my life. That dollar fruit flavored soda from Wally's will give the kids a treat and some of it has a little Vitamin C in it. The bologna will be put onto day old balloon bread for suppers the nights before the next deposit comes in for that EBT card. That bag of chips will be doled out to the kids a few at a time for lunches on the weekends, not inhaled by Himself in his recliner chair in one sitting during a football game. Poor folks buy the stuff that will keep the kids happy and keep their stomachs from hurting for the longest period of time. Poor quality food does that.

Well what all the steaks and brand name food I see the welfare pukes buying at the grocery store? Not to mention the second buggy full of beer and cigs they seem to have the cash for.  The only people I see buying bologna are people that actually pay for it themselves.

[98ZJUSMC]

Response to BlueJazz (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 06:55 PM

Erich Bloodaxe BSN (6,257 posts)
31. I'd like to see subsidized/free community restaurants.

Been there, done that.

Make them open to anyone who wants to eat there, and tie them to free clinics so people can have some input on whether they need to make specific choices for diabetic diets, low protein diets, etc. Yeah.  Just what humans need.

 

Should look familiar to you.

[Chris_]

[thundley4]

Sat Feb 21, 2015, 10:16 PM

Proud Liberal Dem (13,462 posts)
1. Furthermore

It's not as if poor people can afford to buy "healthy" food. However, usually, the "concern" tends to be that people on Food Stamps are getting Steak and Crab and eating better than the rest of us hard-working stiffs (see Reagan's Cadillac welfare queens)

Bullshit. It's been shown that healthier home made food is cheaper than buying junk food.

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 08:57 AM

Bluenorthwest (34,634 posts)
16. Straight Americans feel they have the right to trash talk LGBT Americans and tell us how to live.

 Why is that? Even in this Party, Straight Democrats are more than willing to defend the likes of Rick 'they are all pedophiles' Warren when he attacks LGBT Democrats.
 Why is that?

Well, if so many pedophiles weren't faggots we wouldn't hold it against you. Then there is that whole thing about wanting special rights, not equal rights for something you choose to do.

[Big Dog]

Well, if so many pedophiles weren't faggots we wouldn't hold it against you. Then there is that whole thing about wanting special rights, not equal rights for something you choose to do.

Bluenorthwest couldn't let an outrage thread go by without hijacking it for the LGBLTs.

[franksolich]

Bluenorthwest couldn't let an outrage thread go by without hijacking it for the LGBLTs.

Given that "one issue" Wills, the William769 primitive, has turned pretty dull and boring, this one's a new one to watch, for better amusement.

[Big Dog]

Given that "one issue" Wills, the William769 primitive, has turned pretty dull and boring, this one's a new one to watch, for better amusement.

I expect to see an exchange like this between Peter Puffer and Omaha Steve, in Late Breaking News:

Steve's OP (cut and paste from the World Herald, without comment): "Cattle Truck Overturns, 40 Steers Killed"

Peter Puffer: "You are ignoring the suffering of  LGBLT trans-babies who are forced into cisgendered diapers!"

[HawkHogan]

I think people on food stamps should be forced to go government buildings, where they could pick up bread, milk, and other essentials.  If they want nicer food, they can get a job and buy it with their own money. 

Our economy has gotten so much better that food stamp usage has doubled.  http://conservativecave.com/Themes/default/images/bbc/toggle.gif

[SVPete]

Gee! The people who hate the idea that Exxon or Walmart might be making "obscene" profits (by delivering needed goods and services) cannot understand why hardworking, productive, taxpayers do not want to be defrauded or have their tax $$ used to buy recreational chemicals?

Stupidity may be curable; willful blindness may not.

[JohnnyReb]

Given that "one issue" Wills, the William769 primitive, has turned pretty dull and boring, this one's a new one to watch, for better amusement.

With the gay crowd, it's all about my dick/vagina....nothing else matters.

[diesel driver]

Me too. Along with subsidized free community housing. We could use closed military bases.  Got everything on those bases you want. Housing, mess, medical. If it was good enough for the GI's, it's good enough for welfare pukes. The only thing different I would do is make the welfare pukes work to keep it up. No free ride in other words.  You will learn a trade while you are there and you will get experience in using that trade to keep up the base.

Oh and did I mention that I would end all welfare benefits? No? Oops. Sorry about that.  You want to be taken care of by the state, we'll oblige. You will do it our way, though. You want freedom? We'll then get a job and pay your own way.

Well what all the steaks and brand name food I see the welfare pukes buying at the grocery store? Not to mention the second buggy full of beer and cigs they seem to have the cash for.  The only people I see buying bologna are people that actually pay for it themselves.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit, perky.   

In Virginia, EBT won't buy cigs, alcohol, cleaning products, or even toilet paper, but it will pay for everything else you can eat or drink.
When I worked as an overnight cashier at Walmart, the you could tell just from what was in the buggy that the EBT was coming out to pay for it.  Mountains of sodas, cakes, cookies, frozen foods, steaks, pork chops, chips, etc., all pushed by a 300+ pound "baby mama".

I feel if someone needs the government to survive, then the only place they can get food is at a government food pantry.  Fed, state or local, doesn't matter.  Get rid of some of that surplus government cheese. 

[JohnnyReb]

Wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit, perky.   

In Virginia, EBT won't buy cigs, alcohol, cleaning products, or even toilet paper, but it will pay for everything else you can eat or drink.
When I worked as an overnight cashier at Walmart, the you could tell just from what was in the buggy that the EBT was coming out to pay for it.  Mountains of sodas, cakes, cookies, frozen foods, steaks, pork chops, chips, etc., all pushed by a 300+ pound "baby mama".

I feel if someone needs the government to survive, then the only place they can get food is at a government food pantry.  Fed, state or local, doesn't matter.  Get rid of some of that surplus government cheese.

They would just sell the food at half price to get money.

A few years back, they cracked down on food stamp fraud around here. Stores were giving people cash for stamps at a 50% rate. So, then people were giving foodstamp recipients a grocery list and they would go in and get the food then sell it for half price.

About the only way to stop foodstamp fraud would be to feed them at government run kitchens....,but then, they would probably just sell their seat at the table.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Response to eridani (Original post)

Sun Feb 22, 2015, 08:57 AM

Bluenorthwest (34,634 posts)
16. Straight Americans feel they have the right to trash talk LGBT Americans and tell us how to live.

 Why is that? Even in this Party, Straight Democrats are more than willing to defend the likes of Rick 'they are all pedophiles' Warren when he attacks LGBT Democrats.
 Why is that?

"...But enough about your little issue, LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Don't like using a card?  Don't get one.  Simple.

[jukin]

I've read The Constitution many times and have never seen any wording that says I have to pay to feed other people. Now I do see the right to own weapons.

[diesel driver]

They would just sell the food at half price to get money.

Then let their DUmmie asses go hungry!!!   

[franksolich]

Then let their DUmmie asses go hungry!!!   

That's not what happens, though.

They run through their monthly food stamps, or use them up for illegal purposes, and then by the 10th the month, they're at food pantries saying they don't have any food.

This is why food stamps should be dispensed in the form of food, not something that's easily convertible into something else.  Just food, picked up at some specified location.

[obumazombie]

The libs don't understand what they call corporate welfare, or even tax breaks.
They think anyone getting a tax break is equal to a leech.
The test should be, are they a net tax payer, or a net tax leech.
The net tax payers are funding the net tax leeches, and have a right to see that their hard earned money is being used wisely.

[diesel driver]

The net tax payers should be the only ones allowed to vote.

[obumazombie]

The net tax payers should be the only ones allowed to vote.

Even better, your vote count should equal your tax liability.