Should the government bar food stamps from being used to buy sugary and fatty foods?

[Ben Kenobi]

What definition of the word "reluctant" are you using? Not knowing about a program is not equivalent to being reluctant to utilize a program.

Not being willing to jump through the hoops to get into the program is reluctant.

[loinburger]

Please describe these hoops, because I think you must be talking about a different program.

[giblets]

The truly needy are willing to work for minimum wage or maybe less to get the food they need to live, but they sure as hell aren't going to fill out no stinking government paperwork!

[rah]

What does it entail to sign up for food stamps? You have to have some knowledge of the system and be willing to file for it and deal with the bureaucracy. That generally means having either experience with the system (knowing how to apply, etc), and the rest. The system will never 'see' the people who most need it's help because that's not what it's designed for.

It is a clever way to keep food prices high though.

One of the most unbelievable posts ever. Your ignorance knows no bounds.

[Ben Kenobi]

Yes, clearly no one would engage a system they've never dealt with before in order to get $133 a month in benefits that they truly need.

As opposed to just showing up in a church basement, having to wait for 4 hours and getting your food no questions asked? It's hard. Don't believe, me, try it sometime. Talk to the folks who are there.

Who knows how people acquired experience with the system in the first place- maybe it's genetic.

Generally they have the support system willing to help them including things like a fixed address, etc.

Also, clearly if you give food stamps to people who already can afford to eat, food prices will rise somehow- even though apparently they're only using it to buy food that they would have otherwise bought with their own money????

Scarce resources. Give people the money to buy the things that they are already likely to buy, and they are more likely to buy more than if they never received that money in the first place. Good for the merchants, since the government is essentially paying to buy their food at their prices. Under a proper market, if these groceries increase in price, the demand for them drops. With food stamps, this isn't the case.

[Ben Kenobi]

One of the most unbelievable posts ever. Your ignorance knows no bounds.

That food stamps don't get at the neediest people and increase the price of food? Basic economics Rah.

[Ben Kenobi]

Please describe these hoops, because I think you must be talking about a different program.

Maybe it's different in Texas?

Anyways, SNAP:

SNAP applications are available at any Social Security office. If you and everyone in your household are applying for or already getting SSI payments, any Social Security office will help you fill out the SNAP application and send it to the local SNAP office for you.

All others, including those applying for or getting only Social Security, must take or send their SNAP applications to the local SNAP office or to any Social Security office where a SNAP representative works.

When you are interviewed, you also should have:
•Identification such as a driver's license, state ID, birth certificate or alien card;
•Proof of income for each member of your household, such as pay stubs or records that show if Social Security, SSI or a pension for each member of your household is received;
•Proof of how much you spend for child care;
•Rent receipts or proof of your mortgage payments;
•Records of your utility costs; and
•Medical bills for those members of your household age 60 or older, and for those who receive government payments such as Social Security or SSI because they are disabled.

Does this sound like a program designed to provide food for homeless people?

[Ben Kenobi]

The truly needy are willing to work for minimum wage or maybe less to get the food they need to live, but they sure as hell aren't going to fill out no stinking government paperwork!

From what I can see, someone with no fixed address wouldn't even be eligible to receive SNAP.

[giblets]

As opposed to just showing up in a church basement, having to wait for 4 hours and getting your food no questions asked? It's hard. Don't believe, me, try it sometime. Talk to the folks who are there.

I would certainly have difficulty getting food stamps. However, that does not make me believe you.

Generally they have the support system willing to help them including things like a fixed address, etc.

Yes, I know it's hard to understand how a truly needy person could have a fancy fixed address. I guess you've defined "needy" so that only homeless people are needy.

Scarce resources. Give people the money to buy the things that they are already likely to buy, and they are more likely to buy more than if they never received that money in the first place. Good for the merchants, since the government is essentially paying to buy their food at their prices. Under a proper market, if these groceries increase in price, the demand for them drops. With food stamps, this isn't the case.

So it DOES cause people to buy more food- but you have an arbitrary conception of what level of food expenditure people "need". And this is somehow a great benefit for merchants, who you apparently think are able to raise prices for reasons other than higher costs, even though retail is competitive and profit margins for supermarkets are tiny.

[loinburger]

From what I can see, someone with no fixed address wouldn't even be eligible to receive SNAP.

In Ohio you can use a homeless shelter as your mailing address and you can have a case worker bypass all of the paperwork designed for the non-homeless (e.g. rent checks, pay stubs), I assume the same would hold true in Texas unless they're really going out of their way to screw the homeless

[rah]

It's very similar in Illinois but don't bother Ben with facts.

[loinburger]

Well, to be fair, the website that a homeless person would never read doesn't clearly tell homeless people how to get food assistance.

[rah]

Actually I've seen homeless people cruising the web at the public library. (granted not those that have mental issues)

[Ben Kenobi]

Well, if that's the case then, I stand corrected. Most of the homeless that I've spoken to are reliant on private charity (churches, etc) not SNAP. It's been bothering me for some time, especially when I get folks asking for cash and selling their stamps, and when I see that the local pizza joint accepts SNAP.

[Ben Kenobi]

Actually I've seen homeless people cruising the web at the public library. (granted not those that have mental issues)

I've dealt with both. Half the battle is to get them to the case worker in the first place.