Food Stamps

Perhaps you have stood in line at a store that sells food and have seen people with baskets full, talking on their free cell phones, dressed nicely and then presenting their food stamp card to pay for the groceries. Should an item not be approved for the card, they reach into their wallets and present a $100 bill to pay for it. Yes, I have seen this many times. Perhaps, this doesn’t upset you, but I know I can’t get free groceries, a free cell phone and $100 bills are very rare in my wallet.

The Trump administration is calling for a new plan for food stamps. People would receive boxes of nonperishable food instead. Actually, the recipients would get half the money they had received, but the projected savings amounts to roughly $129 billion over 10 years. Can you hear the screams about this plan? Why, some people might not know how to prepare the food they get. And, even worse, the plan could stigmatize those on welfare.

This plan is nothing new. Back in the 50s when I grew up, there was a government "commodities" program that issued food to those in need. I know, because I was one of those that received it. And, for shame, my parents had to drive to a distribution center to get them. The food wasn’t great, but when you are truly hungry and don’t have any money in your pocket, it didn’t taste bad. Well, actually it did taste bad, but talk about motivation to find some kind of a job, any kind of a job.

I spent several years coordinating low-income programs with the State. I’ve been inside a lot of "poverty" homes. I never saw one that was as poor as I was. And, 90% of the apartments and houses I visited had nicer furniture and better meat in the freezer than I had.

I whole heartily support programs to help those that can’t help themselves, but when I hear the howls about how cruel it would be to make people take food and potentially identify them as being poor, I don’t have any sympathy.

Who would not want nutritious food homegrown by American farmers?

Those that don’t really need it.

PMO
©2018