"Do you want to have what you can buy dictated...its ridiculous! "

YES , when you spend over AT LEAST $300 a month on cigarettes and you cannot "afford" food,insurance, rent, etc and the tax payers buy all of these things for you.
$6 x 30 days time 1 pack a day is $180- if more than 1 or if two are smoking that is just under $400 a month.
Not to mention beer- full cable pkgs-nails-full cell phone pkgs- HIGH speed internet.
Things I try to budget at something affordable for our budgets.
Again they get the $5 bag of BRAND name chips and we get the generic because we have a budget to stick by and some goes to feed the people on food staamps- you should eat the same way we do. Why should you get all the really good stuff?

NotHome-so we should let people on public assistance buy products that cause health issues so we can pay more for their health care in the long run? Let's not forget how food stamps and public assistance are not a career opportunity, and if tax payers pay in for these programs, we should have a say in them.
The big picture is this: Our agricultural system is set up for fast foods- the industry and processed cheap foods full of chemicals and toxins. It is not sustainable and the way our western diet is is also not sustainable. Why do we grow so much food that can't grow on it's own but needs human intervention? Why shouldn't our diet reflect the needs of our body instead of the wants of our society? You comment about this being America doesn't mean it's ok to do what you what when you want...it's about having the knowledge to make better choices when it's so easy to make bad ones...

Yes, I can feed myself on $31.50 a week if I supplement my grocery store purchases with veggies from my garden. I don't think my diet would be particularly interesting or varied, but I wouldn't starve. I'd have to focus on quantity rather than quality (to ensure I have enough food to make it to the end of the week) and stick to the basics...no extras like chips, soda, etc. I'd have to be very careful with my budget, use coupons, and never splurge, but I could do it. I wouldn't want to do it for longer than I absolutely had to though.

Are people in food deserts likely to get food stamps?

*Do you want to have what you can buy dictated...its ridiculous! There are so many MORE important issues than what these poor people buy to eat...Try looking at the BIG picture.*

Oddly enough, the Federal Government will soon be dictating what kind of health insurance you can buy and medical treatment you can receive. And why did this happen? Because people make horrible health & life choices, can't afford to fix the problems they oftentimes create and the rest of the country is forced to pick up the slack.

What you are saying is that the people receiving other folks' money should go ahead and keep making stupid choices...then when the results bite them in their usually sizable rear ends, everybody else has to chip in more money to fix the problem. Unbelievable.

I am always amazed, when at the checkout line, the person in front of me has a cart FULL of frozen dinners, chips, ice cream and other junk foods--then they whip out their EBT card to "pay" for it. Meanwhile, I've got a cart full of bulk dried goods, large packets of meat destined for the freezer and raw fruits/veg...that I get the pleasure of paying for by myself.

I was only spending $600-$650 a month buying whatever I wanted for a family of four, at Sentry no less. We eat out maybe once a month. Of course everyone is gone all day working or in school, so no one eats lunch at home, and that would make a difference. I think $504 is doable for a family of four with a little cost effective shopping. For a free handout it seems pretty decent to me.

Nothome.......When we are being forced to cover the expense, we should absolutely have a say in how our money is being spent. The BIG picture is how these entitlements have spiraled completely out of control. We are at a point where the state is simply expected to pay for the poor decision making and irresponsibility of some of this state's citizens. I'm not talking about people who have paid into the system for years, fallen on rough times and need support to get though it. I am talking about those that have made living off of the "system" a way of life........

I am totally disgusted by the posters on this article. You are all so concerned with dictating what these people on food stamps "get to" eat. Seriously...this is your biggest concern with the food stamps and medical benefits situation...that some people buy soda or a name brand product. Last time I checked this is still America...you know give me your tired, poor and huddled masses...I'm pretty sure it doesn't say...bring me your well employed, rich and independent masses. Do you want to have what you can buy dictated...its ridiculous! There are so many MORE important issues than what these poor people buy to eat...Try looking at the BIG picture.

"I have tried to report abuse and they just laugh and say don't waste your time we don't and won't do anything about it."

It that is the case then the "fix is in". You are beating a dead horse. It is perhaps time to move on to something else. I would suggest going after the very rich who are getting richer by the minute on your money. And go after the politicians who have been purchased by these rich people.

Get some of your hard earned money back from the robber barons, don't worry anymore about the dirt poor who are buying soda with their food stamps. This is what the 1% want you to do, they want you to spent your time fretting about minor things that you can't do anything about.

It isn't often that I use a coupon because the store brand or generic is still cheaper.

"MadCityDad
Nov 8, 2011 at 2:11 p.m.
Suggest removal

madcity
In the interest of healthy choices, mteg, that $1 loaf of bread is probably generic white bread - spend the extra for wheat or whole grain."
So generic is okay for people who support those who don't work but not okay for those who

don't work???
THey have generic WHEAT bread!

Btw, that blood pressure reading was my latest yesterday, and while I was at work which is hectic. Normally I would be much lower, and have a clean bill of health. As for price of foods, it's called shopping. Different stores offer different prices. In JVL alone there are 5 large and several smaller grocery stores. As for $1 loaf a bread-you can get wheat bread for the same or more. Anyone that can't budget on $4.5 a day per person (taking into account its a monthly total x's number of individuals in a household) needs to sit down and do some planning when they shop. Come up with a list of meals and list of ingrediants that are required. Then go to the store (or stores for deals) and buy only those items. Extra money can be used to stock up on future items or occasionally splurge on something. If you are unemployed, you have no excuse to not do this.

*They do enjoy seeing the proletariat fight over things like whether someone is buying some soda or ice cream with their food stamps*

It is decision making "skills" like this that have landed people in financial hot water to begin with.

I have tried to report abuse and they just laugh and say don't waste your time we don't and won't do anything about it.

You are correct Food Share in Wisconsin does not have an Asset limit...neither does BadgerCare Plus.

It's not food stamps. It's SNAP. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The "supplemental" part means just that - it is a supplement to a personal / family food buget - it is not meant to be the entire budget. 620TMJ just had a discussion on this in Milwaukee. This program doesn't have any asset limits just like Badgercare. A guy called in saying that while he can barely afford his nearly $500 Escalade payment he has no money for food because he's been out of work for 3 years and his wife's income is reduced. Cry me a river. As for eating on $4.50 a day. It's called cooking. Be creative. Worked for me in college.

Here are the most recent stats released by the WI Dept of Health Services
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/p...

MadCity, I skimmed over that bp of the poster you are talking to and I did not see it the first time. That is terrible for a blood pressure reading, a cardiologist would be talking long and hard to the person while he was writing prescriptions.
And you are very correct, some of those diatary choices are salt and preservative city.

Meanwhile, the politicians on behalf of the very rich continue to plunder and loot the collective wealth of the middle class. They do enjoy seeing the proletariat fight over things like whether someone is buying some soda or ice cream with their food stamps.

If you have evidence of fraud, (which only a fool would deny exists), then report it. If you hear stories of fraud while you are sitting in the tavern or some like place, then file it with every thing else that you "learned" that day.

If you are a landlord participating in the section 8 gravy train and don't like seeing people get free rent, then opt out of it. You won't appear to be as big of a hypocrite.

In the interest of healthy choices, mteg, that $1 loaf of bread is probably generic white bread - spend the extra for wheat or whole grain.
.
Also that $1 jar of pasta sauce and lunch meat (and sliced cheese) are probably packed full of sodium, which may be why your systolic bp is 178 (which is considered stage 2 hypertension - quite dangerous).
.
Just curious, what kind of fresh veggies are you buying that cost $1-3 for a weeks supply?

You can't break it down and look at someone eating with just $1.50 a meal or $4.50 a day. Some items would be bought in bulk, or eaten between several meals. For example, a family of 4 would equate to $18 a day, $126 a week, and $504 a month. For $504, items bought in bulk could be stocked up, carry over into the next month, etc... I can honestly say that my family of 4 would be able to live on this with proper planning, coupons, and dedication.

$4.50 per person per day? It can be done, and I'm doing it right now and have been for months. And I don't shop at WalMart or Aldi's...

I have in the past been a food stamp recipient. It would have been easier to make better choices if certain foods were restricted, and I wholly support removal of processed and high sugar foods from the list of eligible items; items like white bread, soda, white sugar, butter & margarine, whole milk...I realize it was my choice to buy certain items and I am responsible for my own health. This country could save a lot of lives and tax dollars by placing restrictions on foods purchasable on food stamps.

Sigma40 said, "I say instead of having a website to track drunks.... lets have a website so we can see who is on welfare, who is getting food stamps."
-
Why just list people receiving help? Many never ask for help. Let's use Norway's system and list the income and income taxes paid by EVERY person. Then you'd be able to identify and help out those who you feel need your assistance, Sigma40. And, of course, there would be people who would look at your income and income taxes paid and feel you need assistance of some sort and would be glad to help you out. It's a win-win situation!

mteg
Nov 8, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.
well said.
A portion of meat is NOT 16 oz it is 3 oz.
make your own cookies if you want junk food. you have all day to prepare fresh food to eat that IS good for you.
Lg jar of PB was under $4. That is a LOT of sandwiches!
If you are not doing anything all day then you don't need 2800 calories either.

If these people are poor and big why are their houses gross.
Yes I saw a big lady and the house was NASTY- should have plenty of time to clean it. soap isn't that much! Just because you are low income doesn't mean you have to be grubby.
Look at 4th ward- trash all over. clean your front door and porch.
Yes people who have better incomes can be gross too but seems more apparent here.

mteg- then they will just sell the food!

"
taxandspend
Nov 8, 2011 at 10:53 a.m.
Suggest removal

I donated time to second harvest once.
How the hungry afford smokes but not food.
Just outside the door it was like a smoke stack.

saxcat70
Nov 8, 2011 at 10:45 a.m.
Suggest removal

had someone in front of me at the grocery store yesterday using "assistance". about 40 bucks worth of stuff I wouldn't feed to a goat. 30 bucks worth of prepackaged sugary snacks and a case of soda. no bread, no milk, no bologna, etc etc etc. and we wonder why are youth are bouncing off the walls."
ALl liars according to Janesvillean
This is the stuff you cannot call abuse on because again the state doesn't seem to care theyll smoke 1-2 packs a day while the tax payer feeds you.

"janesvillean
Nov 8, 2011 at 10:04 a.m.
Suggest removal

lovemycountry, I haven't seen one single post that amounts to demonstrating knowledge of actual fraud. If these posters all know about fraud going on for years and years, why don't they report it? Right. They don't report it because they don't have actual evidence. They just believe in their wonderful, warm, perfectly honorable and credible hearts that the person is not eligible for the benefits they are receiving, so they turn that belief, supported by no facts, into a prejudice that drives a policy that would limit benefits for others."
So how do you report lazy people who wont work when it is okay to the govenment to let them only work part time?
How do you report a lazy mom who refuses to work even those she has a degree and can make $50k a year and hubby does min wage?
According to the GOv they are doing nothing wrong. Not wrong to them but sure as heck wrong to the tax payers!!!

Another article milking the Gazette's favorite cow: welfare. The teacher's union runs a close second, followed by any proposal to improve city amenities. Predictable furor.

I honestly do not see how people can say that healthy food costs more than non healthy food. People are lazy and don't want to take the time to prepare meals anymore. $31.5 a week (for 1 person) can buy a lot if budgeted. Examples:
10 lbs sack potatoes $3-5
5 lbs ground beef $7-10
2 lbs carrots $2-3
Tuna $.50-.60 a can
Oatmeal $1-3 a tub
loaf bread $1
fresh veggies $1-3
lunch meat $.50-3 depending on amount
Sliced cheese $1-3
Whole Chicken $5
Gallon milk $2-3
Peanut butter $1-2
Jelly $1-2
Flour $1-2
Suger $1-2
Sack apples $2-3
spagetti noodles $1
Spagetti sauce $1-2

People need to take into account that the human body only needs about 2800 cal a day vs. 3-5k that most people have become accustomed to.

People can argue all they want about these being unhealthy choices-yet compared to processed, box, and frozen meals these are considerably healthier. BTW, this is what I would buy in addition to other things, hence me coming up with this list. And I have great ldl, hdl, and 178/84bp, so they can't be that unhealthy. A family of 4 with has no excuse to live on $126 a week for food budget. You might have to give up on the pepsi and the ding dongs but you will be meeting the daily requirements for nutrition, and probably adding years to your life from cutting down on the processed, poly unsaturated fat, sodium ridden, non-essentail crap that most people like to buy

I agree with *mteg* I currently work in a grocery store and the level of abuse is unreal! Every month in the 1st week there are 2 girls under the age of 25 with 3 carts of soda. They do not try to hide the fact they are going to sell the soda to an area store. They are not the only people who do this either. You also have alot of people who are card sharing. I hear this often "I have 3 orders I need them bagged separately, they are going to different houses." Money does exchange hands right in front of us given to the person with the Quest card who's paying for the grcoeries.
I have always said that it is a system that needs a major overhaul which could be easily obtained but no one wants to do it!!
If the hard working public were to work in a grocery store during a week when the money is put on the card more people would be outraged!
I personally feel sorry for the older generation who get about 10 dollars a month to live on. I wish I could somehow do something to fix this problem because it is HUGE problem!!!

Do I hear you all correctly? That all people on food stamps are lazy and fat? None of them have jobs and all have a bunch of kids they can't support? You all are ignorant of the world around you. Do you not live in this economy? My family of 6 has been on food stamps for the last 2 years since my husband lost his job and had to take a job that paid less than half his previous salary. When we had our 4 kids, we could afford them!!!! How degraded you make me feel for trying to support and raise my children in a time when we have no other choice. Would you rather my children go hungry everyday? Why don't you take away their free school lunches too? Those are paid for by taxpayer. Which, I might remind you we have been and still are!!!! Think about what you say before you say it. Don't judge me.

This is a little off-topic but.. Has anyone ever seen the documentary by Morgan Spurlock called 30 Days? He and his fiance live for 30 days on minimum wage jobs. Definitely worth a watch.
And back on topic.. I know I couldn't live on 31.50 a week, so I doubt a family could. Healthy food is more expensive, which is why I'm sure most people live on processed crap. It certainly doesn't taste better than real food.
Also - NotHome - excellent post. :)

I have 3 problems with food stamps.

First off, it's not evenly/fairly distributed. A person physically diasabled, unable to work will get less (food stamps/welfare/disbility/ss)than an able bodied single parent. Also, a struggeling couple-both working have to fight to recieve little to no food stamp benefits vs. someone that just doesnt want to work. I personally know a single mother that gets $700 a month for her and 2 children, which is way more than I budget for me, my stay at home wife, and 2 children (4 and 16). Where's my aid???

2. Items that can be purchased should be limited to stapples, lowest priced or store brand (non-name brand items). There is no excuse for someone to be buying $5 organic milk, filet mingon, non-healthy items, soda, etc. Rather than designating a certain percentage towards certain food items, individuals are given a montly card that they can use like a debit card giving them the ability to buy non-healthy choices, non-economical choices, etc... If a person decides to buy all frozen pizzas and pepsi products, no one is there to regulate this. What happens when the person gets diabetes, or heart disease from unhealty purchases, or children go hungry because money won't be on the card for another week and everything is already spent?

3. My biggest problem with the food stamp system is the selling, trading, giving of items. It is so common and so easy for a person to either buy items for other people, give things away, or worse sell them for cash/drugs/etc... I think this problem is so widespread, the agencys have either turned a blind eye to it, are understaffed and unprepared to deal with it, or are just naive and need to be replaced with competant staff. When a person can hand their card and pin number to someone and have them go to the store-no photo id required, and buy food on someone else's card, it should be treated as fraud and both parties should be charged with felonies. Plain and simple. In order to curb this problem, the simpilist solution would be to handle like WIC where people are given coupons (like back in the stone age) and have items marked with a little food stamp approved sticker. This would alot for healthier more economical choices. This would also cut down on indivudals on battering state aid away. Just my 2 cents

had someone in front of me at the grocery store yesterday using "assistance". about 40 bucks worth of stuff I wouldn't feed to a goat. 30 bucks worth of prepackaged sugary snacks and a case of soda. no bread, no milk, no bologna, etc etc etc. and we wonder why are youth are bouncing off the walls.

I have helped many of poor in need and with pleasure. Recently, I've mentored a homeless person to help them get back on their feet. One principle I will not negotiate is if they find a way to find the funds for cigarettes, they get NO financial help from my pocket to theirs. I'll help them in every way other than financially. Point is, you can help some people too much that it actually hurts them in the long run.

You know what, 916, I kind of agree with you. I think care should be taken to ensure that the food supplied to those places really IS a healthy choice, not like the old "government cheese" stuff of the past. But as far as making a food stamp dollar ONLY pay for food staples, I agree.

Janesvillean......please don't be so naive. What the state should switch to are state sponsored food pantries that offer only the basic staples. When were talking about pledging our assistance to provide the poor with "free" food, it's absolutely ridiculous that beggars are allowed to be choosers. Lose the brand name items, the unhealthy items, and the high dollar luxury items and will will be able to reduce the costs and the negative health consequences related to this program.

lovemycountry, I haven't seen one single post that amounts to demonstrating knowledge of actual fraud. If these posters all know about fraud going on for years and years, why don't they report it? Right. They don't report it because they don't have actual evidence. They just believe in their wonderful, warm, perfectly honorable and credible hearts that the person is not eligible for the benefits they are receiving, so they turn that belief, supported by no facts, into a prejudice that drives a policy that would limit benefits for others.

I think for people to get public assistance they need initial drug tests, then random ones & pay a fee ($10-20) toward it - hopefully this amount is considered reasonable. If they can't pass the test, then no assistance. This would eliminate some abuse of the system and the unhealthy/unsafe environments people cause themselves. It should also eliminate some drug dealers because they would lose their markets.

Our country has the ability to produce plenty of crops and meat. No child or adult should be left hungry even with the economic position our city, state and country is in presently.

No - that's why I "W-O-R-K" and choose to not have kids that I can't support. I know they're whacky ideas, but they "work" (unlike many people), and if someone is hungry I highly suggest they try them (and use abstinence - always "free" - or effective birth/STD control methods)!

Food stamps - and the plethora of other handouts and other support programs - were meant for temporary assistance, not a permanent lifestyle choice or an entitlement that is passed on for demotivated generation after excuse-ridden generation.

While there are indeed some who "need" them (pethaps "qualify for" is a better term - I've meet few if any who are not actually capable of doing something "productive," rather than just "reproductive") , far too many have come to inappropriately rely on them as a solution, which they are not in any form.

What's always gotten me is why aren't those on food stamps and other handouts more apt to volunteer some of there "free" time to help others in need or volunteer in other ways in their communities? This support system has, by appearance and on the whole, engendered more of expectation than gratitude and responsibility.

NotHome
Nov 8, 2011 at 8:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Then there needs to be removal of the kids.
If they get 300 or whatever to feed the family it is only for the kids??
Like I said this may not be working if you can sell you stuff for cash!

ru-"Other than that, I've never seen you say anything but negative about those who get outside help. You say it's because of the abusers. But that's all you ever mention."

Why because this is all I have ever personally seen from fellow workers. Sorry I don't know of any who actually needs the assistance except what I have read on here.
Those that have posted the stories on here I have no issues with.
I can tell you stories of the stuff I have witnessed and it really pisses me off.
The family smoking over two packs of cigs a day. Mom has a degree and can make $50k a year and hubby makes min wage because she WONT work. I know mom likes to be home with the kids but why should we pay into these families that refuse to work! Call the ambulance because of a twisted ancle when you can have wife take you to hospital????? Why not-tax payers are flipping the bill- right?!

"And a new car?! I wonder who gave her financing, or did we taxpayers foot it? I smell exaggeration with a capital E!'
No fooling RUSERIOUS
Like I said this girl received $15k a year for 5 years- no need to finnace she bought a new car every other year. Yes she did finance part of it because she didn't want just a $15k car ONCE. She wanted a $25k car every other yr!!!
You only need to make about $1000 to qualify for finance for an auto. With $15 k down that is a good start.
Could have put that down on a home- nope cannot do that -how would we live for almost free off of taxpayers then?

shopiere- transam cannot kick her out.
the rent is paid. At least he gets the rent on time in this situation but it still angers people.
I wonder if this is the same girl I worked with once. Settlement paid for new cars all the time but STILL received $100 a month rent and she refused to work 40 hours a week because she wouldn't get all the free stuff. Kids were in High School. She worked 25 hours during the day per week.

Janesvillean, westorbust - please see the difference between despising food stamp fraud and welfare fraud and "despising the poor"

Our family of 7 has a budget of $161 a month in foodshare for the whole family..not per person. Income from employment goes to pay rent and utilities. Things like toiletries have to wait until we have a little extra cash. It wasn't always this way for us. The economy stinks. The same job, same hours, same pay...but the take home reduced by several hundred. Coupons, sales, and everything is cooked from scratch which is a full time job in itself.

Oh Sweet Home Janesville...Gosh I love the abundant ignorance...People these programs are developed to make sure CHILDREN don't go hungry. Try living in a low income community, not Janesville who recently became a low income community, I mean someplace like Allied Dr in Madison or the projects of Chicago...People...we may not want to help lazy adults and people who just won't get off their butts and get to work...but can you justify leaving a child with no options to eat? I know a neighborhood full of children who go home hungry because their drug addicted parents sold the food stamps....is this their fault? No it's a faulty system...it's a system that can't truly be dictated...we just have to hope that these kids are getting the food they need to survive. It's a cycle of despair....These children are the reason these people keep getting food stamps...Can you justify not helping a child eat? I know children that the only meals they get are the free breakfast and lunch offered at school. Can you imagine going home and being hungry after school and there being nothing to eat? No most of you can't even imagine. There are children going hungry...CHILDREN people. C'mon get it together.

Ahh yes, I see "bash the poor people" is the burgeoning craze. They're what wrong with Amerika. :rollseyes:

"mytransams" ~ is your tenant by chance your English teacher? I can see why she's out of work!

I doubt that people are starving in America. The problem is a lack of healthcare and a lack of knowledge about the proper foods to eat. Oh, and the fact that the rich suck up all the money and leave it in their banks to rot while the rest of us scrounge. Starvation is only a significant problem in poorer countries. Our big problem is greed.

I AM pleasantly surprised that a conservative poodle rag like the Gazette is even putting out an article that could be seen as slightly critical of the Republican party line, "Be ashamed to be poor, all of your problems are of your own making."

Bravo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKOmAPej...

The question has too many variables, but no one in our society needs to go hungry.
shopierre...I wondered the same thing. And a new car?! I wonder who gave her financing, or did we taxpayers foot it? I smell exaggeration with a capital E!
janesvillean, you said "I think everyone misread Greg's post..."
Ya have to wonder....but lately a story like that is a sure thing for a good following...
When reading a story about teachers some will only remember the Mary Kay Letourneaus in the profession, on a story about businessmen who had lucrative careers some people will only think of of the Bernie Madolffs in the world, on a story about doctors, some would be reminded of the Josef Mengeles in the world....but others of us would envision Albert Einstein, Ken Hendricks, or Jonas Salk. (You get the picture.)
When reading a story on "the poor", some will only see the leeches in society, those who take what they can get with no conscience or concern, no morals or dignity, and no thought to ever bettering themselves. And of course, according to some, they all smoke and don't take care of their many, many children.
We, on the other hand, we will continue to think what we think and do what we do, though we know some of the aforementioned might slip through, because we understand that most of these poor consist of people like the mother who was lost her husband way too young and whose children have way too little to get by on, and the widowed grandmother raising her 2 grandsons, and the elderly couple who worked all their lives, took care of their own aging parents, but made little, and live on a small fixed income. Most have less dramatic stories but just can't make ends meet no matter how hard they work...but they do try. They don't WANT to have to beg, sometimes from the likes of these begrudging people.
So, when we read a story about Christmas, we'll think Jesus and/or Santa Clause and they can think Scrooge; when we read a story about winter, we can think snowman and they can think snow shoveling.... We know as well as they do that nothing is perfect, but there is more to a rose than just thorns. We, at least, acknowledge the whole rose even though we know there can be thorns involved.
frogger... sounds like you missed me. I see you keep bringing up that you pull a shift or 2 at the angel tree. Why? For the kudos? Other than that, I've never seen you say anything but negative about those who get outside help. You say it's because of the abusers. But that's all you ever mention.
And..as far as Friends of Noah....often a person's pet predates his financial problems...and no-you can't get pet food, nor a pet, with food stamps.

All of that free stuff that she gets, and you have been renting to her for three years. Something tells me that you are enjoying the taxpayer money as well as she is.

The one thing I hate about being a landlord is to know how hard I work and how lazy some people are. Free housing...free food...free power.I have a young lady that has been renting from me for three years and has never worked a day in that time...trust me her big butt ain't starving! btw...she just got a new car...I don't feel sorry for anyone that can work but just don't want to.

(15)

frogger
Nov 7, 2011 at 7:48 p.m.
Suggest removal

http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-apply-for-f......
fresh fruit, veg etc- how is that not good stuff for you.
Is Quest card- food stamps
Found a Share program too
plus echo-
reduced-free lunch at school
HOw is any poor person starving??

Sorry Jvl- My point was to answer yes- how cannot live on food stamp food.
3

Look up the maximum allotment figure for your family size using the People in Household link in the Resources section. For example, if you have a family of four, your maximum monthly food stamp allotment is $588.

Read more: How to Calculate Food Stamp
http://www.ehow.com/how_5637204_calculat...
3

Look up the maximum allotment figure for your family size using the People in Household link in the Resources section. For example, if you have a family of four, your maximum monthly food stamp allotment is $588.

Read more: How to Calculate Food Stamp Allotment | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5637204_calculat...
shows family of 4 gets approx $600 - wow that is a lot of food.
not sure if this is WI
ANYBODY- I cannot find a list of what food they get.
I hear they don't get "healthy food"
If they had to put back the icecream because not enough money left- isn't this bad for you. They can get junk food and chips???? pop too?
Those are pricy junk food items- wouldn't cost more to get good stuff.
WHAT is on this list anybody???

janesvillean
Nov 7, 2011 at 5:14 p.m.
Suggest removal

I think everyone misread Greg's post. It was not "let's post comments about how we despise poor people and can't possibly imagine that they have a valid reason for needing assistance", but he may not have been clear enough."

read the title-
"Could you eat well enough on food stamps?"
They can also shop at the farmers market for free.
I grow some stuff myself- can't they??? One seed packet gets you A LOT of yield!

It is quite pricey down there for SOME stuff.
They have all day to look over a garden- or container pot.

"wide low income assistance fee of $1.49. Now that may not be a lot but say that's a constant for the year, I now paid $17.88 to help the poor and I have no choice"

The least they could do is give us a donation receipt so we can write it off!!

They get to rent a home for $100 a month and get free heat too.
See the article"friends of Noah" Not sure if these people but now you can feed your pet for free too. They have assistance to "fix" the pet for $5. This is sorta good to have an animal at a low cost but where does it stop.
I keep saying cigs/ALCOHOL will count soon because it is an addiction-right. Stop buying them- that is how you quit.

janesvillean needs to wake up and smell the roses as well as anyone that supports "giving" anything away. Take today for example; I paid my Alliant bill that was $81.43. However there was a State-wide low income assistance fee of $1.49. Now that may not be a lot but say that's a constant for the year, I now paid $17.88 to help the poor and I have no choice. The poor and lazy now cost me about 1.5 hours of work after tax.

I have no problem of this being a "hate on the poor" post because when I worked in a grocery store I hardly ever saw a person on food stamps use coupons. I mean hardly ever as in less than 1% of customers. With all the coupons available in store/display/newspapers, how could you not at least come across 1 coupon? It's because they are lazy and could care less about saving money because they get a free ride on life. It's cheaper from a tax point of view to allow people to be poor and give them a free hand out of food than it is to arrest them and fine them/throw them in jail for stealing now isn't. Isn't there a saying that goes "if you're not outraged, you’re not paying attention?"

35 lbs of EXTRA food. Doesn't seem like anybody is starving.
http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/nov/04/...

I have not seen abuse personally, though it must exist, but then that goes for most anything. I have never seen such vulturism (is that a word?) than at a place of WORK where free food is placed out. C'mon ya hypocrites, you know you wont resist FREE. Be for real here. The point is making it on a small budget. Possible, yes, sometimes meals are skipped, true, but it's been my experience that most NEED this and are not out to squander it. I applied for food stamps myself. I was turned down. The reason? I go to college full time. Huh?! Okay. So I get by on a $0.00 budget. Thank God for friends and family! :) Oh and a pantry visit on occassion when I am able to.

It appears so since so many are over weight or obease. I hear stories of selling the food stamps outside the store(smeconich(sp) the other day because there is too much food. Is ECHO -when they pick up more free food different from the food stamps? Seems so and then the free food in school as well. How can they really be starving??? Maybe because you are selling then for cig money.
Before RuSerious complains-again these are the abusers.
Ever see Precious-the movie.
It will never end- the circle is somebody doesn't fix something!

I think everyone misread Greg's post. It was not "let's post comments about how we despise poor people and can't possibly imagine that they have a valid reason for needing assistance", but he may not have been clear enough.

Let's hear about the poor fatsos who live in "food deserts."

I'm doing that now, Greg. No food stamps. Mostly veggies, always fresh, some organic. Very little packaged, almost nothing processed. My target is $1 per but can't seem to maintain that consistently. It would be a healthier if I could, it's just too painful. So, do I get a prize if I can eat healthy for one week on $21? :-)

What really upsets me about the foodstamp program is there are soooo many people out there that keep having children and that do NOT want to work and receive a TON in stamps a month! Then you have someone like me who is divorced and trying to raise 2 children and working 40 hours a week and needs just a little bit of help to get me back on my feet since I had to move and such and I make too money! That is obsured!!!!

Just wait this will be little Scotties next target. First it was teachers who were living high with their Cadillac benefits now it is the single mom in the third ward who is living high off the taxpayer. Get ready we have a new enemy of the Republican Party! BTW in the past I was on food stamps, I was very grateful for it at the time as it was a way to provide for my family when I was unable. It was very humbling and honestly embarrassing. Now I am back at work and can provide for my family, I also give to the local food pantry and donate clothing to the needy. It is not for me to judge others and their need.

400 dollars a month (200 or less every two weeks) at Woodmans.. for a family of five... No food stamps. Guess we would do fine with their task force challenge at our house. Actually, I think we would get MORE with their challenge! LOL

The majority of those who use "food stamps" have additional sources of income. Food stamps are designed as a supplemental source to help purchase food stuffs. The problem is the program has been abused since it inception and continues to be abused to this day. A large number of people "sell" them to others and use them as a way to generate cash. I have never seen anyone at the grocery stores ask a person using food share for ID.

I am not on food stamps, but I know of many people who are. These people generally are the "working poor", that is, they work, but in low paying jobs that can't support them. Sometimes they are students (who will pay into tax rolls in future years), elders (who paid taxes for many years), single parents with unpaid child support (condemn the other parent, not them),those with real disabilities who cannot work, and also the unemployed who cannot find work. Judge not that you be not judged.

I was refering to an earlier poster in the previous post about personal anecdotes. I could live on that, I would supplement it with raising more chickens, shooting more deer and canning more fruit and vegetables. I am assuming that not having to go to work would go with the test, this would provide realistic comparison with many who live dependant on others. I am not part of the dependant class. LBJ did quite a bang up job creating this huge class of dependants. "Great Society" indeed!

Ah yes, personal anecdotes, what more could one need to prove a fact?

I get a little tired of the "all I get on food stamps is this..." well if your so upset, go get a job and buy your own food then! The fact is there is absolutely no incentive to get off food stamps and go find a job other then a person's own free will. Chances are if you are on food stamps you probably also qualify for low-income assistance with housing/electricity, can get many meals from food banks, for some individuals they may be able to use WIC benefits and yes there's always the good old scamming the system. If people are so poor, why are there people shopping in Wisconsin using both an Illinois Link card and Wisconsin Quest card? Why is it that after a food stamp purchase, a customers remaining balance of their care well exceeds $1,000.

Let's face it, where you shop depends on how much you will be able to buy. You will obviously be able to buy more at Woodman's than at Pick n' Save. But yet you can still see people with a cart full of meat/chicken/soda. It seems poor people actually eat better than the working class. I doubt you'll ever find many grocery store cashiers that think food stamps are a good thing. And here's my last and favorite part. If people are so poor they need help buying food, why are there so many food stamp cards in the wallets of people who frequently buy booze and cigarettes?

I like how the blog points out people had to put stuff back they couldn't buy. Yes the customer should know exactly how much is on their card and yet they are rude enough to over shop and take extra time to have the cashier remove items they can't pay for. I hope people like being a worthless drone in life because I sure
.

Do like the system players do, you want more food stamps, go have more kids.

I say instead of having a website to track drunks.... lets have a website so we can see who is on welfare, who is getting food stamps. That way if they are legit people will help them more.. I would If I knew someone needed help...if they were in real need... lots of people would. And then people can also learn who is driving a new BMW, doing $40k side jobs and living large and collecting food stamps.. We need to monitor this.