Food for thought-

[Fubar]

I read the attached story line and was wondering; could you live on $21.00 a week for food?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070425/ap_on_re_us/a_week_on_food_stamps

 

[vraiblonde]

Kulongoski is taking the weeklong challenge to raise awareness about the difficulty of feeding a family on a food stamp budget.

Completely and totally missing the point.

Must be a Democrat, because a Republican would have gotten a J-O-B to supplement their food stamp budget.

 

[SoMDMama82]

Maryland must have a higher budget, because I've seen people at the grocery store trying to buy steamed shrimp with food stamps. Either that, or they only plan on eating one night that week.

If you REALLY need the help, and you are working or resonably looking, that's one thing, but come on now!

 

[jenbengen]

Completely and totally missing the point.

Must be a Democrat, because a Republican would have gotten a J-O-B to supplement their food stamp budget.

Sorry Vrai, I'm going to have to bring up the other side (and I am a Republican)...

My mother (a dem, lol) had to supplement with food stamps and she worked two jobs and spent wisely when my "father" skipped town to let her raise 4 kids. There are some exceptions to the rule. Anyways, my point is that sometimes when things are tight, paying all of the bills leaves nothing for food and $21 isn't going to cut it.

 

[lovinmaryland]

i do think that maryland has a higher budget because my sister (who is a single mother of one) used to recieve 320 a month on her food stamps card for her and her son.
i have four boys and spend about 400 a month for all of us to eat so i think 320 for two people (one of whom is 2 years old) is a little much.

i work full time have four kids and i don't qualify for a penny of anything though so who really knows. :shrug:

 

[kwillia]

Sorry Vrai, I'm going to have to bring up the other side (and I am a Republican)...

My mother (a dem, lol) had to supplement with food stamps and she worked two jobs and spent wisely when my "father" skipped town to let her raise 4 kids. There are some exceptions to the rule. Anyways, my point is that sometimes when things are tight, paying all of the bills leaves nothing for food and $21 isn't going to cut it.

But the government's position in this is to be an "assistant" not a "provider".

 

[SoMDMama82]

i do think that maryland has a higher budget because my sister (who is a single mother of one) used to recieve 320 a month on her food stamps card for her and her son.
i have four boys and spend about 400 a month for all of us to eat so i think 320 for two people (one of whom is 2 years old) is a little much.

i work full time have four kids and i don't qualify for a penny of anything though so who really knows. :shrug:

Wow! No wonder maryland taxes are so high!!!

 

[pixiegirl]

Sorry Vrai, I'm going to have to bring up the other side (and I am a Republican)...

My mother (a dem, lol) had to supplement with food stamps and she worked two jobs and spent wisely when my "father" skipped town to let her raise 4 kids. There are some exceptions to the rule. Anyways, my point is that sometimes when things are tight, paying all of the bills leaves nothing for food and $21 isn't going to cut it.

I'm in NO way saying anything bad about your mother especially since I'm sure it was a different time but only giving my opinion in general.... I don't think any woman should have children that she alone can not take care of. Everyone needs a little help now and then but there's no excuse for long term wellfare.

 

[LordStanley]

Ive lived on less when I was an up-and-coming young man.

PB&J, and Ramen noodles go along way.....

 

[Gwydion]

Ive lived on less when I was an up-and-coming young man.

PB&J, and Ramen noodles go along way.....

Precisely. Yea it sucks people are on food stamps. Should they be able to eat steaks nightly while others pay for it? Nope. Give them boxes of Ramen, a loaf of bread, some peanut butter, a bottle of mustard, and a few cans of tuna.

That is more than what some college kids eat.

 

[lovinmaryland]

I'm in NO way saying anything bad about your mother especially since I'm sure it was a different time but only giving my opinion in general.... I don't think any woman should have children that she alone can not take care of. Everyone needs a little help now and then but there's no excuse for long term wellfare.

i agree 100%... it seems so many people think of it as long term, like a second form of income.

i know people who have kids with their significant others and don't get married because they get more things from the govenrment being single with kids.

that is not what this country is about. at least i hope not

it does make me feel better to know my tax money is going to help someone in my own family huh

 

[Pete]

Boy and I only ate styrofoam packing peanuts from March 1998 until Sept 1999. Total cost was $37.37 and that is because there were times before Christmas 98 where I couldn't find used ones and had to buy some.

 

[MMDad]

I'm in NO way saying anything bad about your mother especially since I'm sure it was a different time but only giving my opinion in general.... I don't think any woman should have children that she alone can not take care of. Everyone needs a little help now and then but there's no excuse for long term wellfare.

On a related note: More than a week later, Jefferies, his children and grandchildren were still waiting for help

Why help yourself? That's the gubbimints job!

 

[vraiblonde]

I don't think any woman should have children that she alone can not take care of.

That's unrealistic. Some families make the decision that the wife will stay home with the children, and that pretty much precludes her being able to support the children on her own.

 

[vraiblonde]

On a related note: More than a week later, Jefferies, his children and grandchildren were still waiting for help

From the story:

The family’s sole income comes from Social Security disability and supplemental income from social services.

So, in other words, 10 people living in that trailer and not a single one of them works?

 

[pixiegirl]

That's unrealistic. Some families make the decision that the wife will stay home with the children, and that pretty much precludes her being able to support the children on her own.

I think that's a totally irresponsible choice for a woman to make without some sort of insurance that if daddy dies/runs off/becomes a crackhead she will within a reasonable amount of time be able to care for her children herself.

Through my own irresponsible/immature actions I had a baby with a POS who had never paid for his child. MY FAULT, not Joe taxpayer. I luckily had supportive/helpful parents and a decent job and didn't need state aide. I'm not faulting anyone that needs it for a short time but to be unable to survive without it.... There's no excuse. My parents helped me a ton. They never handed me money but they may as well have. If I was stuck in traffic my mom would pick up N so I wouldn't be charged late fees, she always bought him clothes without ever being asked (hell she still does), things like that. Without that help N and I would have been living a whole lot tighter. I'm not saying people don't desrve a helping hand on occasion I'm saying it's irresponsible for a woman (who is most of the time ultimately responsible for her child) to have and keep a child/children that she can not reasonably support.

 

[kwillia]

From the story:

So, in other words, 10 people living in that trailer and not a single one of them works?

And 4 under the age of two...UFB.

 

[jenbengen]

Precisely. Yea it sucks people are on food stamps. Should they be able to eat steaks nightly while others pay for it? Nope. Give them boxes of Ramen, a loaf of bread, some peanut butter, a bottle of mustard, and a few cans of tuna.

That is more than what some college kids eat.

Again, let's not ASSUME all people on food stamps buy expensive food and try not to make it go as far as they can. Quit stereotyping. There are people that abuse every system out there, but not EVEYRBODY does that.

 

[jenbengen]

I'm in NO way saying anything bad about your mother especially since I'm sure it was a different time but only giving my opinion in general.... I don't think any woman should have children that she alone can not take care of. Everyone needs a little help now and then but there's no excuse for long term wellfare.

Huh? I better leave this one alone...

 

[BlackSheep]

Again, let's not ASSUME all people on food stamps buy expensive food and try not to make it go as far as they can. Quit stereotyping. There are people that abuse every system out there, but not EVEYRBODY does that.

The operative word is "temporary"... a hand up not a handout.