Almost 10% of Floridians are on food stamps

[frihetsivrare]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2008/12/29/1229foodstamps.html

[Pravda]

Capitalism is a failure.

[Lief 🗽]

That's right at the national average.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Capitalism is a failure.

What exactly would you classify as a system that's "working"?

[dead0man]

Capitalism is a failure.

What exactly would you classify as a system that's "working"?

Don't feed it.  I hear they bite.

[phk]

Capitalism is a failure.

What exactly would you classify as a system that's "working"?

Don't feed it.  I hear they bite.

[Speed of Sound]

Capitalism is a failure.

What exactly would you classify as a system that's "working"?

Don't feed it.  I hear they bite.

This little guy? Nah, he sure does bark, but bite? I've yet to be convinced of that.

[Marokai Backbeat]

That's right at the national average.

And thank goodness we have the program.

[Ban my account ffs!]

They should obviously starve for choosing to be so poor and stupid.

Still, that does seem higher than I would have thought.

[Tender Branson]

What exactly are "Food Stamps" ?

I think we had something similar during WW2 ...

Here, the system will be unified by January 1, 2010: A demand-oriented basic-income of about 750€ a month (14x) will replace unemployment benefits and other emergency benefits, whereas a unified collective agreement will be installed with a wage of at least 1000€ a month (14x) for every full-time job. The state of Carinthia is currently blocking the implementation, because it wants a higher basic-income for its state ...

[Brittain33]

I have distant memories of "10% of the country on food stamps" as an "isn't the economy awful" marker in the news in 1991... since there will always be a certain number of people in poverty, maybe this story is a standard milestone on the road into recession.

[LanceMcSteel]

These people would be starving to death if Democrats hadn't enacted this program.

Hopefully this will deter the state of Florida from ever voting GOP again.

[Jacobtm]

Capitalism is a failure.

Better to live in a socialist system where 100% of people are on food stamps?

The funds for food stamps come from taxes collected from people's income/wealth, both of which are produced by the Capitalist system.

[Torie]

These people would be starving to death if Democrats hadn't enacted this program.

Yeah, maybe they'd starve to death if they just sat around moping and waiting for the government to bail them out, instead of hunting and killing their own food like real men.  People on food stamps are total pussies.

Well, in my zip code, if one intends to be at once impecunious and macho, that means nabbing assorted and sundry neighborhood pets for food.  The pussy route might be a tad more practical come to think of it, as well as well, friendlier to domesticated animals.

[Marokai Backbeat]

These people would be starving to death if Democrats hadn't enacted this program.

Yeah, maybe they'd starve to death if they just sat around moping and waiting for the government to bail them out, instead of hunting and killing their own food like real men.  People on food stamps are total pussies.

I really hope you become poverty stricken someday.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Capitalism is a failure.

What exactly would you classify as a system that's "working"?

Don't feed it.  I hear they bite.

I wasn't intending to feed him (and I've been gone almost a week, so I'm not aware as to who the new trolls are yet).  I was just asking what system he classified as working?  Communism?  Clearly not.  Socialism?  Feudalism?  Marxism?  Just curious where he was coming from.

[opebo]

What exactly are "Food Stamps" ?

It is an American-style safety net - shockingly inadequate and difficult to qualify for.  The amount is only around $150/month for individuals and single adults can only get the benefit for three months before they are kicked off.

Though the program is so inadequate that its recipients often fall from its rolls due to homelessness or death through lack of health care, it is still resented by a majority of americans, who believe that these unfortunate victims are somehow 'taking advantage of the system' or 'are lazy'.  Why these same dupes do not think the rich are lazy or taking advantage is of course due to their own brown-nosing hubris, and of course racism.

[Matt Damon™]

Directly providing them the food instead of providing food stamps which often go for booze/smokes/junk food would work better.

[memphis]

What exactly are "Food Stamps" ?

single adults can only get the benefit for three months before they are kicked off.

This is not true. If it were, 10% of people would not be on it.

[opebo]

Directly providing them the food instead of providing food stamps which often go for booze/smokes/junk food would work better.

You are an ignorant.  Food stamps may not be used for booze or cigarettes, only food.  Dolt.

What exactly are "Food Stamps" ?

single adults can only get the benefit for three months before they are kicked off.

This is not true. If it were, 10% of people would not be on it.

It is true.  I know very well from personal experience, memphis.  Just go down to the welfare office and you will find out I am exactly right.

[Matt Damon™]

Explain ghetto or reservation alcoholism rates then if food stamps can't be used for booze.

[opebo]

Explain ghetto or reservation alcoholism rates then if food stamps can't be used for booze.

Why should I explain that?  You have not established that the two things have anything to do with one anther, and besides, food stamps are legally required to be used only for food, and are illegal to use for 'booze'.

From the government web site:

10. What foods are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits?

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
   Foods for the household to eat, such as:
     -- breads and cereals
-- fruits and vegetables
-- meats, fish and poultry; and
-- dairy products
   Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
   Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
   Any nonfood items, such as:
     -- pet foods;
-- soaps, paper products; and
-- household supplies.
   Vitamins and medicines.
   Food that will be eaten in the store.
   Hot foods

[memphis]

As I have mentioned several times, my grandmother is on food stamps (and has been for years). I help her with her shoppping each week, so I'm fairly familiar with the program.  It is true that you are not allowed to buy alcohol, tobacoco, hot food, and non edible household supplies (toothpaste, paper towels.....) They can be used to buy junk foood (chips, snack cakes, soda....) however. While you may need to reverify eligibility to maintain enrollment, there is no maximum enrollment period.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Directly providing them the food instead of providing food stamps which often go for booze/smokes/junk food would work better.

A lot of shelters do this already.

[opebo]

As I have mentioned several times, my grandmother is on food stamps (and has been for years). I help her with her shoppping each week, so I'm fairly familiar with the program.  It is true that you are not allowed to buy alcohol, tobacoco, hot food, and non edible household supplies (toothpaste, paper towels.....) They can be used to buy junk foood (chips, snack cakes, soda....) however. While you may need to reverify eligibility to maintain enrollment, there is no maximum enrollment period.

But in practice there is, because single people are only eligible for 3 months in any something-year period (I forget the exact number of years, maybe its 3 or 10).  Obviously, old people such as  your grand mother, or people who can prove some other sort of incapacitation can get them longer, but 'able bodied' adults cannot get them regardless of economically imposed unemployment, for more than the 3 months.