The tragedy of America's great food stamp binge

Did anyone else catch any of the Fox special "The tragedy of America's great food stamp binge". The two thing I picked up from it;
1) People on food stamps learn - how to get food stamps and nothing more.
2) The American poverty rate was dropping continuously - until they introduce food stamps!

 

I didn't see the show but I see the abuses everyday. We can get as upset as we want but the fact remains: these subsidies are at the core of the dims election strategy and the right, for fear of losing the next election, just won't do anything about it.
I see everyday how Romney was 100% accurate when he claimed a large percentage of the people would never vote Republican (based solely on their dependence on gov't).

 

As an FYI they don't actually give out books and stamps anymore, so fraud is down considerably since the early 90's when they switched to personalized debit card systems for food stamps. But, is there problems? Absolutely. I see it every time I walk into my local store. Are the majority of people voting Democratic on food stamps and subsidized help? Hardly. In fact, far less than 1% of Americans are on the program, meaning less than 1% of the voting block. Not to mention, under Clinton less people were on food stamps than at any other time since it's inception: http://www.dailyjobsupdate.com/food-stamps-charts
I won't argue there are serious issues with it. I live in a community on the edge of the state, isolated from every other city in the state, so for years the county and state have sent their welfare here, building vast tracts of government housing to keep them in. A whole slew of people who do nothing to contribute to anything, even if they are able. They ruined a good town, driving many away. So, I'm not sympathetic to the system at all.

 

@Guy......Clinton was our last good Potus but republicans aren't allowed to say that. I am glad I left the party.

Now on your math.....47 million on food stamps/ debit cards last I checked......I'm pretty sure that's more than 1%

I see the fraud daily. Weekends are worse. I stand in line at the grocery store and see folks better dressed than I am, $150 Nike shoes and talking on a $400 cell phone use food cards to buy junkfood and ribeyes.....then whip out cash for the beer and smokes.......

I think you and me, the only two members who actively comment here from the southwest border region, see it more than most.I don't think many of the rest live in border states that are being overrun. ....

Republicans.......what was the price of gold when Clinton left office? What was the debt and deficit? Nuff said

 

You keep coming up with these graeat statements without any back up.

Try this: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Ail8CHzyqvYWcjtuhv05FtebvZx4?fr=fptb--s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=food stamps total number
Food Stamp Statistics Data
Total annual cost of food stamp program $71,800,000,000
Number of Americans using the food stamp program 46,670,373
Percent of population on food stamp program 14 %

OOPS!

 

I will not put Guy in the Mr Nation camp, but facts piss liberals off. Mr Nation just lies with abandon ( which qualifies him to be Jay Carneys replacement) but I think Guy is just a tad misinformed and can be helped.

 

There are many other programs available, in addition to food stamps. We have a community-based program here that offers vouchers that can be used at local grocery stores for some staples plus our food bank network offers free food (as well as other items based on availability) to anyone claiming a need. We seem to pass out the vouchers to the same people over & over and we also see the same folks at the food bank every week. Are they all in dire need? Many do seem to find a way to drive a nice car, own a fancy cell phone & get new tattoos & piercings though. It's kinda discouraging to see this go on all the time & you don't even want to try to get the people to help unload a truck or stock shelves!

 

I was a little off, even though that link was for stats over a year old, but I don't think the basis for my statement changes. Look how those percentages per state are exceptionally large in "red" states. Like i said before though regardless of political leanings I don't condone the system and am constantly infuriated by the abuses with it.

 

AZ is a red state and we have a huge # of recipients....

 

I found this clip:

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/08/1...erview-unabashed-surfer-receiving-food-stamps

 

That may be the most eye catching part, but the section I found most interesting was the South Carolinians. Now that they finally convinced them to accept food stamps (addicted them to SNAP), they cannot open a saw mill because they cannot find enough people to hire - despite the high unemployment - because they are content with SNAP.

 

I wouldn't characterize myself as a Republican, but I recall that Clinton road the coat tails of latent Republican policies and further reduced the deficit (on paper) by financing the debt with 10 year bonds vs. 30 year bonds. That was great in a falling interest rate environment...which accounts for the results accredited to his Administration.

Now that the Democrats destroyed the economy with the Community Reinvestment Act and the Fed has pushed Fed rates below 0% to recover...if the Republicans get back into office and improve the economy, the 10 year notes will be retired and we'll have to refinance at higher rates. The Republicans will, no doubt, be blamed for the structural run-up in the deficit.

Clinton destroyed the debt financing structure and gets credit, while Republicans will restore the economy and get blamed.

The ingenuousness of it all is just so sad.

 

I've seen food stamp fraud, welfare fraud etc. in my time believe me. It's going to happen but what one has to ask is what to do about it and how to do it.

More government regulation? That would be a problem as always.

Just scrap the whole program? People would starve.

 

You don't think the folks who administer the program now could have an impact?
Locally, we had such a problem with abuse that the system was changed. Instead of the individual outreaches taking direct requests we set up a central clearing house through which all claims were to be reviewed...this took a group effort among state, local, school-based, church-based, etc agencies. So far it's worked even though there seems to have a developed a cottage industry around finding ways to scam the system.

 

Of course I do but, of course, so could many earlier administrations. Welfare/Food Stamp fraud has been going on for a looooooong time.

I'm glad it's working.
It seems it's a situation where more regulation is needed. It's been that way as long as I can remember.
The only sticking point I can see is a combination of Church and State.

Don't get me wrong here folks.
As I see it the information shared and discussed could save a lot of money and get services to those that really need it.

However, combining Church and State can get scary.

That cottage industry has been going on for a looooong time.

 

So, regulation for food stamps..

...bu not for gun registration?

 

I must have missed the part in the Bill of Rights concerning food stamps. What is it? Amendment 2 1/2?

 

It would threaten his life style if he had to work. Of course he is going to object to any controls!

 

That's the liberal mentality! Remember, WORK is a four-letter word.