Should You Be Allowed to Buy Junk Food With Food Stamps?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/01/30 06:00:00

Related Topics: Food Stamps, Junk Food, Restrictions, Ronda Storms, Florida, Lifestyle, Family, Potato, Cookie, Food, Los Angeles, soda, Cookies, Healthy

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	Yes	465 votes	38%
	No	762 votes	62%

The U.S. is simultaneously low on jobs and incomes, and consuming large amounts of unhealthy food. You might think the problems would be mutually exclusive, but according to Florida senator Ronda Storms, health is a problem even for those using food stamps to get by. She recently sponsored a bill that proposes to regulate what kinds of food items are allowed to be purchased with food stamps.

Storms said, "If we're going to be cutting services across the board, then people can live without potato chips, without store-bought cookies, without their sodas." According to the Los Angeles Times, she decided to sponsor the bill when she saw shoppers purchasing "fatty, highly-processed treats" being bought with taxpayer money. Similar bills have been rejected in the past, while some organizations are trying to encourage healthy buying with reimbursements.

+50

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keymanjim 2012/01/30 16:24:00

No

+30
Only in American can you be poor and fat. And then DEMAND a nonexistent right to become fatter as someone else pays your bills.
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bonnie.... to The Gov... 2012/02/23 07:18:52

All you do is call names. If you think normal food is healthy, try looking into things. Bread and baked goods are loaded with sodium and contains L-cysteine, an amino acid made by dissolving human hair, pig hair or duck feathers. Most commercial vegetables and fruits you buy in the grocery store is genetically altered and full of chemicals which remain in your body, then are dusted with pesticides, dairy products come from cows fed with hormones that are retained by the body and is causing children to mature too fast. Some girls now begin puberty at the age of 6. Frankly, potato chips now days are just as healthy as the other crap they pass off as food that's good for you.

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JOMO to The Gov... 2012/02/24 07:13:11

+1
Well The Gov. I see where one of the responders (darlene) asked, if you are the food police, well I know you aren't. But I sure as hell wish there was such a thing, I wish there was a food police, and illegals police, just like there is a dead beat dad police.

If so call dead beat dads can be forced to pay or go to jail then there certainly should be someone monitoring how all of this support is being used. And if those receiving this assistance is about doing what is right, then what is the problem...?

If there is not any wrong doings going on, why all the fuss over showing that everything they are doing with the assistance is above board. I mean, after all when you have a job you have to account for your actions in order to get paid, so why should you not have to account for your actions to get welfare assistance (GET PAID) it is the same thing...?

Or is it just a matter of the idea of getting something for free, no strings attached that makes it so much more appealing...? I'm just saying....JOMO

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The Gov... to JOMO 2012/02/24 14:25:59

Well, here are my thoughts on the whole subject. I personally believe that there should be specific (and it kills me to say this because I have NO faith in our government managing anything) stores that people who need public assistance food to shop at specifically. It's called monitoring, everything from the type of food to who is receiving it.

If you want to go one step further, I believe housing supplied on taxpayers dime should be more like an institution. You get a room with beds and your own bathroom, chow is at specific times in the mess hall, there is a day care/nursery provided so people can attend classes to educate them self or go on a work detail.

People have lost sight of the fact this is a hand up, not a hand out. Many have made it a way of life for generations by pumping out babies and sucking off the system.

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JOMO to The Gov... 2012/02/24 18:03:36

+1
Again The Gov, you are spot on, and this has been my sentiment for years, in fact, this is the way it use to be. Custodian parents use to have to provide receipts for how they used child support money for the child in their custody. There was also a central warehouse in each city that housed the foods welfare recipients received.

I would venture to take it a step further, I think the custodial parent should have to pay half of the child support in the same account the none custodial parent is paying into. There should be a card similar to the food stamp card and it can only be used for the needs of the child. Any and all receipts should be retain by the custodial parents for the purpose of verification.

It just does not make sense that system allows for such caviler behavior where the welfare system is concern. Women are always screaming bloody murder when anyone mention fixing the system so that it is fair for everyone involved. But it should not always be about them.

The same holds true where abortion is concern, I agree it is their body to do with what they choose. But I feel they forfeit at least part of that right at the point they involve someone else life. I mean you cannot un-jump off a cliff once you jump, so why should you be able to un do a life after you engage the pr...

Again The Gov, you are spot on, and this has been my sentiment for years, in fact, this is the way it use to be. Custodian parents use to have to provide receipts for how they used child support money for the child in their custody. There was also a central warehouse in each city that housed the foods welfare recipients received.

I would venture to take it a step further, I think the custodial parent should have to pay half of the child support in the same account the none custodial parent is paying into. There should be a card similar to the food stamp card and it can only be used for the needs of the child. Any and all receipts should be retain by the custodial parents for the purpose of verification.

It just does not make sense that system allows for such caviler behavior where the welfare system is concern. Women are always screaming bloody murder when anyone mention fixing the system so that it is fair for everyone involved. But it should not always be about them.

The same holds true where abortion is concern, I agree it is their body to do with what they choose. But I feel they forfeit at least part of that right at the point they involve someone else life. I mean you cannot un-jump off a cliff once you jump, so why should you be able to un do a life after you engage the process. Both decisions are life altering in a irreversible way, for the record I do not have a problem with women being equal, I just have a problem with the playing field not being level. The system needs to be seriously fixed....JOMO
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The Gov... to JOMO 2012/02/24 21:24:46

Yup, you pretty much got it right on all counts.

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JOMO to The Gov... 2012/02/24 23:26:38

+1
{:-))

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waynelaboy 2012/02/01 17:40:09

Yes

STOP MAKING JUNK FOOD. IF THIS COUNTRY REALLY CARED ABOUT IT'S PEOPLE SMOKES, LIQUOR AND JUNK FOOD WOULD'NT BE HERE.

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thegaln... to waynelaboy 2012/02/01 17:58:46

+2
I agree but unfortunately the lawlessness of Prohibition proved that people will do anything to get their liquor and it would be much the same with smokes and junkfood. It's hard to legislate sanity, morality, and healthy living.

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hasher to waynelaboy 2012/02/02 00:27:03

its a free country we have the right to eat whatever we want. stop being the food police.

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Moose2u to hasher 2012/02/02 01:34:53

+1
And your sense of entitlement while on assistance is one of many of our moral fabrics that has become frayed.

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Catch224u to hasher 2012/02/02 01:43:55

+3
Free country ? Canada is freer than we are. We might not even be in the top 10 free countries. Why ? Gov. Reg., Taxes. That's money out of my pocket into yours if you have a food card. Yea, I have a right to say how MY money is spent.

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bonnie.... to Catch224u 2012/02/02 04:34:18

+1
Once the government gets it, it isn't YOUR money anymore

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Live Fr... to bonnie.... 2012/02/02 06:32:50

+2
It's sad that because some people abuse the system they put everyone in the same boat.

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bonnie.... to Live Fr... 2012/02/17 05:47:08

+1
People seem to be under the impression that if entitlements ended they would somehow get lower taxes. They wouldn't. The government would just spend it on making another bomb or the congress would spend it on their retirement, healthcare, etc. Americans always want to cut their own throats rather than set up safety nets for themselves for fear someone else might use it. Food stamps, unemployment, etc. are set up for their use as well as other people's if they need it.

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Live Fr... to bonnie.... 2012/02/17 13:01:27

I agree with you.

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waynelaboy to hasher 2012/11/24 22:26:22

go 'way delta burke...or is it a delta airliner

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Tennessee3501 2012/02/01 17:36:41

Yes

+3
Not all fast food is unhealthy. We have to rely on people to police their own diets.

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MARTY 2012/02/01 16:44:37

No

+3
also think they need to re-do this system all together. don't mind helping people that need it. example: single mom out there working her butt of to stay afloat or even a family with the same case. don't think I should hand my hard earned money over to an illegal idiot, or someone that sits on porch drinking a forty all day.

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waynelaboy to MARTY 2012/02/01 17:38:14

+1
you need cash for the forty...too many southern trailer parkers on food stamps...

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Rita to waynelaboy 2012/02/01 18:02:53

+3
Excuse me....Why throw the trailer parkers in there. I happen to live in a MOBILE HOME...But I don't drink...You are trying to label people that live in mobile homes as trash. Oh yes I'm also southern. But I own my land and what sits on it. I sit on the porch with raspberry tea thank you...

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Wren77 to Rita 2012/02/01 19:58:26

+2
don't label trailer parkers or any other people. Judge not etc.

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thegaln... to MARTY 2012/02/01 18:00:15

+1
what can people buy there with food stamps-- maybe snack foods but certainly not their mainstay of business... BUT I hear how you feel.

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MARTY to thegaln... 2012/02/17 04:45:27

yah i know. can tell you read the other part of my comment. the rest of the people that comment only read the sign. lol

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hasher to MARTY 2012/02/02 00:29:59

cant buy liquor or smokes with a food card. you act like allpeople are slobs who dont work for a living getting a food card. not true ive been at my job at a hospital for 33 years and have fallen on hard times. my son who cant find a job is getting a card and thats his room and board right now for living with us. OMG stop being the food police!!!!

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Moose2u to hasher 2012/02/02 01:37:43

+1
Your argument "stop being the food police" has no foundation. Read through some of the awesome posts in here by others that have fallen on hard times who are literate, eloquent and extremely humble, unlike you.

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bonnie.... to Moose2u 2012/02/02 06:18:50

+2
there's the big thing, you must be humble and kiss their feet for providing for your unworthy carcass (rolls eyes)

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MARTY to hasher 2012/02/17 04:33:25

if read the post you would see that i agree with you. but can see you looked at the picture. could see a liberal doing that, but a conservative.

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Joe to MARTY 2012/02/03 01:10:27

The sign is misleading. You can only buy certain things with foodstamps and it DOES NOT include tobacco and alcohol.

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MARTY to Joe 2012/02/17 04:41:34

thanks joe for clearing that up for me. did you read past the picture? your comment says otherwise.

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Sarah S... to MARTY 2012/02/04 00:32:30

All signs that say "We Accept Food Stamps" at non-traditional locations fail to include the addendum "Cash Aid." They are two very different things. Believe it or not, liquor stores ALSO sell paper goods and hygiene products. These items are bought with CASH AID, not food stamps. Liquor stores also sell FOOD. Go figure.

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MARTY to Sarah S... 2012/02/17 04:43:23

wow, you can read a sign.

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Sunny 2012/02/01 16:24:19

No

+2
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
If people who are not on food stamps can't afford junk food they go without! Fair is Fair.

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ADRIA 2012/02/01 16:19:11

No

+2
Most food you buy on the shelves are junk foods but I see these people buying soda and frozen pizzas and chips...all for there little kids to eat. Why aren't they buying good healthy things that they can make into a meal?

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Jack Azz to ADRIA 2012/02/01 21:44:21 (edited)
Moose2u to Jack Azz 2012/02/02 01:42:52

+2
Sounds like someone should downsize their housing and/or vehicle if you work 60 hous a week and can't afford to not be on assistance... I've worked 80-100 work weeks in my past, for approximately 5 years. I didn't live beyond my means and I never went on aid. Did I mention I worked 3 jobs to put myself through college, no silver spoon here, no welfare and no f-bombs you cow.

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Jack Azz to Moose2u 2012/02/02 02:53:31 (edited)
ADRIA to Jack Azz 2012/02/08 15:49:39

Jack azz? No kids? Have food stamps? Your the loser...jack azz! Your name says it all. People like you should jump in front of a train becasue the world is wasting it's money on you.

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ADRIA to Jack Azz 2012/02/08 15:47:06
hasher to ADRIA 2012/02/02 00:33:21

+1
you have no idea what its like to live on hard times do ya?? so you sit in judgement of those of us who are?? most of my food card does go for meals that go a long way but you know what its nobodys busines how i spend my card.

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hasher to hasher 2012/02/02 00:40:55

+2

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