RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week

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SugarMyChurro -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/5/2007 11:17:29 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Sinergy I believe her point was about the fact that food stamps are an emotionally-charged non-issue. An issue raised infrequently in order to direct attention away from the more egregiously ridiculous government spending boondoggles. A sort of political blaming the victim. Thanks for expanding on those points made above. "-- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Abraham Lincoln, "The Gettysburg Address" What we have instead is "Reverse Robin Hood" politics at work in the U.S. - the government takes all possible wealth from the poor and middle class and gives it to the rich. It's called taxation and pork barrel spending. The biggest pretense with politicians is that their "constituents" are are all wealthy and/or corporate supporters instead of the simple individuals that might actually vote them into office as the least of all possible evils. It's a very real problem and that's exactly how it works. But what of the people? Following Lincoln's line of thought, it should be everyone's money for the mutual good of everyone. And by everyone I mean people, not corporate entities. Halliburton and Walmart can going begging for all I care, feed the hungry and the homeless with my tax monies please. That's at least one of the proper uses of government money.

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/5/2007 11:39:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania quote: ORIGINAL: Sinergy GoddessDustyGold, I believe her point was about the fact that food stamps are an emotionally-charged non-issue. An issue raised infrequently in order to direct attention away from the more egregiously ridiculous government spending boondoggles. A sort of political blaming the victim. I often spend a lot of money during the week buying groceries and staples and supplies. Depends on what I want to cook. My point was that it is possible to eat nutritiously and well on a frugal budget. Sinergy Daddy, her point is just to follow me around and be snarky and pick on my personal life instead of the substance of what I posted... Sinergy, I don't disagree that the Food Stamp program has its glitches (that would be putting it mildly, I am sure! Smile), and I would not want to try to live on $21 per week, even on My own. But I could do it if I had to. It has also been pointed out that this is not the true average, and that was indicated as $94 per week earlier in the thread. And I do appreciate that you mentioned how you can cook and freeze and although it is a bit more than making one meal, you have the benefit of having many meals ready to go by buying and cooking in bulk. It is an art that is lost on many American families, and it is one we should get back to, rather than complaining that the cost of food is too high. If people did not buy the convenience foods and the luxury items, there would be no market. Julia, I took the substance of your post to be that slfbend's point was lost on you... quote: Your point is lost on me, I guess because I spent 80 bucks at the store today for bare essentials, and I will be going back there tomorrow or the next day to blow 50 bucks more. ...that no one could manage in a situation where they had to use food stamps because you give your own example of how you shop and what you spend. They can manage, but I think you feel that they should not have to manage. Therefore, in your eyes, they are not managing and they are doing without because they cannot shop as you prefer to shop. And it is your right to have that opinion. But state it as such. Say that people can do it, but they shouldn't have to. That is what makes the difference in where you heart is. So I do take exception to the fact that you seem to come across as stating that this is the way you shop, this is the correct way to shop, and no one else should not be able to shop as you prefer, regardless of their income or need for public assistance. Frankly, $22 for 10 pounds of organic chicken breasts is pretty damn good and if they last you for most of a week that still only accounts for about $100 of your food budget which you say in in the range of $800 to $900 per month. By the way, people should not be eating more than 4 oz of meat at a sitting, and that should not be 3 meals per day. Just saying... So let's just say that a single Mom wants to let her kids have some ice cream once in a while. She can shop around and find a sale where she can buy 2 gallons for about $6.00. That is a treat that could last the whole month, even if you have two or three kids. It is not terrible to let the little ones realize that this is a treat, and not something to be had twice a day. Go ahead and invest in a small steak or two once a month,and split it among the family as a special dinner. The sense I get from your post Julia is that no one should ever have to do without special things or name brands or organic food and that somehow it is the fault of the nanny state that there are those who have less options than others. The other side of the coin would be that there could be no assistance at all, and then where would those people be? In addition, it has come to My mind that many of these single parents (or both parents for that matter) who have school age children should be taking advantage of the free breakfast and lunch programs available in the public schools. That cuts out two meals a day right there for most of the year. It is a matter of priorities. Yes, some folk have it harder than others, but that doesn't mean they are being thrown to the wolves because they can't have what you consider to be healthy and reasonable. That is only your opinion. I buy in bulk when I can, and I buy on sale. I do not buy convenience foods, and the pantry is never bare. I am very grateful that I have the ability to eat well, but I still only spend about $200 per month on groceries, including paper goods, cleaning and laundry supplies. For a family of 2 adults, that is. And, no, Julia, I do not follow you around to be snarky and attack you. I have better things to do. I do like to read what is on the message boards, and you happen to be involved in some of those discussions. Yet I don't say you are following Me aorund. But I would love to see you become more tolerant and realize that there is more than one way of doing things and viewing things. And if it is not your way, that doesn't make it invalid. Lighten up!

Vendaval -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 12:12:22 AM)
General reply - A few people here have mentioned the obstacles to cooking well if a person or family lacks decent kitchen appliances and storage space. Two other points of consideration #1 transportation to and from the grocery store #2 the variable cost of fresh foods in different parts of the country. The poor in rural areas and/or inner cities often do not have easy access to the grocery stores and may be reliant upon family or public transportation. The amount of groceries you can bring back at one time is much less on a bus than in an automobile. I am fortunate to live in an area with fresh produce, eggs, milk, chicken and beef readily available. The cost of such items here is less than in other parts of the country. When visiting family in the Mid West, I have noticed that fresh produce is usually more expensive and meat is usually less expensive. There are many variables regarding the prices at the super-markets.

Vendaval -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 12:15:11 AM)
selfbnd411 - You do need to realize that the caloric and nutritional needs for babies, children, women who are pregnant and/or nursing, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions are different from yours.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 1:58:54 AM)
This is also a General Reply First of all, the average SINGLE food stamp recipient in NOT receiving $94 a week. Food Stamps is a Federal Program, so one county will not be "cheaper" than another county is what they will provide. In December of last year, the timing belt went on my car. For those who don't understand the impact - it would cost more to fix the car than the car was worth. I was able to get rides to work for a while, but when that became a problem, I lost my job. So now I am living in an area where the nearest bus stop is more than 5 miles away with no transportation. Consequently I became homeless in January. Literally. Social Services "placed" me in a boarding house that was, luckily, in "town". I had a roof over my head, but it was against the rules to have any type of cooking appliances in the room. The boarding house (which ironically was over a restaurant) did not have ANY kitchen facilities at all. I received $154 a month in food stamp benefits, and $140 in "general assistance". From the general assistance $75 a month was taken to put towards the room in the boarding house. Toilet paper, shampoo, femine hygeine product, tooth paste, etc. are NOT able to be purchased using food stamps. I managed to get Social Services to help me get into an apartment, my cousin gave me a car. I live in an area where if you don't drive, you are not going to be able to work. I was not trying to live off the system, although I saw many in the boarding house who obviously were. It was extremely difficult to convince them to help me get my own place, but I managed to do it. I have a very small one bedroom apartment that costs $750 a month, which is dirt cheap for the area in which I live, but is also 20 minutes from the nearest grocery store. I am getting back on my feet now after the most dehumanizing, humiliating experience of my life. The majority of people who are collecting who do not have children living with them are not looking to sit home all day "living off the system". If one can live extravagantly on the amounts I listed, it would be a miracle. SSI is not reduced by child support. Child support is reduced by SSI. SSI DOES take into consideration the income of the parents in conjunction with the disability of the child. The co-worker is bilking the system and I sincerely hope that she gets caught. It is a felony offense and could result in imprisonment, but always results in repaying the funds. Is it possible to food shop on $21 a week? Depends on where you live. Northern NJ does not have a whole lot of discount grocery stores. One can only buy in bulk if they have the space to store it. I have a college education and used to work as a professional wearing a suit to work everyday, and having a job where the work I did and the decisions I made could "make or break" the lives of others. Now I wait tables. The work and other personal tragedies in my life have caused me to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder - translation, I get panic attacks. I have had the disorder since I was in my mid 20s (coincidentally started when I met my ex husband, hmmm), but they were under control for 15 years. Now they aren't under control. Waiting tables, for me, is a no stress kind of job, yet affords me the ability to keep a roof over my head. Just barely, but I manage. I save on food by working a lot. One of the few perks of the job is free food. So what I keep at home is typically convenience food. I bought a week's worth of groceries for 10 bucks. Frozen pizza (less than a dollar each) and some mac and cheese. Ok, so I am rambling. Lack of sleep will do that to you. The point is yes, one can survive food wise on $21 a week, no it isn't easy. The attitude of saying just go to work doesn't really fly. Too many employers don't pay their employees a living wage. Move up the corporate ladder at Walmart or the local supermarket? They won't even hire someone full time, because then they would have to pay benefits. I am lucky in that I do have skills. I do, on occasion take on freelance work from my previous career. Most people collecting welfare have no education. The existing programs to teach them skills are less than adequate and really don't qualify as a stepping stone. Go back to school? If the system has decided that you need to work, they will stop your benefits if you decide to go to school. Financial Aid and Grants pay the tuition, not for books. Sitting up on the mighty throne and saying that it is not that difficult should try it. A woman named Barbara Ehrenreich did and wrote a book "Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting buy in America". The guy who used to do the FX show "Thirty Days" tried it too (forget his name at the moment). They started with the same idea as you "soapbox sitters". Then they got a rude awakening.

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 4:17:56 AM)
I want to say that I am sorry if I offended in any way. I am not trying to say that being on food stamps or needing any public assitance is not hard. I took this information from the OP. quote: so I double checked with the USDA Food Stamp Program info website. Yup--the average food stamp benefit isn't $21/week, it's $94/week. . I am sure this is an average based on all recipients and their various family situations. It does not mean, nor did I intend it to mean, that everyone receives $94 per week. If they did, I would probably be applying for food stamps Myself since that is more than My normal grocery budget including the paper good and cleaning supplies! Smile. I know a friend of Mine who is disabled receives $142 per month in Maricopa County, (maybe it is $154 now) and she lives alone. You state that you received $154, so that might be a good average for a single person. Living situations do also dictate how money can be spent. I was less concerned about the food stamp situation and more concerned about the amounts of money some people spend with the implication that it is impossible to live on less. It is a choice to spend that much if you have it, but it does not mean if others do not have it that they cannot make do with less. Or that they are not feeding their family well if they choose a more economical path. Yes, your situation is a very good example of how badly the system, albeit for temporary assistance, fails. It doesn't make sense for social services to pay $140 in general assistance, take $75 away for a room, and not even pay attention to the fact that there is no way to even cook a meal. And I am also aware that food stamps does not allow for toilet paper, soap, or any of the other necessities of life. But it seems pretty typical of the bureaucracy. I've yet to see them make sense! I am glad to hear that you are getting back on your feet and "there but for the grace of God go I" or many of us. If you took Me to be a soap box sitter, I did not mean to come off that way. I raised two daughters on very little, and I know how tight things can be and how close many of us can come to being in that "homeless" situation. I am not sleeping tonight either, so just came back online to try to make My eyes tired. I wish you well.

sublimelysensual -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 5:49:14 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady This is also a General Reply SSI is not reduced by child support. Child support is reduced by SSI. SSI DOES take into consideration the income of the parents in conjunction with the disability of the child. The co-worker is bilking the system and I sincerely hope that she gets caught. It is a felony offense and could result in imprisonment, but always results in repaying the funds. Since this is the part of the post I'm going to refer to, I took the liberty of just quoting what was relevant. My daughter has been on SSI for 5 years, and her amount does increase or go down based on the child support we are (or are not, most of the time), receiving. Believe me when I say I wish you were right, as it would make my situation a lot easier, but they do count the child support as income, so when I get a support check once a year (lol), I have to report it, watch her check go down for a month, then re-report that it's stopped again so her SSI can go back to normal three months later..gotta love bureaucracy... -a

MsSonnetMarwood -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 6:21:40 AM)
quote: Ok, so I am rambling. Lack of sleep will do that to you. The point is yes, one can survive food wise on $21 a week, no it isn't easy. The attitude of saying just go to work doesn't really fly. Too many employers don't pay their employees a living wage. Move up the corporate ladder at Walmart or the local supermarket? They won't even hire someone full time, because then they would have to pay benefits. I am lucky in that I do have skills. I do, on occasion take on freelance work from my previous career. Most people collecting welfare have no education. The existing programs to teach them skills are less than adequate and really don't qualify as a stepping stone. Go back to school? If the system has decided that you need to work, they will stop your benefits if you decide to go to school. Financial Aid and Grants pay the tuition, not for books. Sitting up on the mighty throne and saying that it is not that difficult should try it. A woman named Barbara Ehrenreich did and wrote a book "Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting buy in America". The guy who used to do the FX show "Thirty Days" tried it too (forget his name at the moment). They started with the same idea as you "soapbox sitters". Then they got a rude awakening. A couple things you're incorrect about: - employers are not required to give employees benefits if they work full time. Many do not. Laws may vary from state to state, but I do know that New Jersey (nor PA or MD) doesn't require benefits for full time workers. - scholarships and grants CAN cover books, gas to commute to school and back, and other expenses up to and including living stipends (although not enough to live on without also working at least part time). It depends on the specific terms of what the specific scholarship will cover - and students can apply and get multiple scholarships

juliaoceania -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 6:34:34 AM)
quote: The sense I get from your post Julia is that no one should ever have to do without special things or name brands or organic food and that somehow it is the fault of the nanny state that there are those who have less options than others. You can get whatever sense you like from my post. I made my point I do not know where you live, where you shop, or how "nutritionally sound" your diet is. I do not know how much freezer space you have, or other random storage space you have. I do not know how many hours you work each week or commute each week to have time to cook everything from scratch. I do not know a lot of your variables, and I do not care to be honest. I do not know when you were rearing these two daughters, because I do not know if you have went shopping lately, but inflation is rampant right now. I buy bulk olive oil, it would cost me 30 bucks to buy my olive oil, it cost about half that a year ago when I last bought it.... other things have went up just as steeply. The facts are, when a person is on food stamps they can't shop anywhere but grocery stores that accept them... no farmer's markets, no Costco (where I buy a lot of things), no butcher. Buying things in bulk and being able to live for the rest of the month is impossible, even though most of us take that access for granted to afford our food. Also many people poor enough to be on the food stamp program have no cars, that means their ability to access sales are very limited by the radius that they can get to the store on foot. I know that this does not matter to you, because you do not care, but just saying, life for the poor is not the same as it is for you. When you start bitching about the giveaways of our government to Oil alone, I guess I will understand your hostility to women with children that are less fortunate than yourself, but as Vendaval pointed out, not all situations are equal.

pahunkboy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 7:57:02 AM)
as compared to corporate welfare food stamps are pennies. there may have been flaws in that program at one time.... to the post sharing the humilition experience. that took alot of courage to post that. i hear you loud and clear. in a country where we waste so much, there should be no probllam with food stamps. i havent picked thru garbage for food. but i know ooof a guy locally that DOES. no matter how bullet proof you think you are you CAN fall on hard times- many are just 2 paychecks away from financial ruin. Dad taught me- eat what you like- but dont waste food. Julia thank you for speaking out. I volunteered MANY hours at the homeless shelter. I seen real life people go from solid middle class to the shelter. IMO- this is why some of the immagration attitude is the way it is here..... I am so glad that many folks would not deny their follow human being a sandwhich. as i said we changed the laws on PA so food can be given w/o fear of lawsuits.

pahunkboy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 8:01:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MsSonnetMarwood quote: Ok, so I am rambling. Lack of sleep will do that to you. The point is yes, one can survive food wise on $21 a week, no it isn't easy. The attitude of saying just go to work doesn't really fly. Too many employers don't pay their employees a living wage. Move up the corporate ladder at Walmart or the local supermarket? They won't even hire someone full time, because then they would have to pay benefits. I am lucky in that I do have skills. I do, on occasion take on freelance work from my previous career. Most people collecting welfare have no education. The existing programs to teach them skills are less than adequate and really don't qualify as a stepping stone. Go back to school? If the system has decided that you need to work, they will stop your benefits if you decide to go to school. Financial Aid and Grants pay the tuition, not for books. Sitting up on the mighty throne and saying that it is not that difficult should try it. A woman named Barbara Ehrenreich did and wrote a book "Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting buy in America". The guy who used to do the FX show "Thirty Days" tried it too (forget his name at the moment). They started with the same idea as you "soapbox sitters". Then they got a rude awakening. A couple things you're incorrect about: - employers are not required to give employees benefits if they work full time. Many do not. Laws may vary from state to state, but I do know that New Jersey (nor PA or MD) doesn't require benefits for full time workers. - scholarships and grants CAN cover books, gas to commute to school and back, and other expenses up to and including living stipends (although not enough to live on without also working at least part time). It depends on the specific terms of what the specific scholarship will cover - and students can apply and get multiple scholarships The you would know what WEIS is. there corporate headquartrers is here. they pioneered the no benefits business model. in a way i resent the automated check out- a full service store- going self serve with full prices.

pahunkboy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 8:06:38 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady This is also a General Reply First of all, the average SINGLE food stamp recipient in NOT receiving $94 a week. Food Stamps is a Federal Program, so one county will not be "cheaper" than another county is what they will provide. In December of last year, the timing belt went on my car. For those who don't understand the impact - it would cost more to fix the car than the car was worth. I was able to get rides to work for a while, but when that became a problem, I lost my job. So now I am living in an area where the nearest bus stop is more than 5 miles away with no transportation. Consequently I became homeless in January. Literally. Social Services "placed" me in a boarding house that was, luckily, in "town". I had a roof over my head, but it was against the rules to have any type of cooking appliances in the room. The boarding house (which ironically was over a restaurant) did not have ANY kitchen facilities at all. I received $154 a month in food stamp benefits, and $140 in "general assistance". From the general assistance $75 a month was taken to put towards the room in the boarding house. Toilet paper, shampoo, femine hygeine product, tooth paste, etc. are NOT able to be purchased using food stamps. I managed to get Social Services to help me get into an apartment, my cousin gave me a car. I live in an area where if you don't drive, you are not going to be able to work. I was not trying to live off the system, although I saw many in the boarding house who obviously were. It was extremely difficult to convince them to help me get my own place, but I managed to do it. I have a very small one bedroom apartment that costs $750 a month, which is dirt cheap for the area in which I live, but is also 20 minutes from the nearest grocery store. I am getting back on my feet now after the most dehumanizing, humiliating experience of my life. The majority of people who are collecting who do not have children living with them are not looking to sit home all day "living off the system". If one can live extravagantly on the amounts I listed, it would be a miracle. SSI is not reduced by child support. Child support is reduced by SSI. SSI DOES take into consideration the income of the parents in conjunction with the disability of the child. The co-worker is bilking the system and I sincerely hope that she gets caught. It is a felony offense and could result in imprisonment, but always results in repaying the funds. Is it possible to food shop on $21 a week? Depends on where you live. Northern NJ does not have a whole lot of discount grocery stores. One can only buy in bulk if they have the space to store it. I have a college education and used to work as a professional wearing a suit to work everyday, and having a job where the work I did and the decisions I made could "make or break" the lives of others. Now I wait tables. The work and other personal tragedies in my life have caused me to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder - translation, I get panic attacks. I have had the disorder since I was in my mid 20s (coincidentally started when I met my ex husband, hmmm), but they were under control for 15 years. Now they aren't under control. Waiting tables, for me, is a no stress kind of job, yet affords me the ability to keep a roof over my head. Just barely, but I manage. I save on food by working a lot. One of the few perks of the job is free food. So what I keep at home is typically convenience food. I bought a week's worth of groceries for 10 bucks. Frozen pizza (less than a dollar each) and some mac and cheese. Ok, so I am rambling. Lack of sleep will do that to you. The point is yes, one can survive food wise on $21 a week, no it isn't easy. The attitude of saying just go to work doesn't really fly. Too many employers don't pay their employees a living wage. Move up the corporate ladder at Walmart or the local supermarket? They won't even hire someone full time, because then they would have to pay benefits. I am lucky in that I do have skills. I do, on occasion take on freelance work from my previous career. Most people collecting welfare have no education. The existing programs to teach them skills are less than adequate and really don't qualify as a stepping stone. Go back to school? If the system has decided that you need to work, they will stop your benefits if you decide to go to school. Financial Aid and Grants pay the tuition, not for books. Sitting up on the mighty throne and saying that it is not that difficult should try it. A woman named Barbara Ehrenreich did and wrote a book "Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting buy in America". The guy who used to do the FX show "Thirty Days" tried it too (forget his name at the moment). They started with the same idea as you "soapbox sitters". Then they got a rude awakening. I actually had a Pennsylvania state auditor at my door demanding to know what other job I worked- did i own a boat- a campeeer etc. Worse then that he 1st went to ALL my neighbors in a small town!!!! He demanded to know how i lived on $195 a month. My reply- well then you would also know I have 5 visa card lines of credit ALL IN A+++ shape. The welfare was going to deny me cos a car i keept for parts had value. i told my case worker the condition of that car- and since it is an "assett, we all will ride in it to Harrisburg [50 miles] to the appeal hearing" boy that shut her up quick.

pahunkboy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 8:09:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro quote: ORIGINAL: Sinergy I believe her point was about the fact that food stamps are an emotionally-charged non-issue. An issue raised infrequently in order to direct attention away from the more egregiously ridiculous government spending boondoggles. A sort of political blaming the victim. Thanks for expanding on those points made above. "-- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Abraham Lincoln, "The Gettysburg Address" What we have instead is "Reverse Robin Hood" politics at work in the U.S. - the government takes all possible wealth from the poor and middle class and gives it to the rich. It's called taxation and pork barrel spending. The biggest pretense with politicians is that their "constituents" are are all wealthy and/or corporate supporters instead of the simple individuals that might actually vote them into office as the least of all possible evils. It's a very real problem and that's exactly how it works. But what of the people? Following Lincoln's line of thought, it should be everyone's money for the mutual good of everyone. And by everyone I mean people, not corporate entities. Halliburton and Walmart can going begging for all I care, feed the hungry and the homeless with my tax monies please. That's at least one of the proper uses of government money. SMC, you hereby win pahunks informal "post of the day award"- congrats!

pahunkboy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 8:11:32 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania quote: The sense I get from your post Julia is that no one should ever have to do without special things or name brands or organic food and that somehow it is the fault of the nanny state that there are those who have less options than others. You can get whatever sense you like from my post. I made my point I do not know where you live, where you shop, or how "nutritionally sound" your diet is. I do not know how much freezer space you have, or other random storage space you have. I do not know how many hours you work each week or commute each week to have time to cook everything from scratch. I do not know a lot of your variables, and I do not care to be honest. I do not know when you were rearing these two daughters, because I do not know if you have went shopping lately, but inflation is rampant right now. I buy bulk olive oil, it would cost me 30 bucks to buy my olive oil, it cost about half that a year ago when I last bought it.... other things have went up just as steeply. The facts are, when a person is on food stamps they can't shop anywhere but grocery stores that accept them... no farmer's markets, no Costco (where I buy a lot of things), no butcher. Buying things in bulk and being able to live for the rest of the month is impossible, even though most of us take that access for granted to afford our food. Also many people poor enough to be on the food stamp program have no cars, that means their ability to access sales are very limited by the radius that they can get to the store on foot. I know that this does not matter to you, because you do not care, but just saying, life for the poor is not the same as it is for you. When you start bitching about the giveaways of our government to Oil alone, I guess I will understand your hostility to women with children that are less fortunate than yourself, but as Vendaval pointed out, not all situations are equal. Julia, if I ever get to So Cal, Ild love to meet you! I really enjoy your enthusiasm for life and your posts! Roger

SirRober -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 9:23:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: selfbnd411 I saw this story on the Colbert Report. Supposedly, food stamp recipents receive only $21/week in benefits, and there's a campaign for people to take the "Food Stamp Challenge" to show how impossible is is to live on $21 per person a week. I saw an article debunking both these claims, but it was a conservative blog so I double checked with the USDA Food Stamp Program info website. Yup--the average food stamp benefit isn't $21/week, it's $94/week. Even if it wasn't so high, though--is it really impossible to survive on $21/week? My current diet is less than $21/week and I do just fine. I eat cheese sandwiches for lunch (load them up with veggies) and sandwiches or rice with stir fried veggies cooked from scratch for dinner. I also go to the gym 4x a week plus I'm working a summer job on a delivery truck so it's not like I lay around the house all day. And yet I read articles claiming that one cannot survive on $21/week--it leaves you tired, irritable, and listless. That seems odd to me, considering that I don't feel hungry, I'm not starving, and I don't feel tired/irritable/listless despite expending vastly more energy than I'll wager any of the pundits who have declared the challenge impossible. We are so spoiled now that we think life without bottled water and premium iced tea is not worth living. Certainly, everyone has the right to at least three meals out a week, right? And cook food? From scratch? Such a thing hasn't been heard of since the dawn of mankind! What a bunch of wusses. http://www.bakersfield.com/806/story/156824.html (Journalist claims she starved to death doing it) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/21/AR2007052101349.html http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/33fsmonthly.htm http://newsbusters.org/node/12926 INSERT scarasm..... but $21 doesn't pay for my mc'ds Uber large burger xtra sauses minus the vegtables MEAL with a gut buster diet coke

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 10:11:18 AM)
Julia, I don't have any idea where you get the idea that I have a quote: ... hostility to women with children that are less fortunate than yourself, but as Vendaval pointed out, not all situations are equal. I was one of those women...and I have a deep sympathy for those that struggle through no affordable child care, ineligibility for reasonable benefits that will give them a hand up, etc. etc. And, as Vendeval pointed out, not all situations are equal. I am probably somewhere between you and selfbnd411 on this issue. He, as a grown man with his preferred diet, may be able to make it on that $21 per week, which was thrown out as a potential issue. You, on the other hand, completely dismissed his choices by stating that you knew it was lost on you since you need to spend $200 per week and you eat mostly chicken, eggs, salads and oatmeal. Now I realize you probably have a more varied diet than that, but the fact remains that I was not trying to be snarky when I literally gasped to see that you were spending that much money for such a main diet. I was more in awe that someone could spend that much and not be eating steak 4 times a week. It was an honest take on your post. In addition, I only tried to point out a middle ground. People should have the option to eat more than selfbnd411...I have no doubt, especially for children that his diet would not be good for them. But the fact remains that for most, this is not the diet they would have to subsist upon. To offer up examples like steak and ice cream, and mention the olive oil you buy in bulk in your second post, just seems to Me to be a poor choice of examples. You act as if everyone can and should be entitled to shop this way, and kudos for buying your olive oil in bulk. I have one small bottle that lasts Me for a year in My fridge (which I am also grateful to have!). Everybody can't afford these things, even when they are not on food stamps. I am glad you can and feel it is necessary and you don't mind spending the money, but it sure can make others feel like they are less than less by comparison. But then I consider things like steak, ice cream and olive oil to be luxuries and not staple items. Nothing works perfectly, and I think the system stinks too, but My solution is not to throw more money at the problem. Rather, I would much prefer to see a better use of the tax dollars already available, (in more places that that which is earmarked for welfare programs, I will add). This is also the reason I stated in another thread a couple of months ago that I will help someone in My own community before I will worry about spending extra dollars at a "Fair Trade" market to help a farmer in some distant country. I was told by another poster that this was a "lame" excuse. Seems I can't win for losing here. I am bound to misinterpret your words and you are bound to misinterpret Mine. I am sorry that I have never made clear to you that I am just as pissed about the Oil giveaways as most. But then you have already labled Me, therefore I am negated. 'Nuf said. Edited to add: I shop every week, carefully, and I still have My younger adult age daughter with Me. So we feed two adult woman and take care of My household on about 1/4 of your budget. Our diet is quite nutritious and I live in Arizona. I have a top storage freezer on My fridge, and a small but efficient pantry space.

philosophy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 10:15:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: GoddessDustyGold I have one small bottle that lasts Me for a year in My fridge (which I am also grateful to have!). .......something of a hijack, but i'm getting the impression that there is a significent number of people in the US that can't afford a fridge. Is this a fair deduction?

GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 10:38:36 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: philosophy quote: ORIGINAL: GoddessDustyGold I have one small bottle that lasts Me for a year in My fridge (which I am also grateful to have!). .......something of a hijack, but i'm getting the impression that there is a significent number of people in the US that can't afford a fridge. Is this a fair deduction? LOL...No! I was making the point, perhaps unfairly, but also honestly, that I am grateful for all the things I have even though they are taken for granted by so many. I live in a rental house and the refigerator is provided. Most rentals do provide a refrigerator/freezer combo, although I am sure there are some places that do not. But generally speaking, in the US, most people have access to a refrigerator and cooking facilities. Pa'hunk is an exception I see from this thread, and there are always those unfortunate times where people are in living situations where this might not be an automatic option, such as the Lady who lived in a rooming house for a time. I managed on much much less than many take for granted for many years, so it is difficult for Me, I freely admit, to not want to object when people jump on an equality/entitlement bandwagon. It may be My choice not to eat steak, keep a constant supply of ice cream in the freezer or use olive oil all the time, but I also say that it is not a "need" to be healthy in your eating habits. Sorry if you are getting that impression from this thread. I would say that a very tiny percentage of even the "working poor" don't have access to a refrigerator/freezer.

philosophy -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 10:43:29 AM)
...ta for the clarification [:)]

Arpig -> RE: Food Stamp Challenge--$21 a week (6/6/2007 11:37:44 AM)
General reply: I can't speak authoritatively for the US welfare system, but I can for the one here in Ontario...here a single person gets a maximum of $540 per month, for both food and shelter...a 1-room bachelor apartment costs between $500-$600 a month plus utilities...you can see how the rent-or-food "myth" got started.

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