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If the spacial interests marketed the benefits to the farms and distribution networks - who would support it. Sell it based on a hard working mother wanting a little be extra, or get a professional photographer to take a picture of a tired woman and her kids - and people are moved.

Next time you see pictures of chicken production farms, or a PETA add about the abuses going on a slaughter houses, keep in mind the welfare scheme is a major contributory factor for its existence. The end product may be a bit more food and assistance to families at a meager level; however at the start of the pipeline are special interest payouts, corporate welfare, delivering groceries serving to provide oxtail, chicken wings, and anything else slaughtered for delivery, intimately generating government welfare payments to corporations. Local farm markets taking welfare funds is a nice, non-factor facade.

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Even if food stamps ended, what do you believe would happen to those funds? Church based programs of course. These people would still need to be fed... open more soup kitchens. but, guess what Merc... these funds would still follow that money trail to corporate pockets... because people still need to eat. If you are so dead set against these entities, then stop supporting them yourself.

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx

You have seen the problem and have hit the nail squarely. The solution is quite simple. We simply go back to what was before ADM and their congressional cronies created "the food stamp program". What the food stamp program does is require all of those who use it, to purchase only food grown by Amreican farmers.

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ORIGINAL: eyesopened

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx

You have seen the problem and have hit the nail squarely. The solution is quite simple. We simply go back to what was before ADM and their congressional cronies created "the food stamp program". What the food stamp program does is require all of those who use it, to purchase only food grown by Amreican farmers.

Please site your source.  Food Stamps can be used to purchase food regardless of the country of origin.  Someone on food stamps can purchase grapes grown in Chile or Bananas from Panama or shortbread cookies from Scotland.  The only restrictions are non-food items, prepared food (like at a restaurant or a sandwich from the grocery's deli), alcohol, tobacco, cough drops or other otc medicines.  There are no country of origin restrictions. 

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Food Stamp Act of 1964 - August 31, 1964
On January 31, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson called upon Congress to pass legislation making the FSP permanent. Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman submitted proposed legislation to establish a permanent FSP on April 17, 1964. The bill eventually passed by Congress was H.R. 10222, introduced by Congresswoman Sullivan. One of the members on the House Committee on Agriculture who voted against the FSP in Committee was then Representative Bob Dole. As a Senator, Mr. Dole became a staunch supporter of the Program. Among the official purposes of the Food Stamp Act of 1964 were strengthening the agricultural economy and providing improved levels of nutrition among low-income households; however, the practical purpose was to bring the pilot FSP under Congressional control and to enact the regulations into law. The major provisions were:

The State Plan of Operation requirement and development of eligibility standards by States;
They required that the recipients should purchase their food stamps, while paying the average money spent on food then receiving an amount of food stamps representing an opportunity more nearly to obtain a low-cost nutritionally adequate diet;
The eligibility for purchase with food stamps of all items intended for human consumption except alcoholic beverages and imported foods (the House version would have prohibited the purchase of soft drinks, luxury foods, and luxury frozen foods);
Prohibitions against discrimination on bases of race, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs;
The division of responsibilities between States (certification and issuance) and the Federal Government (funding of benefits and authorization of retailers and wholesalers), with shared responsibility for funding costs of administration; and
Appropriations for the first year limited to $75 million; for the second year, to $100 million; and, for the third year, to $200 million.
The Agriculture Department estimated that participation in a national FSP would eventually reach 4 million, at a cost of $360 million annually.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

You cannot use food stamps to buy hot food. 

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ORIGINAL: sirsholly

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

You cannot use food stamps to buy hot food. 

you can here...as long as it is the deli in a supermarket....which is basically set up as a restaurant.  They are even accepted for a salad bar and olive bar.

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In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals. SNAP benefits cannot be exchanged for cash.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/faqs.htm#10

That depends, julia

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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ORIGINAL: sirsholly

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

You cannot use food stamps to buy hot food. 

you can here...as long as it is the deli in a supermarket....which is basically set up as a restaurant.  They are even accepted for a salad bar and olive bar.

You can use them to buy prepared food in a supermarket deli, you cannot buy hot food with them, unless they changed the rules in the last decade.

When I was on food stamps Subway Sandwiches accepted food stamps, but if it was hot (meatball sandwich) you had to pay cash.

The vast majority of restaurants do not accept food stamps because of the "hot" rule. More would if they changed the "hot" rule.

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Food that will be eaten in the store.

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I know the fried chicken (on warming trays) can be purchased with food stamps. As to other stuff...i don't even know what they sell because i can't afford it.