🌎 The 'arguments' about what should be covered by SNAP benefits intrigues me. And yes, I believe there's some personal bias here.

[24and7]

I have never seen a cooler, much less a meat cooler, in a pawn shop. I can't remember seeing drink machines.

Believe me ours is cashing in locally..People on SNAP get steaks free and sell them at a lower price, in most cases..

 

[ElephantStomp]

The fraud and abuse by the SNAP program isn’t near as high as RFK and republicans believe. This is politicians speaking from an Ivory Tower sort of thing. Prior to moving to where I live now I worked in a low income district of the city and there wasn’t households with fancy steaks and lobster, it was households with the bare essentials to feed the family, yes abuse and fraud happens with that program, but if it’s about that then they should start in Congress and the White House not the poor of this country.

 

[TerryP]

The fraud and abuse by the SNAP program isn’t near as high as RFK and republicans believe.

There is no doubt there is a lot of abuse when it comes to eating: people on SNAP abusing their bodies while people are abusing the system.

The Department of Agriculture controls SNAP. RJK Jr., doesn't oversee the DOA. That's a lady who was confirmed this year. Collins, maybe? Something like that. Her name is on the tip of my tongue and I can even see her face but can't pull the name. (I remember she's a TX and an A&M grad. )

I'd love to see a study comparing SNAP recipients and obesity rates.

 

[ElephantStomp]

There is no doubt there is a lot of abuse when it comes to eating: people on SNAP abusing their bodies while people are abusing the system.

The Department of Agriculture controls SNAP. RJK Jr., doesn't oversee the DOA. That's a lady who was confirmed this year. Collins, maybe? Something like that. Her name is on the tip of my tongue and I can even see her face but can't pull the name. (I remember she's a TX and an A&M grad. )

I'd love to see a study comparing SNAP recipients and obesity rates.

I knew RFK didn’t run it, my mistake. There isn’t “a lot of abuse”, some sure, but it’s not some widespread abuse. This administration and some of their cuts are plain and simply ignorant, there is no abuse when it comes to pediatric cancer research, but yet it got cut heavily. This is about the hatred or dislike of the poor.

 

[24and7]

Any SNAP recipient should be forced to do some type of community service or volunteer their services under supervision...and ALL LUXURY ITEMS SHOULD BE CUT OUT OF IT... No steaks, lobster, shrimp just necessity items only...

 

[TerryP]

I knew RFK didn’t run it, my mistake. There isn’t “a lot of abuse”, some sure, but it’s not some widespread abuse

How do you quantify wide spread? Ha. There's vague.

I looked at this at the beginning of this thread. So, off of the top of my head...

2023, over $10 billion reported, by SNAP, in improper benefits, which was over 10% of the total. All of that isn't abuse, I realize. On the same note I realize all abuse isn't reported/found. That's a subject for another day.

In this case, the abuse I'm talking about is the quality of what they are buying. And here, I can confidently say it is wide spread abuse. A LOT of junk. I believe I cited the amount on soft drinks alone and it was astronomical.

Just this week I saw a mother buying donuts and pastries from the 'bakery' section of the 7-11 with her SNAP benefits. I saw four cases of abuse that morning; the card and three people. The kids were on their way to school where they get...free breakfast.

I got lost on the common sense aspect there.

 

[ElephantStomp]

How do you quantify wide spread? Ha. There's vague.

I looked at this at the beginning of this thread. So, off of the top of my head...

2023, over $10 billion reported, by SNAP, in improper benefits, which was over 10% of the total. All of that isn't abuse, I realize. On the same note I realize all abuse isn't reported/found. That's a subject for another day.

In this case, the abuse I'm talking about is the quality of what they are buying. And here, I can confidently say it is wide spread abuse. A LOT of junk. I believe I cited the amount on soft drinks alone and it was astronomical.

Just this week I saw a mother buying donuts and pastries from the 'bakery' section of the 7-11 with her SNAP benefits. I saw four cases of abuse that morning; the card and three people. The kids were on their way to school where they get...free breakfast.

I got lost on the common sense aspect there.

Don’t get me wrong better nutritional purchases would be better, but the issue is the right cuts the benefits which makes buying good, quality food damn near impossible. Walk into a Sprouts or Whole Foods and tell me how people that are on SNAP can afford those places when the benefits get cut.

 

[footballer]

Through the years, I have had several people try to sell me food stamps.

 

[Rsedge72]

I knew RFK didn’t run it, my mistake. There isn’t “a lot of abuse”, some sure, but it’s not some widespread abuse. This administration and some of their cuts are plain and simply ignorant, there is no abuse when it comes to pediatric cancer research, but yet it got cut heavily. This is about the hatred or dislike of the poor.

Then why did the democrats vote against the stand alone bill for the cancer research. They want all kinds of pork included. Read what the actually vote for and against.

 

[24and7]

I knew a man (deceased) that was a double leg amputee.. he lived with his son that had a spinal fusion and an addiction to every drug he could get his hands on.. when he went for food stamps they told him he could get $16 a month... That's the biggest problem with food stamps... the people that really need them are denied them..

 

[TerryP]

Don’t get me wrong better nutritional purchases would be better, but the issue is the right cuts the benefits which makes buying good, quality food damn near impossible. Walk into a Sprouts or Whole Foods and tell me how people that are on SNAP can afford those places when the benefits get cut.

How many SNAP beneficiaries are living in an affluent area and shopping in Whole Foods? It's a niche' grocery store. Are you suggesting people can't buy healthy foods because they can't afford Amazon groceries?

It does not make buying good, healthy food damn near impossible. It makes people make better choices when they are told, "no."

 

[ElephantStomp]

How many SNAP beneficiaries are living in an affluent area and shopping in Whole Foods? It's a niche' grocery store. Are you suggesting people can't buy healthy foods because they can't afford Amazon groceries?

It does not make buying good, healthy food damn near impossible. It makes people make better choices when they are told, "no."

You telling me you can healthy, good food at Walmart?

It damn sure does make it damn near impossible

 

[ElephantStomp]

Then why did the democrats vote against the stand alone bill for the cancer research. They want all kinds of pork included. Read what the actually vote for and against.

They didn’t. In late 2024 they voted for a stand alone bill called the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, it was originally part of the bigger bill, but Republicans removed it before adding it as a stand alone bill then with the stupidly named “Big Beautiful Bill” they cut it by 31% then cut NIH cancer research by 40%

 

[TerryP]

You telling me you can healthy, good food at Walmart?

It damn sure does make it damn near impossible

There are things I don't buy through my W+ account: meats and fresh vegetables. That doesn't mean I couldn't eat healthy.

You're taking the conversation to the extremes again.

Reese's Cups, Lay's Potato Chips, a bag of peanut M&M's, a 12 pack of Mt. Dew, a box of ice cream bars, pre-made pies and cakes, a box of Fruit Loops...

These are the things I can easily see being removed from those benefits.

Walmart sells pies that around probably 4" in diameter; several flavors. They are mass produced and fall into that Ultra, or Highly, Processed Foods category.

There are pie shells, frozen fruits, and a bag of sugar.

Out of those two, which saves money and which is healthier?

A common sense approach shouldn't be a stretch or a sacrifice.

The fact it's a pancake wrapped, pre-cooked sausage breakfast...should tell ya it's not that healthy.

Frozen vegetables are better for you than canned.

Hell, man. Some hygiene products make more sense to be on SNAP than A&W Root Beer.

 

[24and7]

The is really no good options for food.. you either have GMO products... or agricultural products that were raised without proper crop rotation... very little nutrients in our food.. most everyone is vitamin deficient... and unknowingly have parasites, that doctors refused to address..

 

[TerryP]

The is really no good options for food.. you either have GMO products... or agricultural products that were raised without proper crop rotation... very little nutrients in our food.. most everyone is vitamin deficient... and unknowingly have parasites, that doctors refused to address..

I disagree. There are good options for food; it's a matter of choice which involves ...

...a lot changes to what I consider to be a lazy lifestyle. People love their eggs, bacon, and biscuits in the morning. A lot of these same people aren't willing to spend the few minutes it takes to prepare that meal: it's just easier at a place like McDonald's.

An example:

Grans Frozen Biscuits: A bag has 20, I think. Cook time is almost 20 minutes after preheating the oven.

In the same amount time it takes to preheat the oven for those pre-made biscuits, you can grab your flour, baking powder and soda, sugar, salt, milk, etc. There's not much of a difference in the time between made from scratch and the processed, pre-made when it comes to "getting it on the plate." A big difference in not only cost, but how healthy they are.

Again, common sense. Biscuits loaded with preservatives or made from scratch. Which is better for you?

Cost:

20 for a little under six bucks, pre-made. A five pound bag of flour is about two bucks cheaper than the bag of biscuits. We added a bag of sugar and now we're at around seven dollars (versus the six, right?) Milk. Here we'll go with a gallon. Baking powder, soda, salt, butter ... All those ingredients will run you what, $15?

It's a table spoon of sugar. How many in that bag?
3/4 cup of milk. How many in that gallon?
2 cups of flour. How many cups in that bag? (There are 18-20 cups in a bag. Now I'm at .40 a serving with the flour: roughly eight big biscuits. A four dollar bag of flour will make 10 batches of biscuits. We're getting close to a dollar for the batch.)

You can buy vegetables that are non-GMO. You can buy them fresh if you choose. I realize I'm in a different area of the country and I can buy fresh from the farmers right at eight months of the year: six out of seven days a week.

Choices. Priorities. Lifestyles. Lazy people don't often adapt.

 

[Krimson]

I disagree. There are good options for food; it's a matter of choice which involves ...

...a lot changes to what I consider to be a lazy lifestyle. People love their eggs, bacon, and biscuits in the morning. A lot of these same people aren't willing to spend the few minutes it takes to prepare that meal: it's just easier at a place like McDonald's.

An example:

Grans Frozen Biscuits: A bag has 20, I think. Cook time is almost 20 minutes after preheating the oven.

In the same amount time it takes to preheat the oven for those pre-made biscuits, you can grab your flour, baking powder and soda, sugar, salt, milk, etc. There's not much of a difference in the time between made from scratch and the processed, pre-made when it comes to "getting it on the plate." A big difference in not only cost, but how healthy they are.

Again, common sense. Biscuits loaded with preservatives or made from scratch. Which is better for you?

Cost:

20 for a little under six bucks, pre-made. A five pound bag of flour is about two bucks cheaper than the bag of biscuits. We added a bag of sugar and now we're at around seven dollars (versus the six, right?) Milk. Here we'll go with a gallon. Baking powder, soda, salt, butter ... All those ingredients will run you what, $15?

It's a table spoon of sugar. How many in that bag?
3/4 cup of milk. How many in that gallon?
2 cups of flour. How many cups in that bag? (There are 18-20 cups in a bag. Now I'm at .40 a serving with the flour: roughly eight big biscuits. A four dollar bag of flour will make 10 batches of biscuits. We're getting close to a dollar for the batch.)

You can buy vegetables that are non-GMO. You can buy them fresh if you choose. I realize I'm in a different area of the country and I can buy fresh from the farmers right at eight months of the year: six out of seven days a week.

Choices. Priorities. Lifestyles. Lazy people don't often adapt.

Walmart sells plenty of dry beans and rice.

 

[TerryP]

Walmart sells plenty of dry beans and rice.

There's both a Mexican and an Indian food/spice store within a couple of miles from the house. I don't know if they take SNAP. I do know their dry beans are cheaper than any other brand grocery store I've seen. It's still not a lot of money at Walmart: a buck, maybe? I bought a lb. of pinto beans from the Mexican place for half of that a few weeks ago. I get chili beans there. Chili powder, peppers, etc.

I can't point to rice. I tend to order that like I do the grits. I've got two types of rice and both are from Marsh Hen Mill.

 

[ElephantStomp]

There are things I don't buy through my W+ account: meats and fresh vegetables. That doesn't mean I couldn't eat healthy.

You're taking the conversation to the extremes again.

Reese's Cups, Lay's Potato Chips, a bag of peanut M&M's, a 12 pack of Mt. Dew, a box of ice cream bars, pre-made pies and cakes, a box of Fruit Loops...

These are the things I can easily see being removed from those benefits.

Walmart sells pies that around probably 4" in diameter; several flavors. They are mass produced and fall into that Ultra, or Highly, Processed Foods category.

There are pie shells, frozen fruits, and a bag of sugar.

Out of those two, which saves money and which is healthier?

A common sense approach shouldn't be a stretch or a sacrifice.

The fact it's a pancake wrapped, pre-cooked sausage breakfast...should tell ya it's not that healthy.

Frozen vegetables are better for you than canned.

Hell, man. Some hygiene products make more sense to be on SNAP than A&W Root Beer.

I wish you could eat entirely healthy on SNAP, but you cannot because of the price of some groceries. You really can’t eat healthy with benefits being cut

 

[TerryP]

I wish you could eat entirely healthy on SNAP, but you cannot because of the price of some groceries. You really can’t eat healthy with benefits being cut

A family of four receives, on average, just under $1000 a month from SNAP. According to the USDA, the average family of four spends that much on groceries per month.

Now we're seeing them remove overly priced junk foods.