Sorry, Mr. President, Food Stamps Won't Save the Economy

on February 1, 2012 at 9:47 AM

food stamps sign As the economy has supposedly been recovering the past couple of years, food stamps expenses in America have doubled. That’s weird. You’d think people in general would be able to buy more of their own food as the economy gets better and better.

Or maybe the economy isn’t really improving, but the way we look at the numbers shifts. Did you know that the unemployment numbers don’t include those that have given up looking for work? No wonder President Obama is confused about unemployment.

If the economy is getting better, maybe it’s because of the food stamps. The Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, says that food stamps are a legitimate and effective way to stimulate the economy because every product purchased with someone else’s money had to be stocked, shelved, packaged, processed, etc., and those are jobs.

Of course the system is never, ever abused. Ha! Just kidding; it’s actually loaded with fraud and abuse.

Regardless of whether food stamps have saved the economy, I think the prevailing thought on them is that they’re supposed to be a safety net for Americans who would otherwise starve. The goal should be getting people off of government assistance, not adding as many as possible. Prosperity is a good thing, and it would be awesome if our nation were so prosperous that no one had to use food stamps.

The government doesn’t agree. They want people relying on assistance so much that they’re giving $75,000 grants to groups that devise effective strategies to boost participation in SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program -- the official name of today’s food stamp program).

Is it any wonder why our nation is over $15 trillion in debt?

Image via Mills Baker/Flickr

Filed Under: barack obama, charity, economy, politics, taxes

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Comments (47)

RhondaVeggie

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:07 AM

Fixing the food stamp program is easy. Stop giving the participants ridiculous amounts. Give people what they need to get by, not enough to stock a cellar for a nuclear winter and/or buy enough junk food to host a Superbowl party for the entire neighborhood. Sure there are people who are getting truly supplemental amounts to make things a bit easier but there are also people getting ridiculous amounts. I saw a post on this website a few months ago with a woman complaining that her food stamps were being reduced from almost $900 a month to over $500 a month. I'd consider $500 supplemental assistance to a very poor family with four kids. She was feeding two adults and one toddler and had no idea how to "get by" on $500 a month. There is no need for that. Food stamps should be $100 a month per person, absolute maximum. That's enough to eat well and it would drastically cut the food stamps budget. If you want lobster and filet mignon for dinner then pay for it out of your own pocket, don't expect the tax payer to cover fancy dinners when most of us are living on a budget.

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Nonmember comment from JenInNC

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:15 AM

If you actually read the USDA's web page on the subject, rather than writing a commentary based on a commentary, you'd easily see the grants going back to at leat 2001. ....but I bet that's Obama's fault too. Not to mention, the goal here is to FEED Americans. I suppose someone like you objects to that as well. There are some crooked people in this country, but I wouldn't stop feeding hungry children because of them.

billsfan1104

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:28 AM

My neighbor gets 890 dollars a month for Food Stamps(five people in house), her rent paid for, heat, and electric. Her and her husband sit on the couch all day long and wont look for a job. She then complains everyday that they are broke and then has the nerve to say they have no damn food, and if we can give her some. The local church comes once a month to our street and hands out food to the people, and she is standing in line to get the food, goes home, and sends her husband out to get another bag of food. Then she will ask my children to stand out there for food, and I have to cuss her out and tell her no.

Kritika

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:31 AM

Amen, amen, amen to the two comments above. We are on no assistance, we went to college, we have full time jobs and my husband and I don't spend NEARLY that much on food and I still can't imagine going near that amount with a baby. People eat too damn much.

hoticedcoffee

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:55 AM

OK, I'm the first to admit that I have some pricey tastes, buy a lot of organic, AND have people over for dinner at least a few times per month but I don't spend $900 a month on food (except maybe during November and December, but that's because we host Thanksgiving, Christmas, and have a holiday Open House). How the hell is allowance calculated that a family of 5 needs almost $1K a month to eat???

I remember watching Nancy Pelosi spouting off about how food stamps and unemployment checks stimulate economic growth, wondering how she could do it with a straight face. Paying people to stay home and eat doesn't stimulate anything except dependency and laziness. I have no problem with funding legitimate rough patches, or people who have disabilities and cannot financially care for themselves - but if you're getting a free-ride, you shouldn't be living it up in a way that working people can't afford.

Nonmember comment from me

on Feb 1, 2012 at 10:59 AM

I have not worked for the past 8 months. When i was working i didnt get any assistance eventhough i did qualify. We are 3 and one on the way and we get 300 and thats it. I dont get help with rent or utilities my SO takes care of that. We wouldnt make it without the assistance. On the other hand i know of a 300 pound "lady" thats 30 has 7 kids, cable, internet, buys beers every day AND HER AND HER HUSBAND DONT WORK! WTF is up with that!

Nonmember comment from JustMe

on Feb 1, 2012 at 11:06 AM

Where do some of you live? Seriously... I know 2 people who are on food stamps, and one gets $260 for 2 people per month (mother/daughter) and the other is $180 per month.. I have NEVER seen the level of money you guys are talking about and I'm in CA... I don't thik the amounts I have seen are outrageous or need to be cut, I think they may want to look at who is getting the most and WHY; that way they can determine if it is an out of control amount given OR if it really is based on need + food cost in the area. By starting with the people who recieve the most they can start cutting where applicable and get the most out of those cuts (IMO)

angevil53

on Feb 1, 2012 at 11:22 AM

don't allow people to get fs for longer than two years, if you can't get yourself out of a hole in two years that's on YOU. you aren't trying hard enough. i put myself through college (with a child) and have never had to use fs though wouldn't it be nice if i never had to pay for food again...and it's not obama's fault people refuse to work. it's always been way too easy to get fs imo.

kiowagirl75

Sad to say that Food Stamps have become a way of life for some people, there are those who use them like they are supposed to be used, but you also have those who sell them, trade them, and who are scammers. I have seen carts full of nothing but junk soda, cookies, chips....etc. Don't mean to sound mean, but people need to quit depending on food stamps and learn how to take care of your own needs!

Nonmember comment from kay

on Feb 1, 2012 at 12:02 PM

I love how the conservatives have turned the middle class against the poor because we see them as leaches yet we turn a blind eye to the ENTITLEMENTS of the rich.