Food Stamp Solution

indie said:

Because it isn't always that cut and dried. Every woman who bears children is not a whore. My kids all have the same dad and I was married to him for years before we had our first. What if, a few years down the line, fed up with the stress of unemployment that he'd been through, he decided to start beating me, or, even worse, my kids? How would I have foreseen that? It happens all the time. My friend had no idea her husband would be abusive until many years later. She held on until it seemed she would survive only if she left. She should have kept her legs crossed? How is that her fault? Would you look her in the eye and tell her tough luck? Stay and be beaten until you die in order to keep your kids fed, because you don't deserve help.

Click to expand...

Well it isn't cut and dry, the system is designed to help people like you and your friend. You and your friend decided to have kids when things were good and you both had stable incomes. Things went bad, which they always do, and you needed a lifeline. That is more than acceptable. What isn't acceptable is those whores who have 3 different kids with 3 different men. Maybe if you are working at the McDonalds and making $9 an hour you shouldn't be having kids left and right. Even worse is those people who have kids and see them as just another check they can collect. Also lets not leave these scum bag men who go around making "baby mommas" and don't even stick around to raise them or support them. That is 90% of the problem these days, you got kids with no fathers raised by single mothers who have to work 2-3 jobs just to support them. They can't spend the time to properly raise a child, so these kids grow up with no direction, role models or discipline and they latch on to the only role models they can find which happen to be older "men" who were raised in a similar environment and turned into criminals.

That is my point.

And who says that you HAVE to work to provide for your family.

I hardly work. Maybe 2 hours a week on call.

I have always found ways to make ends meet. I don't have kids. But if I did, job or no job, my kids will be provided for. Not by welfare, or food stamps.

I will do and have done what it takes to provide. I've scrapped metals, collected recycled cans, bottles, gotten free stuff off craigslist. I've even bought and sold stuff (cars, antiques, furniture, etc)

So if I wasn't working a traditional 9-5, but my kids ate, had nice clothes, and behaved, does that make me less of a parent?

I've always had the thought process that you don't NEED a 40+ hour week. If you reevaluate your wants/needs, and prioritize, you can survive and thrive on any income level.

I make ~$400 a month. But I eat, bills are paid, and I slowly get my necessities.

By all definitions, I CAN qualify for food stamps and cash aid. But I don't apply.

Truth be told, I can probably live on $100 a month. I wouldn't be able to if I didn't have my fruit trees and small garden.

I think my big advantage is that I own my home. A lot of welfare recipients either rent houses or apartments. I've rented before. The landlords don't like you doing anything in the yard besides upkeep. But that shouldn't stop someone from container gardening. It's easy, cheapish, and its basically free food. Food stamps even buy seeds, at least here in Ca.

I think that part of the problem is un motivation. Or some amount of ignorance. A lot of people that don't know how to do something don't have the drive to look it up, and try it out. Heck. Even I thought container gardening was hard. Now I have a deck full of food growing in containers.

I don't know though. I do know I got kind of off topic. But welfare is something I am a bit passionate about. I may not have a great job, I may not be in a great spot, but if even I can grow even a small bit of food, then ANYONE can. I have a black thumb. I kill more than I grow. Yet I have 55-60 food trees/plants growing in my yard. That's only the permanent plantings. Not counting the garden area which has way more.

So my question is. Do you think a majority (not ALL) of welfare recipients are too lazy to even try?

Not including the older people, the disabled people, or the under employed?

Yes there is a thing as the under employed or working homeless. I knew someone who worked a 45+ hour job, and even after downsizing and getting rid of everything he didn't need, he still ended up living on the job site in a van. No drug habit, no expensive eating out, or expensive entertainment habit. No credit card bills, etc. I think it was a bad divorce, and such. But still.

kevincali said:

Just an example. I roommated with a female who was collecting welfare. Her baby daddy, was an illegal and working under the table. They lived together. On paper, he was nowhere to be found.

Ask again about single mothers collecting from the system.

This case might be unique. Or it may just be more common than you think.

I'd take that 10% down to more like 2%

Click to expand...

I don't dispute that many recipients are taking advantage of the system - that's the problem. But the problem with finding a solution is how to keep helping the ones who do need it.

As for not working a 9-5, I'm with you there. I haven't "worked" in 5 years and before that my job was from home, on my terms. I'm highly unemployable because I don't take orders. I've found ways, be it hawking my wares at markets, writing, online retail or whatever. I do it now because I need to know I can provide for my kids.

But getting the knowledge to get there takes a starting point and there are many who don't even know the potential exists, let alone where to look for it. Which is why I try to be free with what I know because there is so much you can do from home without having to join the rat race.

You're right, though. So many people are unmotivated. I don't think it is always that they're lazy, but just so used to being downtrodden that they believe they aren't capable of more. I know, I know, there are jerks, but I believe most people are not. Still, I am surprised -- and disappointed -- by how many people want to know how I do what I do but don't actually take the next step to improve their lives. (Not you, by the way, I'm talking people who ask me specifically.)

It's funny you make the point about rentals and gardening. I was thinking about that when I talked about my friend earlier. She wants to get out of town so she can do those things.

There is always a way to make it work. When we were on food stamps, we were a family of 4 trying to live on $556 a month. I didn't see another choice but hated every minute of it. That's also part of why I prep, garden and produce my own meat, so I'm not caught in that situation again. We did have some preps then, by the way, and used them rather quickly.

So in a long winded answer to your question, yes, some people will never even try.

techtony said:

I tried to quote kevincali but apparently I cant for some reason, look a few posts back to see kevincalis post on living on next to nothing.

Ok I have to ask..... how can you afford a house on 400 a month? Tax alone is 400 - 1200 a year depending on your house and where you live. I am not trying to start an argument or accusing because obviously you are getting by, but curious as to how exactly. You have to pay internet and power because you are using a computer to communicate with us now. If you can do it, we obviously all are not doing something right.... helll my minimum power bill with no electric on it is 65 a month and that is just connection fees and government taxes.

Seriously you need to write a book man... i woild buy it

And I mean this folks, I am not being sarcastic here, if he can do it, we all can.

Click to expand...

House is paid off. Taxes are $464 x2.

Electric is $55. I've had to keep the flood lights on due to strangers around. Also run a space heater in just the bathroom before a shower.
I've had it down to $15

Gas is $14. No heat and no cooking. Cooking is done over open fire. Only gas used is for the water heater

Water is $45. Not sure why its that high. I have a drip from a spigot and a drip from the front shower. Trailer is old and am having a hard time finding washers. Only water I use is for washing clothes and taking showers.

Trash is $20 a month or $60 for 3 months.

So utilities alone run me $130-$140 a month. I don't have home Internet. I use my phone which is ~$60 a month unlimited. So my monthly out of pocket just in utilities and phone is about $200 a month. Auto insurance is about $65 for 3 cars. I'm non opping 1 next month. So insurance should go down. Water should go down because I'm no longer using it to water the trees. My rainwater system is there for that. Gas, I can't get any lower. I've had it down to $6 before. But rates change. Rates actually went UP since it got cold. That might explain why my bills jumped.

I spend about $100 on food.

So as you can see, my budget is very very tight. Bills will be higher during the winter, and it will suck. It's hard to not just turn on the central heat. Or take a hot bath. I'm barely scraping by.

Oh. And I just paid last years property taxes. Might not be able to pay this years taxes until next year

So it CAN be done. But be prepared to do without. If not for my yard, I don't know what I'd do.

Some homemade lemonade. Got tired of water and picked some lemons and squeezed/juiced some lemons. A bit of water to water down and a tiny bit of sugar and it was DELICIOUS

If I were renting, I don't think $400 would cut it. My ONLY saving grace is that I'm friends with a nursery and have been getting trees for a discount. I still pay $20 per tree versus $65 at Home Depot. And yes. I've gone hungry to buy a tree. I look at the tree as an investment. If I buy a tree for $20, it'll give me $40 in fruit over and over. If I buy $20 food, its gone in one shot.

I've also worked for trees, gotten a bunch of free stuff from craigslist, and traded a bunch of stuff. Oh, and when I first moved in, there was a palm tree here. Guy offered me $1000 for it. SOLD. I was able to catch up on bills and fix the floors in this house. That was 3 years ago. I've been on a roll since.

So ask me any questions you want to know. I'm not hiding anything. I've posted my current bills. I've put my story out there. If there is a way I can help anyone, please let me know

Oh and my monthly income isn't exactly $400. It bounces around a lot. It can be anywhere from $300 to $500. Depends on if I recycle anything, turn in cans, sell stuff etc.

So some months are better than others.

And a lot of my nice stuff, I got for free/barter. My fridge was free. Works great, drips water from the inside when it defrosts. Washer and dryer were new when I got them. Oven was free from craigslist. Nice kitchen sink was free from craigslist. T.V., entertainment center, VCR/DVD player was free (needed fixed. Still doesn't read all DVDs.) Ceiling fan (cheaper than AC) was free from craigslist. I did buy box fans for the windows though. $5 from yard sales. Dining room table was free. Coffee table was free from my neighbors bulky item pick up day. I needed rocks and dirt for a planter. Free from craigslist. My bedroom is furnished with a nice dresser with mirror and matching night stands. Free. I did however buy my bed brand new when I was making money in 2006. So even my bed is older.

I've furnished my house mainly from craigslist/freebies. I don't need the best newest of anything.

And I do wait for free stuff. I need bookshelves. I keep looking on craigslist. They'll pop up sooner or later. I'm very patient.

So once again, it CAN be done. Just don't expect to have the latest greatest of stuff. I have gotten free items and fixed/rebuilt them and used them. I've also gotten free stuff and fixed/resold them for money.

Now that my income is semi stable, I haven't been stingy. I had been charging my phone by hand crank. Not any more. Cable is shut off, but cable guy didn't disconnect at the line, so I get basic. I've called them and told them, cable company comes out, and nothing changes. So I have basic basic cable. I can go back to converter box if needed.

Oh. Next step is a high efficiency washing machine, and LED tv's. the TV I'm looking at is $150 and costs $6 a year to operate. That's $.50 a month. My huge tube/CRT TV probably uses $6 a MONTH lol. Same with the washer. The cost of a high efficiency washer might be worth it if it saves water. Of course I'm looking at the long run ROI.

Maybe I should write a book lol

Churches used to be in charge of charity. Then the govt stepped in figuring they could do a better job.

Some misinterpret the food stamp program for what it is. The program is called Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. The key word is supplemental. It is not meant to feed an entire family.

There are some who desperately need this help. Especially in this economy.The program was meant to be a safety net. That being said, there are career recipients. This has gone on for generations for these career people and it's all they know. The real issue is the fact that the govt set things up to keep these people where they are. You will always have some that can and will beat the system. What needs to be done though is incentive programs to help people get back on their feet. Indie is right, daycare is not affordable for most of these people. There is a program to help with daycare but the last I heard there was a 3 yr wait. The entire system needs to be overhauled but I don't see it happening anytime in the near future.

The government has no right to collect money in taxes and then give it to others. The USA is the most charitable country in the world. Let private charities do what they do best. Volunteer non-profit charities can do a much better job of taking care of the down and out than the government and they can do it for a lot less money. Families helping their family, churches helping others, charities helping others and all of them can be run without government involvement. I would much rather choose to whom I give charity than let the government decide. I ran a non-profit corporation for over seven years (president - CEO - and board of directors) and never once even collected reimbursement for the gas I used to travel or any other personal expense. We almost had to close the corporation down when we moved because there was no one to step up and do the job. We did find three people who were willing to take the necessary positions and it did not close down but it was right down to the last minute. I know it can be done on an all volunteer basis and if those collecting the benefits had to donate some time it would make it even easier.

The reason I vote Libertarian is because I want the government out of my pockets, yard, home, and life. If you want the same thing you will never get it voting any other way.

Be difficult to argue that the system has flaws and needs desperate improvement.
Majority of recipient families very likely do as they should, it's the small percentage.
About a year ago I was suddenly laid-off after years of service and sadly right after using 401k to finish building our home, as method of reducing loan costs. The area I live in has been severely effected by economic crisis. Jobs are virtually impossible to come by, especially for those that live in rural areas, walking to the fast food place to get 4 hours a day, 3 days a week would cost more than it paid, this is nobody's fault, just one of those things.
So I decided to start back to school to get a nursing license. Figure that would all but guarantee finding employment of adequate pay. As usual the bad apples cost the good ones cause I am no longer eligible, my wife and kids are but not me due to people half way going class, barely passing, etc just as a means to stay in the system.

My opinion is that drug testing could very likely reduce the abuse of the system, as from my experience people who abuse the program are usually doing so to supply a habit. Even if the testing consisted of (in the beginning at least) those with prior charges for drug or alcohol related offenses.
Another partial deterrent would be to require identification with the card, the inconvenience would slow down some abuse till better strategies could be in acted.
People need too many different items to form the cheese lines (which remember were not substitutes for stamps but in addition to) plus the additional funds that would require. My daughter is allergic to peanuts and products produced with/around/on shared equipment, etc which for anyone who ever looked, is most things.

I have written several letters addressing the issue of drug trading with food stamps but obviously without any return correspondence. I would certainly like to hear other suggestions just for informational purposes if nothing else.

End of rant