Posted on 02/15/2018 11:15:25 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
In his big budget proposal Monday, President Trump offered a novel idea: Instead of giving needy people stamps they can redeem for food, why not just give them actual food?
As you might guess, liberals were enraged by the notion. How dare Mr. Trump try to take food stamps away from hungry people and give them of all things food?
Heres how the liberal HuffPost saw it: Facing a trillion-dollar deficit because of his just-passed tax cuts, President Donald Trump has an idea for how to get some of that money back: making poor people eat beans and rice.
Oh, the humanity!
Currently, food stamps known officially as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are provided for some 42 million people, 80 percent of whom get food vouchers each month worth at least $90 per person. They can be redeemed at many stores for food, but the program is rife with abuse.
*SNIP*
Under the Trump proposal, those 80 percent of all SNAP recipients would get about half of their benefits in the form of a USDA Foods package, NPR reported. The package was described in the budget as consisting of shelf-stable milk, ready to eat cereals, pasta, peanut butter, beans and canned fruit and vegetables.
The program would be called Americas Harvest Box. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue called it a bold, innovative approach to providing nutritious food to people who need assistance feeding themselves and their families and all of it is home-grown by American farmers and producers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
And that might motivate the able bodied to change their situation so they won't be "stigmatized" when getting public assistance. It is supposed to be a safety net, not a safety hammock.
Potatoes can be microwaved.
I lived on potatoes and butter when I was in college.
“There was never a potato chip or soda in my house when our kids were young.
Really. If we opened the refrigerator door and saw Ginger Ale we knew somebody was sick. That was the extent of our “junk food”. And Mom’s chocolate chip cookies, too. :)
“What do you mean anyway?”
Go forward with POTUS plan — implement the food program regardless of outraged liberals.
“Put me in charge and well replace food stamps with...Shovels, rakes, mops and brooms, lawn mowers, paint brushes, chainsaws,...”
*APPLAUSE* and *AMEN*
Its going to stigmatize people when they have to go to certain places to pick up benefits,
_
They aren’t stigmatized about going to charity food banks or Christmas toy giveaways for the poor or getting free Obamaphones, etc.
That’ exactly what I’ve seen. I’m amazed at the sheer number of people with SNAP cards... even children using them... to buy cheetos and flavored drinks. It’s almost unheard of to see them buy real food.
“If you do something and a lib isnt outraged, you did the wrong thing.”
Bumper sticker!
With the assistance of the individual states, President Trump could about double the amount of food to these people. How?
The individual states are breadbaskets of *surplus* food. Of course much of it is seasonal, which varies between states.
For example, in recent years, at least in the western US, there has been a glut of potatoes at times. With less sized than optimal for baking Russet potatoes going for as little as 10 pounds for a dollar.
So they take up way too much grocery store space, and many of them spoil before being purchased.
So if the states agree, say for example, along with the food package they get 10 pounds of potatoes thrown in for free, but only when potatoes are in surplus. Otherwise they might get corn on the cob, strawberries, corn or corn flour (ending the ethanol subsidy), apples, oranges, carrots, whatever.
Except in the dead of winter, in most states, or regions, there is surplus *something*. Otherwise, the surplus *costs* money, being expensive to warehouse until it rots.
In a blast from the past is a striking economic oddity.
Remember when President Reagan gave away the “government cheese”? It saved the US government a *lot* of money from very expensive refrigerated warehousing.
Ah, but how did it effect the retail price of cheese, for those who bought it. Simple answer: it didn’t. The retail price of cheese didn’t change one penny.
President Trump. Let them eat to their hearts’ content. America has too much food, and it is cheaper, and better for farmers and retailers to give it away.
You sound like you are old school just like me. These are not food stamps. The EBT, by definition, is “a gift....” made by “the state”... This “gift”, our money, was TAKEN from you and me.... without authorization. And these grifters have taken political control over America.
This would generate jobs. Those receiving food stamps could actually work in the food distribution. They could even be given a larger share for work.
Reminds me of a statement in the Bible concerning Christians. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”.
“That means getting a job and buying better, if you want better. It will still take care of their needs, but its also an incentive. Get off your ass.”
You know, it worked when I had three teen boys at home. I told them I would always have water for them to drink, the fruit bowl would always be full, and I would gladly make them air-popped popcorn if they had the munchies.
You want candy, soda pop, Doritoes, or anything else? YOU buy it with YOUR money.
It’s a shame we have close to three GENERATIONS with their hands still out - and then rioting and smashing things (like children!) if we don’t pony up even MORE! Grrrr!
Yet another step in the right direction, Mr. President! MAGA!
I would also add drug testing tied to ANY ‘freebie’ anyone gets via We The People. Maybe not drug testing for WICC foods (cereals, juice, fruit) for babies, though? I dunno.
Nutria loaf? Sounds like it might be good.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306094624.htm
“Whos going to put the boxes of food together?”
Prisoners! (I wish!)
Give them just enough to get started.
“...eliminating starvation in America.”
I rarely disagree with Mr. B., but I’ve yet to see a single person, dead in the street, who died from starvation in The United States of America.
And I’ve been LOOKING for those same 50 years! ;)
How about drug testing for anyone who has been on it for more than a year? Some folks fall into problems, and then get out rather quickly.
If they’re making a life choice, then sure. Require they walk ten miles a day to qualify for all I care.
Yes, drug test six-year-olds. That's the ticket.
“Its going to stigmatize people...”
Not to mention, may be a little stigmatization might be helpful?
The whole purpose of social stigmas is to discourage behavior that is not beneficial to society. Being unproductive is not beneficial and should be stigmatized, at least for people that do not have some overwhelming impediment to working to support themselves.
We can give that job to the Dreamers while they are waiting in the detention camp for their turn to ship out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.