Posted on 06/18/2013 10:00:42 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The mayors of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and 15 other cities are reviving a push against letting food stamps be used to buy soda and other sugary drinks.
In a letter sent to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the mayors say its time to test and evaluate approaches limiting the use of the subsidies for sugar-laden beverages, in the interest of fighting obesity and related diseases.
We need to find ways to strengthen the program and promote good nutrition while limiting the use of these resources for items with no nutritional value, like sugary drinks, that are actually harming the health of participants, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose office released the letter, said in a statement. Why should we continue supporting unhealthy purchases in the false name of nutrition assistance?
The other cities whose mayors signed the letter are Baltimore; Boston; Louisville, Ky.; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis; Newark, N.J.; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I.; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; St. Louis; and Seattle.
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
-—Not sure why someone on SNAP needs steak and lobster.-——
Every democrat has the right to live large like the Obama’s...on the taxpayer dime...
To think otherwise....is obviously racist...
I say just the basics because what else do you need? There are food bank programs where they can’t give the flour away. Why do you think that is? The people there volunteering end up taking those items home with them.
I suppose the problem lies in the fact that people don’t know how to cook basic items. Most don’t want to learn.
Maybe if they made food stamps more unpleasant by limiting choices, there would be fewer people on them.
Exactly — the takers want a commie state, so let papa gov tell them what to do
Better yet, re-open the food distribution centers. Forget food stamps, or make them only usable at the government “stores.” Then limit the inventory to healthy food items.
When my mother and her 3 kids moved to NC in 1970, separating from our father, there was a short time when our family received public assistance (my mother started taking in children which she kept in our apartment, before THAT got regulated). I remember having to go downtown and get that black and white-labelled cheese, peanut butter, etc. It was humiliating, even for me at age 12, which was (or should have been the point— get off the backs of others and earn for yourself.
We never had much until my mother remarried, and even then a lower middle class way of life seemed pretty good by comparison.
When one accepts their own enslavement, they then must bow to their masters.
Are you talking about us bowing to enslavement by the entitlement class?
because the recipients are LAZY.
Not really, but you make a good point. I was referencing that when you depend on government largesse for your life, then you bow to your providers. However, you are correct, the moochers’ largesse is being built upon the productives’ enslavement.
Rare to see a display of wisdom on this topic.
And on the subject of luxury and comfort foods, FReepers blame the recipients instead of the food conglomerate lobbiests who vehemently argue against any restrictions on food categories. A similar situation to the summer meal programs where diary associations and other producer groups pushed this stuff through and continue to pay for ads promoting it.
It is actually big business Republicans who are behind most of these food giveaway programs!
Sounds real conservative. Take private business entirely out of it. More like the Soviet Union.
dairy = diary
I saw a bleeding heart interview with a woman who was doing her midnight "EBT just got recharged" shopping. She was complaining that she wasn't getting enough EBT to feed her two kids (one was under 6 months old and was undoubtedly covered by WIC). She was complaining about the prices of canned soup and pasta. Didn't feel sorry for her, but I could have smacked the idiot reporter, who ended the sob story by telling us that this woman wass in a government funded training program to learn a trade. She was training to be a chef. I kid you not...
you are very judgmental and putting all recipients in a category - not ALL are lazy. If you want to blame someone - then blame those who voted this regime into office - that includes the very wealthy - who also pay taxes for the benefits - some are just down are their luck - lost their jobs because of obama’s policies and the hard-nosed so - called compassionate people on here want them to do without - I know several who get food stamps and aren’t lazy - they have lost their jobs and have gone through some rough times. Some of you on here should join the DU - you sound just like them by putting people into categories and trying to tell people what they can and can’t eat.
That’s what I’m talking about - Freepers sounding like communists. I can see why many vote Democrat - they have gone through hard times and need the safety net - who would want to be a conservative when their families are starving? I wish people would stop being so judgmental. I’ve helped many people out with food, but can’t do it on a full-time basis, and yes, my tax dollars supported those who didn’t or couldn’t work, but I’m not complaining. My tax dollars also supported Planned Parenthood, and other programs I don’t agree with, but as a citizen of a country - we take the good with the bad. People have had it hard these past few years and they need to eat.Not all are on food stamps by choice. When you point a finger at someone - you have 3 pointing back at yourself. Never judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.
Maybe if we limit how often you and others can post on these forums, and make it unpleasant as possible, you wouldn’t be so judgmental of others.
How many are not on food stamps by choice?
I know several. Why don’t you do a survey and then report back? Food stamps don’t pay for utilities, car insurances, or rent. Yes, some get rent subsidies, so why not make them live in cardboard boxes under a bridge with their little kids?
Call a Waahmbulance.........The people who legitimately need food stamps pales in comparison to the number who get it. No one is going to starve.
Many elements of capitalism are already removed from the system. The recipients don’t earn what they get. They have no real cares about how they spend the “free” benefits. In a government program my concern is how much is spent, wasted and used fraudulently. I want the recipients to get only no-name goods. I don’t care if private stores “sell” it. But those on the government teat should not get name brand stuff, nor luxury items like lobster, etc. when many of those who pay the taxes don’t buy that kind of items.
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.