Posted on 08/21/2008 9:44:32 AM PDT by xtinct
Bruce Watson, freelance blogger writes:
When I was a student, there were many semesters when I spent less on food than on school books. I learned, from experience, that starvation is sometimes better than the 50th serving of lentils in a row, that there are only so many ways that ramen can be prepared, that $20 worth of raw materials can translate into a month's worth of hummus, and that sugar packets "liberated" from the local Burger King can be used to make Kool-aid, yielding a refreshing, almost free source of Vitamin C.
I had always considered myself an expert at the art of super-cheap college eating, but I recently realized that I had only scraped the tip of the iceberg. According to a recent article, the tough economy has pushed many students to frequent food banks and apply for food stamps. Some were doing so because they were trying to work their way through college on loans and part-time jobs, while others simply didn't want to ask their parents for money.
While it's nice to know that food stamps are an option for independent students who are desperately trying to make ends meet, I have to admit that I'm a little disgusted by the idea of affluent college kids gaming the system for a little extra money, particularly when the recession has left so many people in desperate need of a little help!
See the source for this blog post Strapped students turn to food banks
I wasn't sure if it is allowed on FR because the source is AP for News Observer.com
I delivered sub’s & pizza full time & went to school full time. I earned money & had all the food from work I could eat, and still found time to party. Some of the best times of my life!
No kidding. I had a cool roommate that was a cop in a small town. So when the firework siezures took place starting in late june, we had a grand ole’ time. Of course, the chief got the first pick of the confiscated beer and fireworks but we got some great stuff.
Wow. You obviously don't think much of your son.
My point is that there are many, many young students out there that NEED a helping hand,
So hold a bake sale, have a car wash, mow lawns, rake leaves, do something but get your WHINEY GOD-D***** HANDS OUT OF MY POCKET!!!
L
I tended bar throughout college and made gobs of money (for a young person). On weekends I went back to the "big city" and worked at a popular nightclub and made even more money. I had enough money to open my own place upon graduation, but the lifestyle made my academic experience less productive than I would have liked.
But food stamps? That's embarrassing.
I've often wondered how the people in the projects here in Boston can afford SUVs, Blackberries, IPhones, cell phones, etc.
But it never occured to me that we're paying for students' use of electronic objects.
Waiters typically make MUCH more than the usual minimum wage, so don’t whine to us about $2+/hour. Tell us the real wage.
And since he is on the dean’s list, that makes it ok to use our money then, right?
I am proud for your son, but I don’t want to pay for his education.
Get out of the basement, my friend!! shame, shame, shame on you. My son is working his a** off. You need a wake up call.
Shame on me? You've got some b**** lady.
You're kid is living on money STOLEN from working Americans at the point of a frigging gun and you think I should be ashamed?
My son is working his a** off.
Good for him. Guess what. I'm working my ass off, too. So is my wife. All so we can watch well over 50% of our income taken from us without our consent and given away to people who haven't earned it.
Shame on me? Shame on you, lady.
If you're looking for sympathy here, you're in the wrong place.
Government has NO business stealing my money and giving to your kid so he can go to school.
L
There is something terribly wrong with a system set up that gives money to able bodied people who basically are refusing to work to support themselves. No wonder America is swimming in debt.
I bet neither you, nor your wife, would EVER collect unemployment or Social Security, right?
When did UEC and Social Security become Government Grant programs?
You see, here's where people make really stupid errors when they respond without thinking to someones post. They can't distinguish or are totally ignorant of what these 'college' programs are.
UEC and Social Security are 'pay as you go' programs, or at least they're supposed to be. That means that employers and workers pay into the funds and, in the case of UEC, should they ever need to avail themselves of it, it's there because the employer AND employee both paid into the fund.
Social Security is the same way.
Leave it up to me and I'd immediately abolish both programs and refund every dime anyone every paid into the SocSec abomination in full.
College Grants are an entirely different animal. The only people paying into that are, well suckers like you and me who sit still for it.
That's just stolen money being redistributed to a bunch of f****** whiners.
And it looks like we've just found another whiner.
L
Oh, Lurker...
Do you honestly believe that there’s a difference between these two programs and welfare or SS? Taking money from your pocket, just in case you might one day need it, but in the meantime using it for others? Do those collecting SS receive only what they contribute? Are you also considering Medicare? If I pay taxes for 15 or 20 years, then apply for welfare, is that better? If I have an education fully funded by grants, then I work and pay taxes, that in turn fund grants, what’s the major problem?
Before you mention it, YES, I know there are many private grants, etc. I am not saying anything in our current system is fair, but neither was the over-the-top post of yours that I replied to!
One last thing...why do you resort so quickly to name-calling?
YOU were the one whining.
Not really. They both redistribute stolen money.
If I have an education fully funded by grants, then I work and pay taxes, that in turn fund grants, what’s the major problem?
I'll refer you to Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution.
If you can find one word in there granting Congress the power to give 'education grants' to anyone I'll eat my hat.
THAT'S the problem.
L
Well, there’s one (more?) thing we probably agree about!
I guess I just don’t see any difference between these things, except that our tax dollars being used for food, medical care, and housing for those truly unable to earn a living doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the money spent to educate some person who could pay for it by working, if Mommy or Daddy wouldn’t/couldn’t.
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