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Setting aside the question of whether these programs are legal, I think that most on this forum would agree that if these programs are in place, they should be providing funds to the truly needy or ill, not the long-term layabout. You sound like the kind of person who was struck with a sudden, devastating illness that makes it impossible to work and I would not begrudge you the assistance. You've clouded the situation somewhat in my mind by taking your wife out of the discussion. Either she's got a legitimate disability, in which case see above, or she's got a bogus disability (alcoholism, drug abuse, etc.) in which case my thoughts on the issue would change.

As for whether the government that hands you money can tell you what to spend it on, I say they can. They do it to businesses all the time, including telling them the race and sex of the people they have to hire to perform a government project. Don't like it, don't participate. It would be easy enough to program cash registers with foods that are Food Stamp eligible or ineligible.

"You've clouded the situation somewhat in my mind by taking your wife out of the discussion. Either she's got a legitimate disability, in which case see above, or she's got a bogus disability"

I took my wife out of the discussion because I wish to protect her privacy. However, she is not an alcoholic or a drug addict. Her condition has been diagnosed by a recognized medical authority, and she received a decision of "disabled" by the state disability determination board, after a period of only two months from her application. More than that I will not say, except to remember with fondness her hard work for twenty years as an RN, and note her desire to return to that work as soon as possible.

"It would be easy enough to program cash registers with foods that are Food Stamp eligible or ineligible."

Instead of that, designate grocery stores that recipients can shop in. In our area, there's a Kroger's, Save-a-lot, Aldi's, and Eagle's. By shooping at Save-a-lot or Aldi's, we pay only a thrid of what we would pay at Kroger's or Eagle's for the same items. In my state, this restriction would save millions of dollars.