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How about the "I Work So Deadbeats Can Eat Free" card.? |
Posted on 06/23/2004 9:04:01 AM PDT by presidio9
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government wants to end the stigma of food stamps -- by giving them a new name to add to their new look.
After decades of issuing paper coupons, the government now gives people the same sort of plastic card and computer password that many shoppers use at the grocery store. Each month, the card's account is refilled electronically.
The government marked the nationwide conversion to anti-hunger plastic cards on Tuesday that began 20 years ago with a pilot project in 1984 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, who oversees the program and announced the search for the new name, said, "We really don't have food 'stamps' any more." Americans can suggest a new name -- or argue to keep the current one -- until Aug. 23.
Food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, were offered for four years to combat the Great Depression in the 1930s. Paper coupons succeeded the original orange and blue stamps when the program was revived in the 1960s. It became a nationwide program in 1974.
"I think we do need a new name," said Rep. Gil Gutnecht, Minnesota Republican and chairman of the House subcommittee in charge of the program. Like other name-change advocates, he said a new name would remove the stigma associated with the coupons and the tarnish of occasional scandals from black-marketeering of the coupons for illicit goods.
Some states have shifted toward calling the program "food assistance," "food support" or "basic food program." In New York City, some anti-hunger activists call it the "Food Card."
At least 23 million Americans receive food stamps each month and about 12 million of them are children.
I wonder how many of them are grossly obese? We've got "hunger" stuck in our heads as a thing that happens to poor people that we have to fix. It's a very inapplicable model in 2004.
A continuing parade of euphemisms isn't going to alter the stigma of receiving government assistance. I used to work in Maryland, and would see poor people paying for their groceries with a debit-card called the "Independence Card." That, to my mind, was truly Orwellian ... "dependence is independence."
I've got ice cream . . and you don't have none. cuz your daddy's on welfare . . .and your mama uses . . .
"food assistance"|"food support"|"basic food program"|"Food Card." !!!
I am for s--- canning the whole program...failing that, let everyone who wants food stamps to have to wear a t-shirt that says "on WELFARE, thanks, taxpayers" on the front and the back when they go to the store...we need to stigmatize it MORE, not LESS.
Oh, if i were king...
LOL
The Capt.
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How about the "I Work So Deadbeats Can Eat Free" card.? |
I'm sorry, there should be a stigma associated with public assistance of any kind.
How about "Free Lunch" cards?
The problem with food stamps -- an otherwise rather successful program -- has been chronic fraud. Does anyone have information on whether the cards have helped in this department?
LOL
I used to think the same thing until my sister had to go on food stamps. A series of events, dead beat ex husband, sued by a former employer who via the court system, forced her to change jobs (non compete clause in a contract), etc. etc. And she is a raging Republican, but she needed the assistance for a while and while I was able to give her money, it wasn't enough to suppliment her needs. 2 kids and a 2 year old grand child, another long story.
The hispanic supermarket near my house accepts food stamps for cigarettes.
How about "On The Dole" card?! Trendy feeders at the public trough could call it their "OTD" card.
yeah. how can we have people on welfare AND still have "the jobs americans won't do" ?
stop hiring illegals, force the work-capable welfare-bies to work at mcdonalds and mow lawns.
Pork Barrel Spending by dumbocRAT party stamp
Then end the program.
by giving them a new name to add to their new look.
A handout is a handout is a handout.
Call 'em "vouchers."
While it's still welfare, it will harness one of the sacred cows of liberalism to the yoke of education reform.
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