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The Food-Stamp Crime Wave
WSJ ^

Posted on 07/11/2011 8:57:37 AM PDT by STJPII

The number of food-stamp recipients has soared to 44 million from 26 million in 2007. Not surprisingly, fraud and abuse are rampant..Millionaires are now legally entitled to collect food stamps as long as they have little or no monthly income. Thirty-five states have abolished asset tests for most food-stamp recipients. These and similar "paperwork reduction" reforms advocated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are turning the food-stamp program into a magnet for abuses and absurdities.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


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To: STJPII
ENTITLEMENTS
21 posted on 07/11/2011 9:35:47 AM PDT by FrankR ("If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat." - R. Reagan)
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To: Monterrosa-24
Why are there so many redundent programs: WIC, Welfare, Food-Stamps, Free School meals, etc.???

A multiplicity of programs, at multiple levels(federal, state,local) makes it easier to hide the grand total. If all the programs were identified and the grand total was calculated and widely published, public support for welfare would diminish. So they hide bits and pieces.

Also, when you have lots of little programs, it makes the local Democrat ward leader more valuable. He knows all the little programs, and can make sure you get your paperwork in for each. All he demand in return is that you support him at election time.

Thirdly, each program requires a multitude of government workers to administer it, the vast majority of whom are reliable Democrats. The various programs become jobs programs for people who would never get hired in the private sector.

22 posted on 07/11/2011 9:46:01 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (In the land of the pigs, the butcher is king.)
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To: neefer
You'd think the enemedia would at least try to find someone who'd fit the part, wouldn't you?

Maybe they can't, but I've noticed the same thing. Every "poor" person drives a late model car and has a 50" flat screen television in their government housing. Meanwhile, people like me who drive 14 year old cars with nearly 200,000 miles on them and watch an old CRT type television are expected to pay more in taxes to support the moochers.

Some years ago, my wife and I volunteered to take in six foster kids from a family friend who was undergoing some legal problems not of his own making. We're not wealthy, and I thought it only fair to try to get some food assistance for kids our family friend was doing his best to provide for with all of his money being taken by the crooked court system and lawyers. He eventually got the problems straightened out after being financially drained by the system and we were happy to do what we could to help out-- but it would have been more work getting food assistance from the kids than it would have been worth.

The man didn't want his family broken up and nobody "approved" by the authorities would take all six kids. It would have taken us months to get through their stupid approval process and we probably would have been turned down because our house was too small and we put three kids to a bedroom. Nasty us.

23 posted on 07/11/2011 9:55:23 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: neefer

My wife saw someone buying margarita mix with food stamps. A few weeks ago I was behind someone buying loose candy by the bagfulls. Came to $109, you guessed it. Payed for it with food stamps.


24 posted on 07/11/2011 9:59:18 AM PDT by dis.kevin (Dry white toast)
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To: STJPII

“Thirty-five states have abolished asset test”

From the USDA website, sounds like you can have a home and lot, but not more than $2,000 (or $3,000) in a bank account.

“Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account, or $3000 in countable resources if at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled. However, certain resources are NOT counted, such as a home and lot..”


25 posted on 07/11/2011 10:00:50 AM PDT by Cedar
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To: mvpel
So someone should have to sell their car and house immediately after getting laid off just so their family won't go hungry?

Of course not. You (generic you, not you personally) start using that 3 to 6 months emergency fund you set aside. You know, that one that you were able to afford by buying a smaller house with a 15 year mortgage and a cheap used car. Oh, what? You're house poor because you bought a house at the top of what you qualified for and are having trouble making your $600 car payment and are living paycheck to paycheck? And never put anything away for a rainy day? I mean, ipads and 55" TVs are expensive. Throw in the new brand name wardrobe for the kids each fall and eating out every other day, and who can get ahead in this economy? Well, I guess that means it's up to me to feed my family and yours. While, of course, I drive my 9 year old car and continue to leave beneath my means (which would be a lot easier if I wasn't supporting multiple families) and save to pay off my house 6 years early (which means in 9 years) which I hope to be able to do by buying a house worth half of what the bank wanted to give us.

26 posted on 07/11/2011 10:16:26 AM PDT by tnlibertarian (Don't mend SS, end it.)
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To: Williams
Yep, free cell phones are a big big entitlement now. People are afraid to point fingers and actually deny “poor people” anything. Poor people are driving new suv’s, carrying Gucci bags, free cell phones standard. This is NOT an exaggeration. It’s everyday experience.

So true. And, they get all their "Obammy Stash" disguised as "credit/debit cards"...so you and I won't see it.

27 posted on 07/11/2011 10:16:33 AM PDT by Jane Long (2 Chron 7:14)
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To: ml/nj

its is one thing to help out on the short term, another to raise generations on it


28 posted on 07/11/2011 10:25:42 AM PDT by SF_Redux (Sarah stands for accountablility and personal responsiblity, democrats can't live with that)
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To: STJPII

White middle class America accumulated enormous wealth following WWII. That wealth must be, and is, being transferred to those of the coalition of blacks, homosexuals, illegal aliens, non Christians etc. who are taking control of our country. It is a sack that has not yet turned violent. However, The Third World leadership could lose control and the transfer could become violent; witness the recent flash mobs looting legitimate businesses.


29 posted on 07/11/2011 10:27:03 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

“It is a sack that has not yet turned violent.”

####

It is us white Christians, from whom the honestly earned largesse is being stolen, that need to deploy the violence.

High time, and long overdue.


30 posted on 07/11/2011 10:31:26 AM PDT by EyeGuy (2012: When the Levee Breaks)
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To: All

b


31 posted on 07/11/2011 10:47:04 AM PDT by Maverick68
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To: All

b


32 posted on 07/11/2011 10:47:58 AM PDT by Maverick68
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To: STJPII
The easiest way to put an end to food stamp abuse is to deny it to any mother (for her children) unless she positively identifies the father of the children and it proved with DNA analysis.

The "poor mothers" currently in far to many cases will not name the father. One can guess the reason for this, but my gut feeling is because he is right at home spending the food stamp proceeds.

33 posted on 07/11/2011 10:52:55 AM PDT by CharacterCounts (November 4, 2008 - the day America drank the Kool-Aid)
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To: fnord

That’s how I look at it. Similar to Social Security. However I realize that with the HUGE number of able-bodied adults on SSI Disability I will likely never receive my Social Security payments. The SSI Disability cheats have stolen it already.


34 posted on 07/11/2011 10:55:23 AM PDT by Justa
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To: Vigilanteman

That’s a sweet story. I’ve thought about taking in foster kids but I don’t think I could deal with the system or having to part with them when the time came.


35 posted on 07/11/2011 11:08:39 AM PDT by neefer (Because you can't starve us out and you can't make us run.)
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To: dis.kevin

How could she even tell? Was she able to read the EBT card and see it wasn’t a credit card?

“Food stamps” don’t actually exist anymore, they were replaced by debit cards to remove the “stigma”


36 posted on 07/11/2011 11:13:47 AM PDT by nascarnation
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To: dis.kevin

that is why I always argue against giving out money - it creates this situation where you we want to restrict the liberty of someone once they get the money.

make welfare houses instead of giving money out. big dorm with bunk beds and serve eggs and toast for breakfast and creamed beef and toast for dinner. in between you cook or clean and do assigned tasks. watch how quick people get on their feet without margarita mix and candy.


37 posted on 07/11/2011 11:15:49 AM PDT by rokkitapps ( Hearings on healthcare waivers NOW! (If you agree make this your tagline))
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To: Former Proud Canadian

Don’t forget SWAT teams.


38 posted on 07/11/2011 11:15:55 AM PDT by hawkboy
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To: Monterrosa-24

“The more people who become government dependents, the more likely that democracy will become a conspiracy against self-reliance.”


39 posted on 07/11/2011 11:18:56 AM PDT by griswold3 (Character is Destiny)
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To: STJPII

My son and I were behind a Spanish women with 4 anchor babies who bought 6 swordfish steaks, a pound or two of shrimp, all sorts of other delicacies. Of course with 30 items on the 12 items or less line couldn’t speak a lick of English and paid for it all, over 100 dollars worth with her snap card. (SNAP card is so they don’t feel bad with food stamps)


40 posted on 07/11/2011 11:31:47 AM PDT by shoff (Cuomo is going to change the NY state motto from Excelsior to elixir (cause we bought it)
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