Here's my take on food stamps and such..

I was brought up with both parents working.. Did we always eat healthy? No. There were many nights of tv dinners, sloppy joes, hamburgers, ham sandwiches, etc..

We maybe had steak once every other month.. Same thing for seafood, but only during the summer.. That's because my father worked in Louisiana and he'd stop for fresh shrimp or crawfish every so often. Unless we went fishing and caught our own fish..

I say this because I was raised believing certain foods are a luxury. When a cut of meat costs more than what it would take to feed a family of four burgers, that's a luxury. When a pound of food costs more than what it costs to feed kids lunches for a week that's a luxury.

It's like air conditioning.. Sure it's nice to have, but you don't need it to survive. It's a luxury.

The argument saying that people need steak and seafood to survive is as ridiculous as saying that a pizza place will cater a wedding. It's nonsense. Stop it. Food stamps are meant to be able to feed a family that cannot make ends meet. I don't have a problem if they buy cheap cuts of meat that can feed the whole family or if they buy something like tilapia I don't have an issue. But you can't tell me someone needs ribeyes, KC/NY strips, sirloins, T-bones, shrimp, crawfish, snapper, Ahi Tuna to survive.

Don't start with don't they deserve to treat themselves.. Yes you deserve to treat yourself.. You work hard you should reward yourself from time to time.

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 10:55 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 10:52 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 10:48 AM)VA49er Wrote:  There are limits on what folks can buy using the WIC program. Why can't there be limits on what folks can purchase using food stamps?

W.I.C. has limits so that families can make healthy choices.

Steak is certainly a healthy choice and therefore would not be excluded from food stamps under a similar program.

So in other words families aren't smart enough to make healthy choices on their own, right?

We're making the argument that some families aren't smart enough to make healthy financial choices with other people's money on their own.

When you see kids walking around in Air Jordan's and smart phones while living in the public housing it's not up for debate if they are smart.

The smart thing is not buying $4,000.00 rims on a car and eating at Checkers while your kids have ZERO money for college!

No need to expand the discussion, some here are having a hard enough time understanding that those on assistance should be making that assistance go as far as possible instead of complaining they don't receive more in handouts.

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

(04-10-2015 11:07 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

What the hell is a "7 bone" steak?


I live in NC


edit.

Never mind, just googled it. That chuck and its hardly worth eating. Tough and full of gristle.


Steak around here means T-bone, filet, NY Strip, or at bare minimum sirloin.

(04-10-2015 09:50 AM)oliveandblue Wrote:  I don't consider buying lesser cuts of beef and seafood to be an abuse of the food stamp system. People need a realistic diet to stay healthy and avoid excessive hospital bills.

This is a classic example of how conservatives make a very good point - but then execute a "solution" to the problem in such a way that completely alienates most of the moderates (and therefore loses them an election).

I'm going to say I"m in agreement with OnB on this one. I don't have a problem with people buying "higher end" food if they're on EBT. It's still food.

But some EBT'ers need to use common sense... Want Steak? Er... maybe you should just get Pork Steaks or lesser quality grade chuck.

Now the alcohol and cigarettes and lottery tickets. (Lottery Tickets got so bad being bought on EBT that a lot of the convenience stories have added "cash only" notifications for their lottery ticket sales). Those I have no problem with those getting banned.

Now the other current proposal i do have a problem with is the Maine proposal. Basically, it was a proposal to say "no work, no EBT". It didn't even include a provision to say you were for _looking_ for work (to my knowledge.. if anyone has seen otherwise, let me know). It had a provision saying you had to "volunteer or be working at least 20 hours".

If you can afford to spend your benefits on such high priced items, then you can afford to have your benefits decreased.

(04-10-2015 11:11 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:07 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

What the hell is a "7 bone" steak?


I live in NC


edit.

Never mind, just googled it. That chuck and its hardly worth eating. Tough and full of gristle.


Steak around here means T-bone, filet, NY Strip, or at bare minimum sirloin.

You must be on food stamps. I can't afford that shite.

(04-10-2015 11:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  If you can afford to spend your benefits on such high priced items, then you can afford to have your benefits decreased.

That is it in a nutshell.

If you are on assistance, buy any food you want. And then we will constantly scan the items purchased against your card, and if they are deemed excessive, we will reduce or eliminate your assistance. You get assistance to put basic food items on the table for your family if you are in need. You dont get assistance to live and eat better than those providing you with assistance.

(04-10-2015 11:26 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  You must be on food stamps. I can't afford that shite.

I work my ass off and I eat steak no more than once every other week but if i wanted I could eat them every week since it's my money and I'm not taking a handout.

(04-10-2015 11:27 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  If you can afford to spend your benefits on such high priced items, then you can afford to have your benefits decreased.

That is it in a nutshell.

If you are on assistance, buy any food you want. And then we will constantly scan the items purchased against your card, and if they are deemed excessive, we will reduce or eliminate your assistance. You get assistance to put basic food items on the table for your family if you are in need. You dont get assistance to live and eat better than those providing you with assistance.

How is meat not a basic food item?

(04-10-2015 11:30 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:27 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  If you can afford to spend your benefits on such high priced items, then you can afford to have your benefits decreased.

That is it in a nutshell.

If you are on assistance, buy any food you want. And then we will constantly scan the items purchased against your card, and if they are deemed excessive, we will reduce or eliminate your assistance. You get assistance to put basic food items on the table for your family if you are in need. You dont get assistance to live and eat better than those providing you with assistance.

How is meat not a basic food item?

There are lower priced meats than expensive cuts of steaks and seafood.

(04-10-2015 09:41 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I got my titty in a wringer this week over something kind of like this. My Sister in law is up and she bought some snacks for the kids. She had Great Value cheese crackers and I like Cheez Its. I thought my wife bought them so when I reached into the pantry I yelled who in the heck bought the cheapo crackers. Not realizing it was just my in laws trying to help out. Felt bad. Beggars shouldn't be choosers but I can see both sides of it. Who are you to tell me what i can buy. Either we have food stamps or we don't. You let the recipients choose or priortize. I can honestly see both sides of this.

My God, you're such a little b!tch.

Do we allow people to make decisions for themselves or not? Deciding which foods are cheap enough or healthy enough is arbitrary and a fool's errand.

I wait until Earth Fare has their grass fed beef on sale. I bought a whole tenderloin and had them cut into filet medallions for like $80.

(04-10-2015 11:07 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

That's a Chuck. We're not discussing chuck. We're pretty clearly talking about blowing someone else's money on Porterhouse or T-bone, frozen brazilian lobster tails or king crab or ocean scallops or something @ 14.99 a lb.

This "playing" dumb routine grows old after a while. Unless, of course you're not playing.

Oh, and whoever mentioned the imported shrimp, uh yea. No. Nothing from China, Indonesia etc. uh unh.

FWIW I checked the Constitution and I can't find the section of it that makes steak and seafood a right in this country.

Maybe I missed it, so here's a link to transcript provided by the government. Read it and if I did please correct me.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charter...cript.html


FWIW I would love to eat more steak and seafood, but I'm retired and have to work part-time to supplement that income primarily to pay taxes so that poor people can eat steak and seafood.

(04-10-2015 11:55 AM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:07 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

That's a Chuck. We're not discussing chuck. We're pretty clearly talking about blowing someone else's money on Porterhouse or T-bone, frozen brazilian lobster tails or king crab or ocean scallops or something @ 14.99 a lb.

This "playing" dumb routine grows old after a while. Unless, of course you're not playing.

Oh, and whoever mentioned the imported shrimp, uh yea. No. Nothing from China, Indonesia etc. uh unh.

It's difficult to find US shrimp in the North East.

(04-10-2015 11:56 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  FWIW I checked the Constitution and I can't find the section of it that makes steak and seafood a right in this country.

Maybe I missed it, so here's a link to transcript provided by the government. Read it and if I did please correct me.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charter...cript.html

You need to read it again.

It's in the same section that mandates free birth control and forces people to have health insurance.

(04-10-2015 11:36 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  Do we allow people to make decisions for themselves or not? Deciding which foods are cheap enough or healthy enough is arbitrary and a fool's errand.

Don't bash the FIRST LADY now .....

(04-10-2015 11:58 AM)NewJersey GATA Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:55 AM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:07 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:05 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 11:01 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I bought 2 NY Strips a month ago. It was the first steak I had in about 8 months.

I grilled a London Broil last night. That is about as expensive cut as I choose to buy now. It BTW is a choice. Steak is simply outrageously price now. Those on food stamps should also choose to leave it in the store.

I have no problem limiting the choices of those that are on the public dole.

NY Strip is about the cheapest cut of meat that's worth a damn now, and I think it's about $8/pound.

I usually buy thick cut london broils and cut into steaks when I want more than hamburger. It's nothing but flank steak, but cut thick enough and seasoned well it's pretty good on the grill.

Where in the world do you live?

Around here, you can get "7 bone" steak for under $3 a pound.

That's a Chuck. We're not discussing chuck. We're pretty clearly talking about blowing someone else's money on Porterhouse or T-bone, frozen brazilian lobster tails or king crab or ocean scallops or something @ 14.99 a lb.

This "playing" dumb routine grows old after a while. Unless, of course you're not playing.

Oh, and whoever mentioned the imported shrimp, uh yea. No. Nothing from China, Indonesia etc. uh unh.

It's difficult to find US shrimp in the North East.

Understood. Not to derail the thread, but you just need to vacation in NC during summer. Buy 10#'s of fresh white NC shrimp, vac seal them and freeze. That'll hold ya for a while.


That other stuff? As mentioned, do the google on that and it's not all hype and "hit" pieces. I know folks in the industry...