The Great Food Stamp Binge: One can see all about this binge tonight at 10:00 EST on Fox News, but let me tell you that you can see a man discuss some of what you can see in this...

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

One can see all about this binge tonight at 10:00 EST on Fox News, but let me tell you that you can see a man discuss some of what you can see in this video. For instance, there is a surfer "dude", age 29 who neither works or wants to work since he can get food stamps. He can afford to eat lobster for supper more often than most here unless they are food stampers. Very interesting what you can learn from this video.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2595939475001/a-look-at-fox-news-reporting-the-gr

Alicia Loc: NYC

I've been on Food Stamps in the past and I must say that I could not have existed without this assistance. Of course, if one wishes to spend their entire food stamp allotment on one bash, they will not have enough left over to last the balance of the month. Fox News certainly has exaggerated one person's experience. It must have taken them a long time to locate this surfer.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

Alicia wrote:

I've been on Food Stamps in the past and I must say that I could not have existed without this assistance. Of course, if one wishes to spend their entire food stamp allotment on one bash, they will not have enough left over to last the balance of the month. Fox News certainly has exaggerated one person's experience. It must have taken them a long time to locate this surfer.

Are you saying that they had to search really hard to find a man who gets along famously while neither wanting to work or doing so in order to get money to buy food?

I will bet that you are as poorly informed about the SNAP program and it being 80% of the old farm assistance program as most who have tried to make the Congress look bad for dropping SNAP from the Farm Program. Personally I never did understand why it had to be part of the farm assistance program. Do you believe that Republican Congressmen wanted to drop SNAP because they passed a farm program without SNAP in it? I believe that those who think that was heartless and bad will be surprised when they form the new program this fall so it won't have to ride on the backs of farmers.

Alicia Loc: NYC

I also do not understand why both programs had to be included in the same bill. BUT I do believe that the Republican Congress is definitely attempting to get rid of SNAP as they are with every other government plan to aid the poor and unemployed. I read the twisted "reports" and lies that they try to force on the public and do not believe they are looking out for the welfare of this country.
I have lived quite a while and have never witnessed such dirty politics as occurred in these last two elections - especially the latest presidential election. I am ashamed of - and for - them.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

Alicia wrote:

I also do not understand why both programs had to ... (show quote)

I have to agree with you about the nastiness of politics in the last two presidential elections but do believe 2008 would have been worse if McCain had allowed Palin to come back in kind.

Of course, anyone who leans just a bit left doesn't think that the Republicans in the House will try to get SNAP going again but I sure do. My Representative said in the early days of this one that they wanted only to separate the two programs since food stamps were right at 80% of the cost of the Farm Bill. Maybe now we will see more people understanding what is going on and how much SNAP really does cost. It should never have been in the Farm Bill but it was.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

Alicia wrote:

I've been on Food Stamps in the past and I must say that I could not have existed without this assistance. Of course, if one wishes to spend their entire food stamp allotment on one bash, they will not have enough left over to last the balance of the month. Fox News certainly has exaggerated one person's experience. It must have taken them a long time to locate this surfer.

Alicia, maybe you should watch this video about that California surfer so as to see what he is actually doing.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/12/why-does-this-beach-bum-spend-your-tax-dollars-so-he-can-surf-drink-and-score-free-food-year-round-because-its-awesome/

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Alicia wrote:

I've been on Food Stamps in the past and I must say that I could not have existed without this assistance. Of course, if one wishes to spend their entire food stamp allotment on one bash, they will not have enough left over to last the balance of the month. Fox News certainly has exaggerated one person's experience. It must have taken them a long time to locate this surfer.

I believe that most people would not begrudge you assistance in the time of need. The point that Fox is trying to convey is the abuse of the system. They too, I am sure, understand that there are times when people really need a hand up. And, a hand up is entirely different from a hand out. When our youth, physically fit, full of energy would rather take a free ride than enter into the work force there is a problem. It is regrettable that this "surfer dude" is not the abnormally, but his lifestyle has become pervasive in our current society.

I must restate that people who are in temporary need should have a safety net to fall back on, but the net should never become a generational way of existence.

working class stiff Loc: N. Carolina

Here are some facts and figures about the great food stamp binge.

http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/public-assistance-programs/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/snap-myths-realities.aspx

And yes, there are always exceptions that prove the rule.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

working class stiff wrote:

Here are some facts and figures about the great food stamp binge.

http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/public-assistance-programs/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/snap-myths-realities.aspx

And yes, there are always exceptions that prove the rule.

Your link has too much truth in it for many to accept. Also, it is too long for most to bother with. I really think it is an outstanding article.

Now, have you watched the video about the young man who Fox provided? If so is he the exception you are talking about? I think he is far from an exception these days.

working class stiff Loc: N. Carolina

sorry it took so long to respond...work and family and such.
I have watched the video....part of the deal, I check out evidence presented because I want mine checked out...

and yes, I do think the Lobster dude would be an exception. He needs a swift kick in the hiney. And I am not above giving one. Ask my son who started displaying the slacker mentality. Kicked him out, he was homeless for a while, and then his sanity started kicking in again. He has told me that he needed that experience to straighten him out. I'm not a softy.

My fear is that frustration engendered by the abuses of systems of aid for the needy will lead to wholesale shutdowns of those systems. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.