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You are correct. While no one knows what the person's circumstances are, those circumstances would never suggest that buying steaks, lobster, fancy iced coffees, candy, chips, sodas would be a good and proper use of a handout designed to assist a poor person who would otherwise be going hungry.
BTW, It is called SNAP...
SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
It isn't called the steak lobster and junk food for all program.
If you do not think that it is abuse to use the card to purchase those items, you need help.
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So... I dunno... I guess I'll take a stab. The other day, I was really itching for some Ahi Poke at Suisan... Driving down from Uh Library.
This dude cuts me off, dunno what the Xstreet was in a black four runner all black with super dark tint and jacked up on monster truck rims. Oh well, it's hilo right?
So, he pulls into suisan's parking lot... I get a 1 lbs and some rice... he's in front of me... I see him with a nice block of Ahi... yeah... guess what's in the cashier's hands...yup, an EBT card. I probably wouldn't have made a big deal or thought anything of it...if his ride wasn't better than mine. But, where do people get drive around in 40K dollar new 4 runners, eating Ahi at 18 bucks a lbs... Dunno. makes me want to go get one. Then I too can afford to eat expensive fish and drive my expensive ride.
Joy... Ok, I'll get off my rant...but it feels good to tell someone about it.
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quote:
Originally posted by snorkle
I much prefer to help low income families on welfare than rich fu*ks on welfare like the Waltons.
That's quite funny when you consider that Walmart is a primary beneficiary of EBT.
EBT is a big a form of corporate welfare as it is personal. Perhaps you've missed the commercials extolling the economic benefits of SNAP.
Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com
Ninole Resident
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"Everyone I knew that overcame poverty does not begrudge the help poor people get with our tax dollars".
You spoke for me on this subject Shockwaverider.
When will some people realize that one size does not fit all?. IMHO generalizations and labeling groups of people is a mistake. Just because some people take advantage of EBT is no excuse to label all EBT users as abusing the program. Everybody needs a treat now and then or they risk hopelessness and depression added to an empty frig, ice chest, cupboard.
EBT users are people, individuals, not some sub class of riff raff. They too have Birthdays, and things to celebrate, even if they do have low incomes.Do we want people to wallow in their poverty? Would that solve the EBT problem? I say, let them have a treat , a birthday cake and ice cream for the kids birthdays , or a steak for Dad now and then if that's what they want. Chances are good that meals will be pretty thin towards the end of the month anyway.
I will gladly keep paying taxes if it helps a family, a child, a Grandparent, a worker, a neighbor to eat and even have a treat. Nourishment is essential. Sometimes a nice coffee is essential.
I can tell you from experience that expensive coffees and lobster are not the daily fare. Brown rice and split peas were our main diet til I was able to "overcome poverty", get a degree and start paying back my share through taxes.
To this day, one of my kids carries extra food with him (First Responder) so he can feed hungry kids when he sees their need because he remembers what it was like to be a hungry kid in Hawaii while his parent learned how to earn a living.
Let's have a heart. Walk a mile in their shoes before we judge.
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if you make $1400 or less/ month you QUALIFY for EBT... ie many people w/ jobs get EBT, Hilo has low paying jobs too.... STOP being a putz and always try for connect EBT with homeless looser, many people with real jobs also have EBT....
FYI EBT is for food.... a coffee drink is food, 100% Kona coffee is food, spices are food, gourmet cheese is food, bottles water is food, soda is food, candy is food, an energy drink is food, coffee creamer is food, porterhouse steak is food, caviar is food, etc.
pay attention to your own life... ie get a life dont worry what other are buying with THEIR rightful $$.... aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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My family was on welfare (when it was food stamps) for about a year. We never even thought about buying anything fancy with it. We needed quantity anyway. Had lots of beans and rice. All brands were the cheap store brands. If we got fancy stuff, we'd have to go without. It was actually an embarrassment to me to pay with food stamps. Fortunately, my mother got a decent job and we were able to stop.
I grew up poor and I don't begrudge help to those who need it.
To the person who said to pay my taxes and shut up, all you're doing is making my point in spades.
My opinions are based on my own real life experiences. Can you say the same?
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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I know many people in Puna on EBT, probably 25 at least. 95% are 20-somethings or 30-somethings, unemployed, and getting by with the EBT, work-trading for lodging, many selling pot or doing a few odd jobs for whatever cash they need. Most eat well, shop at the Natch, but drive old wrecks and otherwise live minimally (no frills). From this ongoing discussion I realize they are the minority (not the hard working, multiple jobs folks)- they just happen to be the ones I know. They're joyful, optimistic young people and their "working the system" doesn't bother me for some reason. In my twenties and thirties I too got food stamps for a few years (while working part time jobs)but could never afford anything other than the basics: rice, beans, peanut butter. I can see how if you see folks buy the type of food you yourself can't afford, it would make a negative impression... I guess there will always be a few who abuse the system, but thank god the system is in place for families truly in need.
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If only we were as outraged at corporate welfare as we are about food stamps.
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If only we were as outraged at corporate welfare as we are about food stamps.
The reason we're not as outraged is we're in line at the grocery store with people who aren't too different from ourselves, except they get a few dollars to buy some food once a month.
The corporate welfare kings on the other hand, won't even let us past ground floor security. But they're not in their corner office anyway as they've just deposited a check for tens of millions, and are now on their way to their private Learjet after awarding themselves a million dollar bonus for getting taxpayers to fund the company's operating expenses for another year.
Out of sight, out of mind.
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.”
-Joseph Brodsky
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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