<p>For the few of you who have offered negative comments, I think you completely missed the point of the earliest points. You have no idea what that woman was doing with a Starbucks coffee, or how she may have received it. I regularly receive Border’s and Starbucks’ cards for birthdays and Christmas. So yes, on occasion, I buy books instead of borrowing them and I buy expensive, glorified milk shakes. It’s not a crime. Like other posters have stated, we really have no idea how or why the woman had a Starbucks - or for that reason, why anyone on federal assistance purchases luxuries. Not to mention that one person’s luxury is another person’s staple! I, for example, would think it a luxury to buy shrimp. The younger girl I tutor benefits from a seafood-heavy diet because of a bowel condition. If her mother were on food stamps, would you criticize them for buying shrimp?</p>
<p>applicannot makes a good point about the gift cards and whatnot. I know I give gift cards a lot, instead of cash. Probably the cash would be more useful…though, now that I think of it. Someone could buy a coffee AND a book to read. ;)</p>
<p>I think it just makes some people feel better to pass judgement and be in <em>control</em> of their tax dollars. Sort of reminds me of the old farmers who get up at school board meetings and want to know why teachers need construction paper.</p>
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<p>How come? I don’t get it.</p>
<p>Regarding the food stamp/luxury issue, no, I can’t imagine being critical of what someone purchases with their food stamps in a grocery line.
There, but for fortune, go you or I.</p>
<p>I give Starbuck’s cards to everyone and their grandmother. Doesn’t have anything to do with wealth or lifestyle. Just means that person has crossed my path in some fashion.</p>
<p>
Well I generally hate supermarket restrooms . . .</p>
<p>We have a German deli that sells deli meats and cheese, some crackers and cookies (pricey ones I might add), and makes sandwiches. A few years ago my office was near there. I usually brought lunch from home, but once a month I might get a sandwich. Because the deli sold “groceries” so to speak, they could accept food stamps. And they did. It was interesting to see someone spend $10 on a lunch sandwich and chips and a drink, when that $10 could feed a family of 4 for lunch at my house. Sometimes they would spend $15 on lunch for one, getting a sandwich, 2 sides, chips and a big drink. And because the deli was the only sandwich shop that took food stamps, they did a brisk business.</p>
<p>I have several Starbucks gift cards that I have not used because I hate to carry cups of coffee and walking at the same time. But I absolutely endorse everything that applicannot says.
It’s actually very expensive being poor. If you live in a small room or a homeless shelter, you can’t cook nutritious meals from scratch; your don’t have either the storage or cooking facilities. So you end up eating prepared food that is less nutritious and more expensive (see Sunnyflorida’s post). People who live in low income areas and lack transport pay more for their groceries than the middle-class folks who can drive to Costco. And if you buy from Cotsco, you need space to store your bulk purchases.
If we’re going to pass judgment on how others use “our” tax dollars, should I go around looking at how “my” dollars are helping people with big mortgages and big mortgage deductions? how students who are on financial aid spend their money? And how about Viagra on “my” tax dollars? And so on and so forth.</p>
<p>I understand the need for people to use their food stamps for prepared foods, but I question the venues where they are able to use them. Dominos? I would like to see something along the lines of the WIC program. Cheerios, yes. Captain Crunch, no. Subway, yes. Dominos, no.</p>
<p>We can’t judge a single circumstance because we don’t know the details…the person could work at Starbucks and get free coffee or have been given a gift cert. </p>
<p>However, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow over repetitive misuses of limited income and then using tax payer money to pay for necessities. Few wouldn’t be annoyed to see someone use limited funds to chain-smoke cigarettes and regularly go bar-hopping, but then insist on needing public money for food. To think that some regularly spend $60+ per week on cigarettes, while claiming that they can’t buy cereal for their kids’ breakfast is a bit sickening. </p>
<p>That said…everyone…everyone…needs an **occasional **splurge - just for their mental health! For my aunt (single mom raising 4 kids on her own), it was bowling with friends every other Tuesday (my mom gave her the money & would babysit). However, if my aunt had started going bowling everyday, my mom would have said something.</p>
<p>Re post 28: That’s assuming that both are in equally accessible locations for people on WIC!
Frankly, I don’t think we should be in the business of telling people what they should eat, or where. Leave that to Jamie Oliver and Michele Obama.</p>
<p>So, do you don’t think WIC approved cereals are a good idea?</p>
<p>Recommended? Yes. Limited to? no.
In fact, the whole food stamp program has been designed not to benefit low income people but agribusiness, which is why certain types of food can be purchased on food stamps and not others. I am leery of any type of program that supposedly is good for the recipient but in fact is designed to benefit big companies.</p>
<p>I think people need to lay-off judging people just because they think they have some right, just because the other person is getting assistance.</p>
<p>I am a mom that is married with three kids. Do I work part-time? Yes at my college. Does my husband work? Yes full-time at Wal-Mart. Do I receive Pell? Yes. Do my kids get assistance? Yes reduced lunch and state insurance that I pay a premium on every month.</p>
<p>Do I buy my school books used? Yes most of the time. Do I feel ashamed because they are used? Heck no. Do I buy new books? When I have to. Do I spend a little money on myself once a month? Yes, a hair cut, get my nails done, and one billiards tournament, 50 dollars total.</p>
<p>Should I feel ashamed that I spend a little money on myself to do something that brings me a little joy and helps me feel a little less stressed? I sure don’t think so. And I would never judged someone else for doing a little something here and there that brings them a bit a joy.</p>
<p>Oh and by the way I also have a prepaid cell phone as well. Because, ya know, I have three young kids with issues and the school needs to be in contact with me at any time. Oh and my kids get a discount for the boys and girls club so they can attend after school and on breaks.</p>
<p>So all you judging people have fun with this post.</p>
<p>I am not judging. I am just suggesting that offering healthy choices can benefit everyone in the long run.</p>
<p>1moremom I was not talking about you. Yes there are kinks in the program that need to be addressed. Yes the programs help people get food but not good food that is healthy for you. </p>
<p>Lets say the average family of 3 on food stamps gets 300 dollars a month. Now lets say that with that amount they only get fresh food and chicken. How far do you think that will go? I am guessing 2 weeks if you are lucky. Now I can take that 300 hundred and feel my family of 5 for almost 3 weeks, 4 if I really stretch it. True it might not be all fresh veggies and whole grain rice. But it is a home cooked meal and not fast food or frozen food every night of the week.</p>
<p>My daughter has really gotten on my case for being judgmental of late, and I’ve turned it into a bit of a challenge. So when I start to feel judgmental, I try to think of as many reasons as possible why whatever it is could be legitimate.</p>
<p>So a woman on food stamps is drinking Starbucks coffee?
*A friend gave it to her
*She works at Starbucks
*She’s reusing the cup</p>
<p>A woman on food stamps is buying a steak?
*It’s on sale for less than hamburger (yep–at my grocery last week)
*She’s buying the steak at the request of her next door neighbor, who’s 80 and can’t drive, and then cooking it for her to share with her family
*She just likes steak and buys a small one once a month</p>
<p>That healthy-looking person is parking in the handicapped space:
*He has asthma or emphysema
*He’s in chemotherapy
*His handicapped wife is lying down, asleep in the back seat, while he runs into the store.</p>
<p>That person just let their dog s*** on my lawn and didn’t pick it up:
*She has a bad back
*She’s just had a fight with her husband and didn’t even notice what the dog was doing</p>
<p>It’s amazing how much better I feel since I decided just to let the anger go. Who cares? The ONLY behavior I can control is my own.</p>
<p>So, interesting that some people responded by reasonable, thought provoking comments and others were defensive. I know that I was being judged just for my question and being told I have no right judging others. I thought that was fascinating being told not to judge others while being judged myself. I guess I didn’t think about all of the scenerios that could be the reason for the Starbucks and that will make me question any judgements I might be inclined to make a little more.</p>
<p>But, let’s change the scenerio a little. What if you where at the grocery store and saw someone who weighed 300 pounds buying donuts and cookies. Would people be so quick to defend the overweight person?</p>
<p>In fact, the whole food stamp program has been designed not to benefit low income people but agribusiness, which is why certain types of food can be purchased on food stamps and not others. I am leery of any type of program that supposedly is good for the recipient but in fact is designed to benefit big companies.</p>
<p>THIS^</p>
<p>It is sad that with all the government waste that occurs, we should focus on one person " possibly" misusing ( in our oh so wise opinion), a couple bucks, rather than on the programs that misuse hundreds of thousands or even billions of dollars?</p>
<p>I prefer to get a bigger bang for my *****( rhymes with witch)</p>
<p>I reuse paper coffee cups, perhaps I am going someplace and want to be able to toss it.
Starbucks also has hot water & you can get a big cup of water and a tea bag- plus they also sell drip, which is what H usually gets, cause it is better than their " espresso".</p>
<p>But seriously- of all the things to judge others on- it seems small.
Think big!</p>
<p>[Food</a> subsidies, in graphic form](<a href=“http://www.vegblog.org/archive/2010/03/05/food-subsidies-in-graphic-form/]Food”>http://www.vegblog.org/archive/2010/03/05/food-subsidies-in-graphic-form/)</p>
<p>Would people be so quick to defend the overweight person?</p>
<p>Note that fruit and vegetables are subsidized at a 0.37% rate,
while meat and dairy ( high fat- high cal), are subsidized at 73.80%
Grains ( often found in processed form), subsidized at 13.23%
Sugar oils, starch and alcohol, subsidized at 10.69%</p>
<p>So why should anyone be surprised that the poor in America are overweight and undernourished?</p>
<p>My answer to post 37 is MYOB.
My answer to post 38 is: I agree totally.
If we want to do something about our misused tax dollars, why not go after Halliburton and other military contractors instead of some poor person who has the gall to spend $2.00 on fancy coffee?</p>
<p>bobmom, I know I would be much tougher on the overweight person if I noticed and if the person was actually eating the junk. Buying? I don’t think I’d care, but if eating, I might give a look. My husband is 100 pounds overweight and his health is starting to suffer as a result, so I’d bring my own worries and anger with me on my journey and think of the loved ones of the person. Doesn’t make it correct, but sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves about our own biases and baggage.</p>