General Discussion

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,223 posts)

178. A friend of mine in Oregon was one of those middle-aged long-term unemployed

Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:43 PM

Jan 2012

After exhausting her other financial resources, she went on food stamps. However, she still had her professional clothes from when she was employed and dressed up when she left the house just for the sake of self-respect.

But people in the grocery line made snide remarks about a well-dressed person making grocery purchases with an Oregon Trail (=food stamps) card.

When I volunteered in Mississippi after Katrina, the Episcopal priest who ran the relief center gave us a stern talking-to at the beginning of our week. He said we could either judge people or serve them. If we thought someone was "taking more than their share," we should stop and think about possible circumstances, such as having a lot of displaced relatives to feed or having no other source of cash or just being so psychologically traumatized that hoarding made them feel better.

I recall that and my friend's story when I'm tempted to judge poor people.

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Anyone upset about food stamps is scum [View all] cthulu2016 Jan 2012 OP

I get upset when someone buys a huge bag of shrimp with food stamps taught_me_patience Jan 2012 #1

Yes, I do. cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #2

I agree. n/t taught_me_patience Jan 2012 #19

I agree with you madokie Jan 2012 #22

You mentioned one very important point regarding the areas of this nation that never came back jwirr Jan 2012 #48

Inner cities and Indian Reservations were doing well before the Great Depression? AngryAmish Jan 2012 #177

Of course you are correct but there was NO effect from the recovery in either of these places. If jwirr Jan 2012 #179

"You are probably upset by some food stamp recipients" NCTraveler Jan 2012 #41

+ 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!! - HUGE K & R !!! WillyT Jan 2012 #116

No, because it keeps the shrimpers in business. glowing Jan 2012 #3

I tend to agree with you, however.... GoCubsGo Jan 2012 #23

That's because there are no shrimp left in America. LOL just kidding. Love that corporate propaganda Zalatix Jan 2012 #57

I think where one lives often determines where the shrimp one is getting.. glowing Jan 2012 #68

Too many people buy into the myth that the majority that are on public assistance abuse it. unapatriciated Jan 2012 #83

+1,000,000 nt nanabugg Jan 2012 #109

I think the opinion you're expressing is short-sighted DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #4

I don't get upset. Maybe it's a special occasion Autumn Jan 2012 #5

+10000000000 etherealtruth Jan 2012 #10

Yep. Maybe it's an anniversary... hunter Jan 2012 #11

Soylent Green vs plankton and soybeans LOL good way to put it Zalatix Jan 2012 #85

Completely, utterly agree. closeupready Jan 2012 #25

I tend to disagree taught_me_patience Jan 2012 #30

A lot of those people on food stamps have, and do pay taxes. Autumn Jan 2012 #35

Shrimp are cheaper than vegetables obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #37

what type of vegetables are you buying?! Maybe if you live on an island. Tunkamerica Jan 2012 #46

Nope obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #72

No, it's true. laundry_queen Jan 2012 #95

well, shrimp here, less than 2 hours from the coast are 10 bucks+ for a smallish bag. Unless you're Tunkamerica Jan 2012 #120

If you can't afford shrimp laundry_queen Jan 2012 #94

Agreed. It's noone's damn business what they buy. Puglover Jan 2012 #130

I was on food stamps for a few months 30 years ago. mysuzuki2 Jan 2012 #8

Oh goodness obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #13

Maybe you should go on food stamps. nt ZombieHorde Jan 2012 #15

Why don't you apply for food stamps? Starry Messenger Jan 2012 #17

So why not call them out on it then? Earth_First Jan 2012 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author Logical Jan 2012 #133

I get upset when some sanctimonious person denigrates the poorest among us... Leftist Agitator Jan 2012 #21

I don't begrudge foodstamps taught_me_patience Jan 2012 #31

Your posts certainly say you begrudge those on foodstamps obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author Bunny Jan 2012 #69

Regardless of what people buy Texasgal Jan 2012 #96

Begrudging a perception is an exercise in absurdity. LanternWaste Jan 2012 #165

They might even own a microwave. woo me with science Jan 2012 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author pamela Jan 2012 #33

I get upset when they drive off in their new Cadillac!11!!1! U4ikLefty Jan 2012 #40

When I was shopping in a supermarket in Miami years ago, RebelOne Jan 2012 #89

Hurry...quick, off to the Newtmobile with that "story"!!! U4ikLefty Jan 2012 #103

You have to be kidding obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #107

It's really none of anybody's business what people use their food stamps for. HappyMe Jan 2012 #47

for one meal blueamy66 Jan 2012 #54

nope unless you are buying... unapatriciated Jan 2012 #84

I get upset when CEOs use welfare dollars to buy corporate jets. Zalatix Jan 2012 #58

They can't either treestar Jan 2012 #59

I don't believe in limiting food stamp recipients to hamburger and canned tuna. haele Jan 2012 #82

In New Orleans or coastal cities where I lived shrimp and seafood were often cheaper than beef! Mimosa Jan 2012 #159

Shrimp on foodstamps? keri555 Jan 2012 #167

I hope you're joking because IT IS THEIR MONEY once it is given to them. rustydog Jan 2012 #170

Who are you to decide what food people can and can't spend their food stamps on? Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2012 #176

I get upset by food stamps Sherman A1 Jan 2012 #6

I begrudge samplegirl Jan 2012 #7

It irks me when people deride other on food stamps because the drive a Cadillac. liberal N proud Jan 2012 #9

Cadillac in "welfare queen" stories 60+ years unc70 Jan 2012 #20

so.....maybe they should sell that Caddy...no matter how they got it blueamy66 Jan 2012 #55

Well said, I know of plenty of welfare recipients driving cars more expensive than Cadillacs Zalatix Jan 2012 #61

Sell a reliable car, that may be paid for to make a purchase and tke on debt? liberal N proud Jan 2012 #63

My comment about welfare recipients was about bankers. Zalatix Jan 2012 #64

The thread is about food stamps liberal N proud Jan 2012 #65

Who said anything about taking on debt? blueamy66 Jan 2012 #74

If the car was paid for that would be a dumb ass move liberal N proud Jan 2012 #80

I beg to differ blueamy66 Jan 2012 #117

Hope you don't regret turning in that Camry... ljm2002 Jan 2012 #121

I've had it for 4 years....no problems, cept for the new brakes blueamy66 Jan 2012 #127

Lucky you - most people don't have that kind of luck buying used cars. liberal N proud Jan 2012 #134

You have waaayyy too much time on your hands blueamy66 Jan 2012 #181

let me add a few of my own. unapatriciated Jan 2012 #168

Riiiiiight!!!! liberal N proud Jan 2012 #62

This message was self-deleted by its author Bunny Jan 2012 #70

Oh please. blueamy66 Jan 2012 #75

: liberal N proud Jan 2012 #81

Please walk a mile in their shoes first. Zalatix Jan 2012 #115

Umm, I use coupons and shop the sales religiously blueamy66 Jan 2012 #118

I never use coupons. hunter Jan 2012 #137

You don't NEED toilet paper? blueamy66 Jan 2012 #160

I can buy 2.3 miles of green certified 100% recycled 2-ply non-Koch Bros. toilet paper for $40 hunter Jan 2012 #164

. unapatriciated Jan 2012 #169

Are you sure you're in the right place? ceile Jan 2012 #166

You do know sales are a rigged game. unapatriciated Jan 2012 #172

Like you're sticking up for a boss that owns a mansion Lars39 Jan 2012 #182

An older "luxury car" might have a low resell value Nikia Jan 2012 #175

K&R! Louisiana1976 Jan 2012 #12

How does anyone know when someone is even using food stamps? obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #14

That's what always kills me about these stories. pamela Jan 2012 #34

Yes, we do blueamy66 Jan 2012 #161

When I was a cashier years ago, before the debit-like cards, you'd have to tell the cashier WIC/EBT. Tunkamerica Jan 2012 #42

I was a grocery store cashier back in those days too. PA Democrat Jan 2012 #73

Correct. That is one of the reasons we moved to the EBT cards. Personal privacy. No longer do we jwirr Jan 2012 #50

Eh, the ones in AZ have a huge cactus on them. blueamy66 Jan 2012 #77

Thanks for telling me. Normally I do not look at what card someone is swiping. Zalatix Jan 2012 #86

Oh please blueamy66 Jan 2012 #87

Since I have also seen that done - I hazard a guess - drugs and alcohol. This also cannot be jwirr Jan 2012 #92

Woah woah, wut? Zalatix Jan 2012 #93

Okay blueamy66 Jan 2012 #119

May I ask how this is done with an EBT card, since there are no "stamps" to tear out? Lars39 Jan 2012 #140

Um, it's easy.... blueamy66 Jan 2012 #145

And that could easily be stopped with the cashier asking for ID. Lars39 Jan 2012 #152

I have an "enormous" (only a slight exaggeration) 15 year old son at home etherealtruth Jan 2012 #154

Naw, not gonna report it blueamy66 Jan 2012 #156

That's what I always wondered tammywammy Jan 2012 #99

Oh yeah? Well, anyone upset about scum Shankapotomus Jan 2012 #16

don't get me started on scum stamps Enrique Jan 2012 #26

Agreed. closeupready Jan 2012 #24

K & R! Wind Dancer Jan 2012 #28

Always the first thing on the list Prophet 451 Jan 2012 #29

It's the only thing ignorant, hateful scum talk about.... redqueen Jan 2012 #32

And it is nothing new over here. You know we have this lie called the American Dream and when jwirr Jan 2012 #51

It's not really about food stamps Matariki Jan 2012 #36

And everybody "knows" somebody who's abusing the system. BiggJawn Jan 2012 #39

Do people really look at what other people are buying? And what they use to pay for it? ScreamingMeemie Jan 2012 #43

Well, you know how there's always some people who can never mind their own business TheCruces Jan 2012 #45

Come on...you're waiting in line blueamy66 Jan 2012 #56

Come on...I'm waiting in line, looking at the covers of the tabloids. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2012 #66

Not entertaining, just curious. blueamy66 Jan 2012 #78

Mine would bore you to death. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2012 #88

what, ya got a bunch of TP and paper towels???? blueamy66 Jan 2012 #91

This message was self-deleted by its author Bunny Jan 2012 #71

NEVER, EVER??? blueamy66 Jan 2012 #79

Sure, I've looked at people's carts Texasgal Jan 2012 #97

I may look at what's on the conveyor belt, but I don't inspect how they're paying for stuff. tammywammy Jan 2012 #101

Yeah you do blueamy66 Jan 2012 #128

Think what you want tammywammy Jan 2012 #131

read upthread blueamy66 Jan 2012 #135

I think it's none of your business what someone on SNAP buys or what they drive tammywammy Jan 2012 #141

Yeah, they're borrowing a Caddy from a friend blueamy66 Jan 2012 #143

I'm not the one inspecting fellow shoppers payment and making judgments on them. tammywammy Jan 2012 #146

I do worry about my own finances blueamy66 Jan 2012 #148

I'm not the one railing about Cadillac driving food stamp queens tammywammy Jan 2012 #149

It appears that not buying in to "welfare queen" assertions etherealtruth Jan 2012 #150

Well, hey, let everyone do their own thing, no? blueamy66 Jan 2012 #157

Jeeze, I don't want you any where near me when I grocery shop etherealtruth Jan 2012 #142

yeah, I'm scarrryyyyy blueamy66 Jan 2012 #144

Seriously ... you don't see your behavior as reprehensible? etherealtruth Jan 2012 #147

no shoulder to look over blueamy66 Jan 2012 #162

so let me get this right..... unapatriciated Jan 2012 #173

I wonder what the banksters are eating on after they got that 7 trillion dollar bailout? gort Jan 2012 #44

exactly shanti Jan 2012 #52

PA. is cutting food stamps to households with more than $2,000 in assets (other than house and cars JPZenger Jan 2012 #49

It's hard to imagine... 99Forever Jan 2012 #53

Feeding people is the right thing to do.... Allowing insider trading is not.. midnight Jan 2012 #60

Call me scum all you want! I'm upset that not enough people have access and most of those that do TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #67

Yes they are quinnox Jan 2012 #76

I would prefer we gave people actual food instead of money to buy food Neue Regel Jan 2012 #90

Why? Texasgal Jan 2012 #100

You raise an interesting point Neue Regel Jan 2012 #105

Show me one family on food stamps who has a "middle class lifestyle" obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #108

how do you suggest Texasgal Jan 2012 #110

By giving them food, not money Neue Regel Jan 2012 #114

It is vastly more expensive to distribute food quaker bill Jan 2012 #122

We apparently owe them very little, given what we do. quaker bill Jan 2012 #123

I am middle class and I LOOK AT PRICES blueamy66 Jan 2012 #129

Really quaker bill Jan 2012 #158

There is very little fraud obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #102

Very little fraud? I think that statement is open for debate Neue Regel Jan 2012 #104

Your post proved there's very little fraud obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #106

Actually, the article says it's "below 4 percent" Neue Regel Jan 2012 #111

Nope, keep on digging, New Rule obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #125

You keep on proving that fraud is very low. Good job! FarLeftFist Jan 2012 #155

We did that in the Reagan years..... unapatriciated Jan 2012 #174

The majority of RW'ers... SHRED Jan 2012 #98

that is truth Lex Jan 2012 #112

Judgmental idiots pass judgment. flvegan Jan 2012 #113

A friend of mine in Oregon was one of those middle-aged long-term unemployed Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2012 #178

If more people are on food stamps, its because of the George W. Bush Recession anyway. phleshdef Jan 2012 #124

This is one of the most interesting threads I have seen on DU NNN0LHI Jan 2012 #126

I have always believed the quote I use in my signature line etherealtruth Jan 2012 #132

oh please blueamy66 Jan 2012 #136

I know no such thing etherealtruth Jan 2012 #138

oh... The Midway Rebel Jan 2012 #139

I appreciate your thoughts blueamy66 Jan 2012 #163

It is not that I think that is OK... The Midway Rebel Jan 2012 #180

My Mother Worried senior Jan 2012 #151

After reading through the responses to your OP etherealtruth Jan 2012 #153

Happy to rec this post - TBF Jan 2012 #171

K&R! mvd Jan 2012 #183