Gohmert: Cutting food stamps not evil because poor people buy king crab legs

[penultimate]

168. Yeah, it happens, but that doesn't mean it's the norm...

My older brother (who is generally a POS...at least he is at this moment) has an EBT card and just the other day he insisted I take him to a specific store so he could buy something. Turns out the store he wanted to go to sells him cigarettes on his EBT card. The asshole clerk marks up the price of everything when people do this though. I do get why some people buy unauthorized goods on their EBT card. I mean, poor people need toilet paper, toothpaste and other such things too. Cigarettes and booze are annoying though. He also is horrible at managing his funds that he gets on the card. It's frustrating to watch him spend the money in the most inefficient and unhealthy ways. It's shame he doesn't listen to anyone's advice either. Usually wouldn't give anyone shit about their personal choices like that, but when his poor planning causes him to have run to people for 'emergency' help/money, it becomes our problem.

Anyway, even though there is some bullshit that goes on with EBT cards, I see it as similar to how I help out my family. For example, my older brother is constantly asking me for money and I do occasionally go without because of his piss poor planning (for example, I just gave him $350 the other day.... I had to cancel my health insurance to do it) Which would be fine, but I know he won't do anything to prevent his need for relying on other people. He'll continue the same behavior and not adjust anything he does.(I know. I know. People always say I should cut him off and all that, but he has my nephew with him) On the other hand, I have a little brother who is actually doing something with his life. He makes an effort to do the right thing most the time and eventually he'll be doing even better. He does occasionally need help from me and other family, and he probably won't be able to pay anyone back at this time. However, the help he gets helps him improve his situation, because he takes steps to move forward. He just needs help right now to do that.

I think most people who are on government assistance fall into the latter category like my little brother. They don't want to continue to be poor, and they want to improve their lives, but they just need some help to get there. I don't think it's fair to punish the good people because some assholes exist.

I think the best way to combat ignorance like this, is to show examples of people who were on government assistance and then used that to time to improve themselves and their lives.