General Discussion

Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts) Wed Jul 11, 2012, 06:39 PM Jul 2012

Poor woman criticized for buying grapes (.99 per pound) and bottled water [View all]

story about a poor woman in Connecticut. Comments following the article are super judgemental as usual. people with tattoos always get a lot of criticism in these type of stories. "where did they get the money for the tattoo?

Connecticut's Ribbon of Hardship
Jodey Lazarus’s brown eyes follow the red grapes down checkout lane 11’s conveyor belt, then focus on the cash register to verify she’s getting the 99¢-a-pound price promised in the weekly ShopRite circular. The bill is just short of $70. Lazarus, 29, takes a breath, drops her gaze and extends her silver state benefits card. The card machine fails to read the damaged magnetic strip. The cashier squints at the numbers.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-05/connecticuts-ribbon-of-hardship

So lets see if I have this right. She buys grapes and bottled water. Owns a Van that appears to be falling apart, but is not setting anything aside to deal with the problem. From my experience, this is what will happen. The belt will give out, no belt, no water pump being pulled by that belt and the engine will over heat and possibly freeze up and stop. She will then need a tow truck to haul it to a service garage to be repaired. But wait, she has no $$ for the repairs, and I doubt she has road service membership. But she does have $$ for grapes and bottled water? The basic problem with people like her is they have no sense of priority.

She's running on a tight budget -- and buying grapes. Do these people completely lack common sense?

82 replies

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Poor woman criticized for buying grapes (.99 per pound) and bottled water [View all] Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 OP

Would those uptight readers preferred she bought Thunderbird & Camels? DJ13 Jul 2012 #1

thank god she wasn't shopping at Whole Foods CatWoman Jul 2012 #2

lol. her $70 wouldn't have gone far at Whole Foods. Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #3

She could very well buy even more at Whole Foods obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #61

Agreed. meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #69

Maybe she was going to spend some time at the park with her children. tanyev Jul 2012 #4

This is why we've got an obesity epidemic in America... Drunken Irishman Jul 2012 #5

You are right. It is sad too. Why do people mind other peoples business. southernyankeebelle Jul 2012 #16

Exactly right. Who gives a shit what someone spends their food stamps on? Drunken Irishman Jul 2012 #22

I figured out my disability 'gravy train' for the Cave. Systematic Chaos Jul 2012 #36

So way less than I thought... Drunken Irishman Jul 2012 #37

I couldn't of said it any better. LOL. I am glad I have never been in that situation. southernyankeebelle Jul 2012 #46

^ Exactly so! ^ Mimosa Jul 2012 #20

What's wrong with grapes and water? eShirl Jul 2012 #6

That's for the wealthy only Duer 157099 Jul 2012 #9

For the poor, it's... pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #10

yes they want the poor to eat cake. southernyankeebelle Jul 2012 #17

I guess grapes are "treats" like cookies and the bottled water - guess she should get it from a tap. haele Jul 2012 #27

It depends on which thread you ask on... hughee99 Jul 2012 #31

Seriously! That's a healthy choice. GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #45

You want the answer? Scootaloo Jul 2012 #51

+1 Blue_Tires Jul 2012 #59

The truth. Quantess Jul 2012 #75

It basically has no nutritional value, beyond some fructose... nt Romulox Jul 2012 #71

They're going to die from eating sausage and no fruits. JackRiddler Jul 2012 #7

Ever drink the water in Connecticut? That, N. NJ and DE are three places I'd get bottled water. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #8

I lived in CT for 20 years. The water was fine and I did shop at ShopRite occasionally. madinmaryland Jul 2012 #13

I never lived in CT, but I passed through there often. The water along 84 stinks. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #33

I drink my water every day from the tap in Terryville, CT. It's just fine. Jennicut Jul 2012 #73

Yes, that really is the point. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #82

I would suggest not drinking water from an Exxon station in Waterbury. madinmaryland Jul 2012 #80

Water's fine in NJ too. smokey nj Jul 2012 #39

The water here in my corner of Connecticut is awesome. NutmegYankee Jul 2012 #50

Yeah. It's good where I am now, but who knows how long that will last with Corbett. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #58

I forgot, there is also Litchfield County! madinmaryland Jul 2012 #81

This only further cements my definition of conservatism - a glorious lack of empathy. Initech Jul 2012 #11

Grapes!? Oh HELL no jberryhill Jul 2012 #12

Shame on her for not behaving in a way that fits the drinking/druggie/ kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #14

Judgmental AND idiots. That's a great price for fruit. Robb Jul 2012 #15

She's not buying cheezy poofs! Texasgal Jul 2012 #18

Yeah, and if she bought cheezy poofs... GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #60

People need to eat fruit. What kind of bullshit is this? craigmatic Jul 2012 #19

Commentators didn't even 'get the point' of the article Mimosa Jul 2012 #21

The problem here is simple. The women eats fruit and lives... demwing Jul 2012 #23

Hahahaha! liberalmuse Jul 2012 #28

yeah, why was she spending money on food instead of a road service membership fishwax Jul 2012 #24

Yes! Her priorities are all wrong! Keep that car running, not yourself! freshwest Jul 2012 #32

It doesn't matter what they buy, some scumfucks will find a reason to criticize Incitatus Jul 2012 #25

Yup, I've seen it happen. n/t A Simple Game Jul 2012 #41

May all those who criticize her... liberalmuse Jul 2012 #26

For me ... my sig line expresses what I believe etherealtruth Jul 2012 #29

They got the money for the tattoos before things went south financially for them treestar Jul 2012 #30

Online comments are stupid? Brickbat Jul 2012 #34

Very sad statement of where we are at when fruit is considered a luxury. gollygee Jul 2012 #35

The grapes of wrath... n/t tabasco Jul 2012 #48

Or, maybe her critics don't consider grapes to be "real food". GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #65

ugh. SammyWinstonJack Jul 2012 #38

Food and water are the number one need of survival. But because she buys food she has her prioritie appleannie1 Jul 2012 #40

What an idiot. The Doctor. Jul 2012 #42

Rice and Beans? HockeyMom Jul 2012 #43

Those selfish idiots think food stamp recipients are living high on the hog meow2u3 Jul 2012 #47

They're just parroting Sean Innanity. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #67

food stamps are no picnic. limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #44

No Baby Forumla either HockeyMom Jul 2012 #74

You can't use food stamps for car repairs nobodyspecial Jul 2012 #49

I was just going to post this obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #63

god, reading the comments sections you can tell who the repukes are... dionysus Jul 2012 #52

Bottled water is a ripoff; the grapes are OK. FarCenter Jul 2012 #53

Maybe she needs it for work obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #64

I doubt that Marriott has that requirement. FarCenter Jul 2012 #70

Maybe. But that's very few people, compared to the working population. She probably just got Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #78

You know, I don't usually get bottled water for environmental reasons gollygee Jul 2012 #72

Isn't the problem that we've created the idea that fresh food is a luxury? dkf Jul 2012 #54

You are right -she's being criticized for buying healthy. But fresh food has always been more $ than Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #79

Sometimes it does a soul good to splurge and get something fresh and wholesome and Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #55

I didn't think about this.... blueamy66 Jul 2012 #62

I'm frugal, so that's what I decided to get years ago. What I do NOW: I bought a Brita pitcher.... Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #77

See what I wrote above you -- she may need it for work obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #66

Maybe she lives in the van? xfundy Jul 2012 #56

"where did they get the money for the tattoo?" JoeyT Jul 2012 #57

Buying fruit and water - she should be given a medal Capt. Obvious Jul 2012 #68

We live in a cruel society, with people who get a thrill out of closeupready Jul 2012 #76