A bill proposed by Missouri Rep. Rick Brattin (R-55) to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their benefits to purchase seafood is part of a longstanding effort by conservative politicians to stigmatize the poor. Brattin’s proposed Missouri House Bill 813, would prohibit SNAP beneficiaries from using their EBT card to purchase “cookies, chips, energy drinks, soft drinks, seafood, or steak”.
While it may be understandable that lawmakers might want to ban taxpayer dollars being spent on food that has no nutritional value like soda, energy drinks, and cookies, the justification for banning seafood is far more dubious. Furthermore, the rationale for banning specific types of food is based more in right-wing mythology about the poor people eating lavishly off of SNAP (more commonly referred to by critics as “food stamps”) benefits than it is based on any objective reality.
The reality is that, on average, SNAP recipients actually make healthier grocery decisions than most American with higher incomes. This, however, has not stopped Republicans from making outlandish claims about spotting EBT card users making lavish purchases in the checkout aisle.
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15 comments:
Gov Hogan your up.....
Aw, man.. you mean they won't be able to get free lobster and crab legs any more?
Crap. That ain't fair.
Must be part of that 'white privilege' thing.
If I as a taxpayers cant afford to purchase a bushel of jumbo crabs and pounds of extra large steamed shrimp and porterhouse steaks once or more a month than neither should they be since I am paying for their benefits with my tax dollars. I don't mind the occasional soft drink, cookie or chips especially for the kids.
There are alot of SNAP steamed crabs eaten in Maryland, that alot of working class people can't afford. Part of the reason that the working class people can't afford them, is they had to pay for the nonworking individuals to get theirs!
"...is part of a longstanding effort by conservative politicians to stigmatize the poor."
Really?
Stigmatize the lazy freeloaders that vote dumbocrat maybe.
Fat boys exploits the hell out of this. Crabs and luxurious foods....hell no. But fish only....I can agree with.
@2:33
Exploits? Nobody at Fat Boys is forcing the needy to spend money on food that I cannot afford. Who is giving them the money to spend to begin with? That is probably where the exploiting is taking place. Stealing my money to give to bums.
Republicans making outlandish claims? I'm sure the idiot that made that statement is a democrat and would be just fine with them buying lobster at 10 dollars a pound or crabs at 100 dollars a bushel.I don't want anyone to starve but I can't afford that and sure as hell don't want my tax dollars wasted like that.That's why this country is going to hell in a hand basket,nobody is thinking about whats good for the country,as long as they get what they want to hell with everybody else.A day of reckoning IS coming.
Maybe their intent was to limit Crabs, Shrimp, and Steaks - but they wrote it vague enough so they can say 'we tried'...
These politicians can write something airtight when they really want to - so I know this is crap!
These people need to get their heads out of their @$$es!
"...Republican making outlandish claims.."??
Independent studies have proven (along with the governments OWN reports) that BILLIONS of dollars are wasted through fraud, which INCLUDES purchasing items not covered by the program.
Anyone who doesn't know that the system is being severely abused is willfully ignorant or in denial.
Again, link the purchases to the FDA's Food Pyramid and government recommended caloric intake. Each EBT card will get you a certain amount of meats and fish, a certain amount of fats, a certain amount of carbs, a certain amount of green, leafy vegetables, a certain amount of dairy, etc, just as is recommended.
If we're going to feed people, let's feed them right.
Can't cook? Learn or find someone who can.
There are two in my household. I was on food stamps for 8 months and shopped and ate normally. At the end of 8 months, my food stamp balance had grown to a thousand dollars! I had to spend it somewhere, as they will not take the benefit back!
Just sayin'.
So, I bought steak and seafood!
They ask if you have food stamps and then tell you that you can purchase them. If a person don't know and is told that is exploiting it. I've seen them ask folks plenty if times. Don't worry your business isn't in jeopardy.
How bout buy food for shelters you arrogant slob? Wow.
I know a gal on EBT and she has told she only buys lobster tail and NY strip for her meats! I am self employed and can not afford to eat like that..chicken and ground beef when it is on sale!
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