(CNSNews.com) - In response to a recommendation made by the Communist government of Cuba, the U.S. State Department is boasting ina report submitted to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights on Friday that there were "46.5 million" people on food stamps in the United States last year and that a quarter of all Americans received government “food assistance.”
In response to the same Cuban recommendation, the State Department also told the U.N. High Commissioner that 9 million people have signed up for Medicaid since October 2013—as part of the impact of Obamacare.
“In FY2014, we invested more than $103 billion in domestic food assistance programs, serving one in four Americans during the year,” the State Department told the U.N. High Commissioner.
“[N]early nine million individuals have enrolled in coverage in state-run Medicaid programs since October 2013,” said the State Department.
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5 comments:
I'm just so proud of Obama's America. We can show the communist nations how to really double down.
It used to be a SHAMEFUL idea that you had kids you couldn't support, or be pregnant at 14 years old, or be on welfare, or be a convict.
Now, all those seem to be a point of pride.
Even to the government.
Get about 4 million more on food stamps that's how you win elections.
Post 1:
If the numbers are correct (46.5M people receiving $103B in food assistance). That means that each person is receiving about $2,215 per year in food benefits! I spend about $150 every two weeks to feed a FAMILY OF THREE - That is about $3,900 per year at the grocery store or about $1,300 per family member per year. My grocery budget is rather modest. I don't coupon clip or bargain shop but I do tend to lean towards store brands. I don't skimp on the luxuries so it isn't uncommon to see some decent steak cuts, seafood or novelty items in my cart at check out.
So tell me, why is the government doling out nearly twice as much as the typical tax paying consumer?
I choose to eat store brands because I'd rather spend the money saved else, but why do my tax dollars pay for name brands for those on assistance? Why do I choose to save more when they can choose to spend more?
Why do I pack a lunch each day to save a few dollars when my tax dollars pay for $8 subs and high sugar sodas at Wawa for those on assistance?
It is a simple fact that it is easier to spend others' money than your own.
If you ask me, the system is EXTREMELY corrupt. There is no doubt that major brand corporations are in on the gig or else beneficiaries would be force to buy store brands. There needs to be better monitoring of these programs that get abused by so many. The sad part is that there are people that truly need the assistance and use it wisely and often times shamefully but the people that abuse the system make them look bad. I see it all the time; the worn out looking mother or father in the checkout line telling their kids that want a candy bar "no" as that quickly and discretely swipe their Independence Card to pay for groceries - those people NEED it and appreciate it.
Post 2:
If this Country really wants to move forward, it needs to start better evaluating these programs. Do things like:
-Monitor the actual food purchases. If a beneficiary has hit such a rock bottom then junk food and glamor food shouldn't be in their cart.
-Eliminate the use of benefits at gas stations and convenience stores. Even though they may have qualifying items, The majority of those places are marked up due to wholesale purchase volume and convenience. Take Walmart of the list too - I see more abuse there then anywhere else. The government needs to start thinking like a typical consumer instead of a financier.
-Force healthy eating based on medical health. Since we are feeding these people chances are we are also providing them healthcare. No need to set up a double whammy for ourselves.
-Eliminate PIN numbers on benefit cards. I see far too many people buying items on multiple benefit cards using multiple PINs. There is plenty of technology these day to conveniently allow for fingerprint identifying at the point of purchase - I do it EVERY day using Apple pay. The use of multiple cards can be easily traced based on the transactions and those doing such should have their privileges revoked indefinitely.
-Evaluate lifestyle. NOBODY on assistance should be driving a $50,000 vehicle, wielding obscene amounts of jewelry or donning designer handbags and clothes. If you can afford those items then you can afford food. PERIOD!
-ABSOLUTELY NO CASH BACK. I don't know when food benefits became an ATM card, but that is just unacceptable! Cash is untraceable and should NEVER be used or handed out as a benefit.
-Finally, drug testing. I don't give a crap if it is a "disease" or not. If you have the money to put in your arm, up your nose or smoke then you have the money to eat. Simple fact! I don't do drugs and never have; but having my tax dollars pay for somebody's food so they can buy drugs makes me an enabler. Any drug related crimes should also be a disqualifier.
Bottomline, we CANNOT continue to enable these people. If you continue to provide the basic needs of people then they will NEVER learn to live independently and will be a indefinite burden on the taxpayers. There is absolutely NO reason why those living on any type of government assistance should be living better lifestyles than those who try to make it on their own. I make decisions and sacrifices everyday to ensure that my family has food on their table, clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads and hope in their hearts. Sometimes are harder than others for me, but there is no reason why it should be "easier" to be on government assistance. There needs to be motivation to work and do better otherwise, the system is going to be flooded even more by people who see the easy way out,
I know that there are people out there that say if we don't take care of these people then we'll end up paying more in crime prevention and other societal issues that arise from poverty, but how do we "know" that since we haven't tried that? Natural human instinct is to survive. If we force people to survive we not only decrease our burden, we also increase our revenue via taxes on wages. Unemployment isn't low because companies aren't hiring - there are PLENTY of jobs out there. Unemployment is low because people aren't working and when people aren't working people aren't buying and when people aren't buying the companies aren't producing. It is a self feeding cycle; you just have to insert the variables. They (the government) makes it seem so complex, but it really isn't. They neglect positive basic human characteristics and exacerbate the negative basic human characteristics.
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