Three more lawmakers take food stamp challenge.
Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) have agreed to take the food stamp challenge. They will “limit their spending to $1 per meal for a week” in an effort to “highlight inadequacies with the current food stamp program.” This past summer, four lawmakers first took the food stamp challenge. Read more about their experiences here.
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109 Responses to “Three more lawmakers take food stamp challenge.”
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Thats awesome. Where are the Republicans on this?
September 17th, 2007 at 6:10 pmHopefully quite a few will be, come Jan 2009.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:12 pmThats awesome. Where are the Republicans on this?
Comment by RickInIraq — September 17, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
At the all-you-can-eat buffet, as usual.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:12 pmRepublicans are too frightened of a good dose of reality.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:18 pmWonderful. Each one of these men have just stepped up a bit, in my book.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:22 pmRepublicans are taking a tour of the nation’s airport restrooms.
Or prowling for 5-yr-olds.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:23 pmI’m assuming that these folks are already compassionate folk who want to increase the amount of foodstamps folk are eligible to recieve. I hope they’re going to challenge opponents on both sides of the asile to try it. publically challenge them. shame them into trying to live like that.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:24 pmOne dollar a meal is pretty slim pickings to survive on, but people in third world nations live on 1 dollar a day for food. Basically buys some rice and beans.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:24 pm$1 per meal for a week?
September 17th, 2007 at 6:26 pmNo problem — if you can spend $100 a day for coke.
Here you go, logan. Tell us how the military fighting in Iraq are depending on social reliance instead of self reliance.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:28 pmI don’t have to pay anything for my meals…hehe….the poor should have chefs or something….eat at a McDonalds…cakes are good, let them eat cake, so are pretzels, pretzels are real good…hehehe…why don’t they just get richer or something, invest in Haliburton like Uncie Dick did, hehe….he’s made millions on the war..hehe, this is working out nicely for them, they were poor anyway…hehehe….all this food talk is making me hungry….Babs bring me a lobster and some pretzels
Pull my finger….hehehe
September 17th, 2007 at 6:31 pmWhats this $1.00 crap? My girl friend and her 3 children I live with gets $600.00 per month food stamps, pays $30.00 per month to HUD for the 3 bedroom house we live in, she gets $1,150.00 per month child support we use for cigs, beer and intertainment. We sell most of the food stamp money because we get WIC money and the rest of our food at the local food bank.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:34 pmComment by troqua — September 17, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
#
My family was on WIC when I was in the Army. The people from the WIC center near Fort Hood, Texas would come on Post, to the gym. The 1st SGT usually would have formation there, then everyone would line up. It was part of standard in processing.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:34 pmWhy should I care? It doesn’t prove anything but how out of touch these politicians are, that they should be making a spectacle of themselves in some grocery store, buying grits in front of a camera… yes, they know who their constituents are, and they’re playing them like a well-tuned fiddle. They’ll have their opportunity for a good photo shoot or two, but they won’t actually get into any serious conversation with the American public about food stamps.
So what, some people only get $21 dollars a month in food stamps? No one is telling us what the other variables are here, like if those people are getting less because they need less… I’ve known people who have gotten too much, but never anyone who got too little.
At best, these guys are just putting on show just how out of touch they are with people who live with lower incomes than theirs, and it’s a stunt. I’m definitely not excited about it. I consider myself a progressive, but so often I see people just posturing about and not really getting down to business, fixing real problems. For example, what about the working poor? I’m currently fighting my way out of that kinda life, but man is it hard! But really, why are we debating whether or not people who DO NOT WORK are getting enough government hand-outs when there are people who bust their backs every day just to be told they make to much , when in reality, the government allows them to be paid too damn little!
I don’t know… I’m all for showing the effects of poverty to those who don’t know, and I’m for bringing politicians down to Earth where the rest of us live. I just don’t think this campaign will do either or those things. Whatever.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:35 pmWhats this $1.00 crap? My girl friend and her 3 children I live with gets $600.00 per month food stamps, pays $30.00 per month to HUD for the 3 bedroom house we live in, she gets $1,150.00 per month child support we use for cigs, beer and intertainment. We sell most of the food stamp money because we get WIC money and the rest of our food at the local food bank.
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Get a job. Jesus said, ” In order to eat, you must work”.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:36 pmComment by Chris L — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
And the Pretzeldick is going to veto a 3.5% pay raise for troops because 3% is “sufficient.”
September 17th, 2007 at 6:37 pmGet a job. Jesus said, †In order to eat, you must workâ€.
Comment by Daryll — September 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
#
Many American soldiers qualify for food stamps. As well as teachers in Mississippi.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:40 pm- “My husband is deployed with a National Guard unit in Iraq. His military salary does not cover our monthly mortgage payment, and while he’s gone, my three children and I use food stamps to eat.”
- “While we families under E-5 receive food stamps and other funding when available, we go from pay check to pay check robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
“Could you please do your part to inform GAO that most enlisted military personnel E-5 and below qualify for some kind of government assistance, i.e. food stamps, subsidized daycare. If my husband, a Corporal (E-4) in the Marine Corps, and others like him, is so well paid, then why do we qualify for government assistance? My family and thousands of families like ours have to live from paycheck to paycheck not because we are trying to live beyond our means, but because our means are above what the military member is being paid.”
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,82088,00.html
September 17th, 2007 at 6:42 pmComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
You and your girlfriend belong in jail for fraud.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:44 pmComment by Sara — September 17, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Having life that life, I’m sure not by choice, I would think you’d have a little more understanding and compassion.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:47 pmGet a job. Jesus said, †In order to eat, you must workâ€.
Comment by Daryll — September 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
NO WAY sucker. What would I do with the money? Go to Walmart and by a bunch of Chineese crap…..dont think so. I would rather spend my time here or at the beach or movies any place but a freakin J-O-B!
September 17th, 2007 at 6:47 pmI know for a fact, that down here, food stamp accounts are handled through another Privatized system (JP Morgan Chase) and they pay 150 per adult per month. Thats 4.81 per day; just over $1.00 per meal. of course, who knows how much JP Morgan Chase takes off the top to cover expenses and Profit.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:50 pmComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Troll alert. I happen to know that most states have moved food stamps to a debit card system. impossible to sell them.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:50 pm“Many American soldiers qualify for food stamps. As well as teachers in Mississippi.”
Well, instead of griping about how much those particular people get in food stamps, we should be raising hell about their pay. No reason why people getting killed for their country shouldn’t be able to make enough to eat, and as for teachers, “no child” should be “left behind,” but how is the teacher supposed to do a good job under those kinda conditions? Besides, going to college to become a teacher costs a small fortune, at least where I’m from.
I’ll tell you, buy cheap stuff at a cheap place. Avoid Wal-Mart and go straight to Aldi’s, if you have one. Don’t tell me you can’t cook, ’cause you can make a batch of spaghetti on your day off, really easy to cook, and refridgerate that stuff. Buy no-brand cereal and milk. Buy canned veggies. Buy a bag of apples. Meat is the only hard part, but it’s not THAT hard to afford some meat for your diet. Worried about the fat content of the cheap cut? Walk it off instead of driving, it’ll save money, save the environment, and probably save you.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:52 pmhb79 sounds like a new varirty of troll.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:53 pmI would conjecture a hybrid between the mocking variety and the baiting type.
krazny; the guy is obviously lying. Playing the roll of what every self-absorbed Milton Freedman loving Reagan worshiping conserva-parrot thinks about people in need.
it’s funny the conservatives have to get them younger and younger these days, because older ones get wise enough to see how they are being used.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:53 pmComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
You and your girlfriend belong in jail for fraud.
Comment by Zooey — September 17, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Never happen! There are to many of us. Heck I know all kinds of people living my life style I see them at all the help places. I forgot free lunches at school, free health care at the clinic, free bus passes, because I am poor my PUD give us 20% discount rates and more. Why should I work when I get all this? Besides the meth problem is so bad where I live the jails are full the police are pissedall the time. I am the last person the law wants to see.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:54 pmhb79 = scum sucking low life troll, and a retarded on at that.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:56 pmWell, instead of griping about how much those particular people get in food stamps, we should be raising hell about their pay. No reason why people getting killed for their country shouldn’t be able to make enough to eat, and as for teachers, “no child†should be “left behind,†but how is the teacher supposed to do a good job under those kinda conditions? Besides, going to college to become a teacher costs a small fortune, at least where I’m from.
Comment by Sara — September 17, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
#
Agreed. I was responding to Daryll’s comment that those who are living on food stamps are doing so because they do not work. Many people work two jobs, but still live below the poverty level.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:56 pmhb79 sounds like a new varirty of troll.
I would conjecture a hybrid between the mocking variety and the baiting type.
Comment by Raven — September 17, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Troll? NOT! I vote Democrat EVERY time. I live in the progressive state of Washington. The Democrats have been in power for years…the Governor is a Dem so are both senators and most of the reps. all of the local officials are Dems…..who do you think gave me this ability to live like I do? Sure wasnt the repugs…..dont you dare call me a repug.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:57 pmComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
F*ck off, moron troll.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:58 pmjails are full the police are pissedall the time. I am the last person the law wants to see.
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
yeah, a bullshitting troll. whoop-de-do, another racist bigot on board.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:58 pmhb79 is expressing the only method of rationalizing the sick “dismiss the poor” philosophy of Milton Freedmen. the “thier not poor, their criminal” mindset.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pmRemember the old “he’s really a millionare” line when the homeless guy tries to panhandle a buck? Theres a story in every city about the guy’s Mercedes Benz parked around the corner and that the homeless guy makes $600 a day begging.
It’s a rationalization that makes turning your back on your fellow man acceptable to them.
Without it, they would have to realize that they are just greedy little self absorbed monsters.
I live in Seattle and they have cards not stamps, you punk a$$ idiot.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pmComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
typical repig, lie like a rug.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pmGot it!
September 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pmWe’ll call you a mockabater.
Hacker! you’re above this kind of behavior….
September 17th, 2007 at 7:01 pmhb79 = scum sucking low life troll, and a retarded on at that.
Comment by Buck Fush — September 17, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Call me all the names you want……………..I still dont have a job and I aint getting one anytime soon. Thanks Governer Christine Gregoire Senators Patty Murry and Marie Cantwell Congressman Bryan Baird and all the locals.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:03 pmWell put Willyloman, very well said, it does show what monsters the conservative pukes are.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pmI live in Seattle and they have cards not stamps, you punk a$$ idiot.
Comment by Buck Fush — September 17, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Yeah they are called “Quest” Down here in Longview. And If you really do live in Seattle you know damn well everything I say is true.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pmI live in Seattle and they have cards not stamps, you punk a$$ idiot.
Comment by Buck Fush — September 17, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I live in Seattle as well, and they are not that friendly to the poor. I remember getting some funding to attend classes, but I had to be working, and getting good grades to keep it. On the other hand, I know own a home thanks to that schooling, and am a happy and productive member of society.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pmThey don’t give handouts like you claim, idiot, it is a short term help for the poor, which you are not, you are just a troll making a repukian talking point…could this be Mr. Pee again with another name, or CT_V!?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pmHacker says:
“Thanks Governer Christine Gregoire Senators Patty Murry and Marie Cantwell Congressman Bryan Baird and all the locals.”
Look everybody…HB79 can use “The Google”! he MUST be for real.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pm“Having life that life, I’m sure not by choice, I would think you’d have a little more understanding and compassion.”
I think you misread my post. It makes me mad that nobody’s looking out for the hard-working poor out there, but we’re acting like $21/week in food stamps is criminal negligence… without even discussing the details, like what kind of incomes the usual recipient of that amount of food stamps. It’s not a real conversation, in my eyes, but sensationalism. That’s all I’m saying.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pmComment by hb79 -
September 17th, 2007 at 7:06 pmMock, if you must, it only proves your ignorance and lack of compassion. Wages have not kept up with inflation and many who work two jobs still require assistance: food stamps; WIC, etc. just to feed their children. Until you gain compassion or are in that predicament please refrain from spewing your nonsense.
I’m aware of ‘free speech’ but your vitriol belongs elsewhere - not here.
It’s Hacker Bob…he didn’t deny it when I used his name.
he’s just messing with us. ignore him and like a child…he will go away and amuse himself.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pmWithout it, they would have to realize that they are just greedy little self absorbed monsters.
Comment by willyloman — September 17, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Wrong! YOU have no idea what I do. I will bet I give more to my friends in the poor community than you do. I am NOT into STUFF you people are. I don’t go to walmart and buy crap every week I go to yard sales and buy stuff or get it free or bargain. I live a better live with less hassles and a much smaller foot print than most all here do. You sure a compassionate bunch here. What a bunch of envious haters.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:10 pmhb79’s food stamp numbers works out to $1.33 per meal. 5 people * 30 days * 3 meals = 450 meals per month. That is close enough to a dollar for government business.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:14 pmNotice HackerBob says I am wrong about what I say he does, and not about his name?
Hacker… this kind of “mock-u-libtard” game is REALLY beneath your talents. have you no shame?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:16 pm:)
September 17th, 2007 at 7:16 pmhb79,
September 17th, 2007 at 7:18 pmWhere I come from PUD refers to shrimp which have been peeled but not deveined. They usually are small as well. Oh and by the way you seem pretty lame with your made up silliness.
What a bunch of envious haters.
Comment by hb79 —
Sounds to me like you’re the one who needs a drool bucket.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:18 pmIt’s not a real conversation, in my eyes, but sensationalism. That’s all I’m saying.
Comment by Sara — September 17, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
My apologies, Sara. Thanks for clearing that up.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:18 pmWilly,
That is not hackerbob. :P
September 17th, 2007 at 7:21 pmhb79’s food stamp numbers works out to $1.33 per meal. 5 people * 30 days * 3 meals = 450 meals per month. That is close enough to a dollar for government business.
Comment by WaltTheMan — September 17, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Good job Walt. The more you dissect what I have posted the “truer”
September 17th, 2007 at 7:21 pmit gets. Heres another one most here have to much “social status” to take advantage of… I made friends with the mangager at our local Safeway and he tell me when they have free day old bread and produce that comes in and may not “look” pretty enough to sell if there is to much for me, which there always is, I hand it out to others. And you go to your job.
Zooey,
Yes it is :P
September 17th, 2007 at 7:21 pmWonderful! Can we force the Clown and his boss President Cheney to go on foodstamps since they are both are stealing the U.S. taxpayers’ money for their pet project on the Iraq invasion for oil and profits? I think Bush would have a massive heart attack if he lived on food stamps since he never worked for anything.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:23 pmWilly,
Is not!
September 17th, 2007 at 7:24 pmMr. Pee confesses.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:24 pmhb79,
Where I come from PUD refers to shrimp which have been peeled but not deveined. They usually are small as well. Oh and by the way you seem pretty lame with your made up silliness.
Comment by dbadass — September 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
http://www.cowlitzpud.org/warm_neighbor.html
I can back up everyting I say…………………
September 17th, 2007 at 7:25 pmComing from my District and Knowing Rep. Grijalva, he could stand to lose the weight. Then again, a diet of PB&J sammies and Mac&Cheese isn’t very conducive to weight loss.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:25 pmHacker…need more than imagination these days to get awy with stories like that.
I know that the food distribution centers and the “feed the homeless’ groups, can’t get ANY supermarket chains to hand out “day old” bread or produce…for fear of lawsuits.
They have to account for everything to the Regional managers for fear that some store manager will hand out a loaf of bread, and that someone will sue, and that loaf of bread will cost Safeway $1 million dollars.
again, Hacker, way beneath you. do some research. Or better yet, go volunteer some time, and learn the facts.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:26 pmI can back up everyting I say…………………
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
Is that right? What’s your full name, address, and phone number? You can’t back up shit.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:28 pmZOOEY!
IS TOO!
September 17th, 2007 at 7:28 pmWilly,
How do you know!?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:29 pmI have argued with hacker too many times.
he is not denying it!
he is just playing around…
but he REALLY needs better stories.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:30 pmI know that the food distribution centers and the “feed the homeless’ groups, can’t get ANY supermarket chains to hand out “day old†bread or produce…for fear of lawsuits.
Comment by willyloman — September 17, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! It is put in a basket and set outside the front of the store……………not out the back. Here is the address of the store.
http://localsearch.live.com/ localsearch/ details.aspx?lid=YN931×41995483&qt=yp&what=safeway&where=Longview%2c+Washington&s_cid=ansPhBkYp02
Give them a call and see what their policy is………………
September 17th, 2007 at 7:31 pmhttp://www.cowlitzpud.org/warm_neighbor.html
I can back up everyting I say…………………
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
I fail to see how this supports in anyway your imagined existence. Did you mean…
http://huangda.en.alibaba.com/ product/ 50249194/ 51303279/ Shrimps/ Raw_Frozen_Pud_Shrimp.html
September 17th, 2007 at 7:32 pmThe point of the thread is that we shoud commend the members who took the ‘food stamp challenge” and ask that more do the same.
We should demand that they remove the Privatized system and return it to the way it was. That way the profits aren’t scraped off the top for JP Morgan Chase.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:33 pmThat’s not very good evidence, Willy.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:33 pmHaving trouble with the truth there Zooey-Willy?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pmhackerbob says “It is put in a basket and set outside the front of the store”
Didn’t you say that the store manager gave it to you…and that when you had something left, you gave it to others?
and that you befriended him to get him to do this?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:35 pmWilly, please
There are 3 Safeways in my county of 100,000 until I met him I did not know the story policy. This is not about semantics or methods of transfer….geeze.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:40 pmHacker, your story changed…not “symantics”…no one believes your silly lie. your busted. give it up.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:44 pmHaving trouble with the truth there Zooey-Willy?
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
It takes very simplistic thinking to paint every poor person in this country with the same brush.
F*ck off, moron.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:44 pmIt seems a filibuster of House Bill 79 may be in order
September 17th, 2007 at 7:46 pmTold ya, Willy. :P
September 17th, 2007 at 7:46 pmhe said “having trouble with the truth zooey”…
how exactly does that make me wrong?
Plus HE ISN”T DENYING HE IS HACKERBOB!
jeebus!
September 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pmZooey, time to take a break from reality and go do something else. A bong hit or two should help……if thats your thing. So I have heard.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pmPlus HE ISNâ€T DENYING HE IS HACKERBOB!
Heres your denial.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:53 pm“if thats your thing. So I have heard.”
HB79. Does this make any sense?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:55 pmSo I have heard.
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Is that right? Where, precisely, did you hear that?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:56 pmalright hacker, whatever you say. go do your “bong hit”…
September 17th, 2007 at 7:56 pmLADIES AND GENTS,
FOR THE RECORD HB79 IS NOT ME.
Willy, sorry, you are wrong.
Zooey is right.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:57 pmWell, it’s fine for them to do that, but, really its like going camping: you can do almost anything for a week. Its when it is THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, in addition to factoring in no money for doctor visits, car repairs to get to and from work, and other emergencies that are part of everyone’s life. Even if they manage to do it, it does not tell the real story of what truly poor people face every day.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:59 pmCan’t remember who told me what “bong hits” do.
September 17th, 2007 at 7:59 pmalright hacker, whatever you say. go do your “bong hitâ€â€¦
Comment by willyloman — September 17, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
And don’t forget to offer up some of your excess to the less fortunate. It’ll help make the out of date food go down easier
September 17th, 2007 at 8:00 pmgotcha Hacker… whatever you say.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:00 pmand Lee J. Cobb isn’t willyloman
September 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pmwilly,
go to my place, look for fridays post. I’ll be there
September 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pmIt’ll help make the out of date food go down easier
Comment by dbadass — September 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
Never said anything about “out of date” food.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:02 pmNow be quiet I’m trying to watch Olbermann but he is not there (emergency appendectomy) so I will watch O’Reilly.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pmNever said anything about “out of date†food.
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Make that “day old” produce, whatever that is.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pmI just posted that Cobb comment to make a point…
I will not post under another name again…
thank you, come again Hacker. ;)
September 17th, 2007 at 8:09 pmwilly,
Dude, give me SOME credit.
You know I would NEVER admit to voting (D)
September 17th, 2007 at 8:12 pmOk Bob. but for the record;
“You know I would NEVER admit to voting (D)”
“FOR THE RECORD HB79 IS NOT ME.”
For the record, HB79 joked about voting for (D), and you
will never “admit” to voting for the (D)…
so, would you ever “admit” to being HB79?
sticky…very sticky…
anyway, i got to run…been fun Bob.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:25 pmIf I were HB79, I would admit it.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:29 pmWhether you say “for the record” or not, it’s still on the record. Just sayin.
What is the percentage of people who abuse the welfare system?
And is it worth putting up with the percentage of abusers to help the people who are legit?
Should America have citizens who are going hungry?
September 17th, 2007 at 9:24 pmWhat about corporate welfare?
September 17th, 2007 at 9:24 pmWell, instead of griping about how much those particular people get in food stamps, we should be raising hell about their pay. No reason why people getting killed for their country shouldn’t be able to make enough to eat, and as for teachers, “no child†should be “left behind,†but how is the teacher supposed to do a good job under those kinda conditions? Besides, going to college to become a teacher costs a small fortune, at least where I’m from.
Comment by Sara — September 17, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
I have taught 18 years - it was tough to get by at first, but now I live quite comfortably. I also work 183 days a year vs about 240 for most others; summer school work is easy to get if you want it.
It is REPREHENSIBLE that miltary service people qualfiy for public assistance. Utterly shameful. I know a lot of them live on base, get free food, get generous pay outs for college, but my God, how can we value idiot actors, athletes and singers more than soldiers willing to sacrifice everything? Unbelievable.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:41 pmI have taught 18 years - it was tough to get by at first, but now I live quite comfortably. I also work 183 days a year vs about 240 for most others; summer school work is easy to get if you want it.
Comment by Keltoi — September 17, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Cool so in two more years I can stop working my second during the school year night warehouse job as well as all the additional summer jobs. Still sucks to have only 16 years in and a masters +30. Ah just two more years…
September 17th, 2007 at 9:53 pmJohn Edwards, step right up and join the cause.
September 17th, 2007 at 9:56 pmGet a job. Jesus said, †In order to eat, you must workâ€.
Comment by Daryll — September 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Way to support the troops there Daryll, since some of the men and womens families have to live on foodstamps, while they bleeding, dying in Iraq, for a war started over lies.
If Bush hadn’t vetoed their pay raises, they wouldn’t have needed as much help.
Yeah, way to support the troops, hypocrite.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:38 pmShould America have citizens who are going hungry?
Comment by ForTruth — September 17, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
IMHO:
I believe that not one dime should ever go to a foreign country while one child or adult is homeless, jobless or hungry.
After we fix our own “Backyard”, Fix Poverty. Then we will know how to actually do something useful for the world, rather than trying to rip off their resources, for
September 17th, 2007 at 11:46 pmcorporate intereststhe Robber Barons.“call me crazy, but it’s INSANE that every single American is searched like a potential criminal, and the most harmless items are taken from us…..this is nothing more than treating us like dogs.
Oddly enough, the 5th amendment makes clear the rules about taking property, and the 4th amendment makes clear the process that the government must follow to search people.
If we continue to allow the feds this kind of power, I can only imagine where it will lead.
It’s time to start demanding that the government follow the bill of rights. It’s not just some “good idea†- it’s the law. And even the TSA is not above the law.
Some reading:
“Contract with America: Bill of Rightsâ€
http://www.populistamerica.com/contract_with_america
Comment by stopthecons — May 21, 2007 @ 1:17 pm”
September 18th, 2007 at 9:46 amCheck out JCPA’s new blog, http://jewishpublicaffairs.blog.com to see the experiences of people around the country taking the challenge with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the members of Congress.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:47 amComment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
You and your girlfriend belong in jail for fraud.
Comment by Zooey — September 17, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
The majority of people on food stamps and HUD and many other social programs take advantage of the programs. There is fraud everywhere in this country. But because their poor, they let them get away with it. Drive through any welfare project and you will see that the majority of cars in them are nice. Since they don’t pay for housing or food, they get to spend the money whatever they want. Since most of you have never been in the projects, you will have to take my word for it.
I’ve got a challenge. Go to the food stamp office in an inner-city. While standing in line, ask how you can cheat the system. You will be amazed at the knowledge some people have at cheating the system, but have no idea who their Congressmen is.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:05 pmNO WAY sucker. What would I do with the money? Go to Walmart and by a bunch of Chineese crap…..dont think so. I would rather spend my time here or at the beach or movies any place but a freakin J-O-B!
Comment by hb79 — September 17, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
That is the mentality of many of the poor in this country. Why work if you don’t have to. You sit on your ass and let others work for you. Sick.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:14 pmJohnny’s comments are so unfortunate and misinformed.
Let me give the perspective of someone who is actually on food stamps - me.
I am currently on food stamps due to medical illness.
Despite having been disabled for 10 years, I never had to apply for this program.
Things got so bad for me recently that I had no food to eat. So I applied for food stamps. The application process was not easy - most of the workers were belligerent and misinformed about my rights and the requirements for their own program. I had to fight to get access to a program I clearly qualified for.
It is very difficult to make out the month on the amount I am given. I have lost weight and I know my diet is lousy. Despite all that, having never been on such a program, I am grateful it exists.
Nobody I met at the food stamps office that was also applying appeared to be rubbing their hands in anticipation of ripping off the system. There were many tired people who had been waiting 5 or 6 hours to meet with a worker. There were many mothers with small children. Nearly everyone spoke of how poorly they were treated by the workers and how little information they were given about the process.
The documentation required to receive food stamps was astounding. I was also fingerprinted and photographed. It was not a process I care to repeat. How someone would game this system is beyond me - or even why someone thinks someone would game this system is beyond me. For what? For a small amount of food each month?
Where this idea of people ripping off the food stamp system comes from I don’t know. Where is the evidence of this?
All I saw were frustrated and tired people who wanted nothing more to get out of that food stamp office.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:45 am