Accept EBT for cigs? Do it or you're fired

[utvolpj]

First I will say I understand why she was let go. However I do admire what she did and how she did it. Only wish our govt had the same ability

Clerk loses job over stand - SentinelSource.com: Local News: electronic benefit transfer, ebt, debit card, cigarette, jackie whiton

The store clerk was fired after she refused to take a customer’s Electronic Balance Transfer card to pay for cigarettes.

Whiton said a young man came in to the store to buy two packs or cigarettes on May 29. When she asked him for his ID, he handed her his EBT card.

EBT cards are used for both food and cash assistance programs. There are two types of cards: one can only be used for food. The other can be spent on anything and used just like a debit card.

Whiton said she did not think EBT cards could be used to purchase cigarettes and refused to sell to him. The two “had a little go-around” as the line got longer behind him, said Whiton.

“I made the statement, ‘do you think myself, that lady and that gentlemen should pay for your cigarettes?’ and he responded ‘yes,’ ” Whiton said.

 

[EvanStalcup1990]

If anyone has one can they confirm with me, that you can put "their" own money onto the card and use it to spend on anything?

 

[myrobbins7]

“I made the statement, ‘do you think myself, that lady and that gentlemen should pay for your cigarettes?’ and he responded ‘yes,’ ” Whiton said.

*sigh* nvm..

 

[lawgator1]

This thread has a lot of potential.

 

[Weezy]

I imagine a Monty Python like scene where he is then pelted with cabbage.

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

First I will say I understand why she was let go. However I do admire what she did and how she did it. Only wish our govt had the same ability


It's not "ability" that the government is lacking... it's kahonas.

 

[utvolpj]

It's not "ability" that the government is lacking... it's kahonas.

pretty much what I meant except they can't do it for fear of losing their jobs too. The leeches are a strong voting block

 

[emainvol]

Let's be honest here, I doubt that store clerk is paying much in taxes either.

But since ****ing when are cigarettes allowed as a purchase? I was under the impression that it was just uncooked food products.

 

[emainvol]

Let's be honest here, I doubt that store clerk is paying much in taxes either.

But since ****ing when are cigarettes allowed as a purchase? I was under the impression that it was just uncooked food products.

Nevermind, it's the other card.

My other question there is, why is the assumption automatically made that this guy wasn't working?

I am not defending the system or the person attempting to buy the cigs here, but I am curious. Does anyone know that he doesn't have a job? You can still be eligible for both food stamps and the non-food card when working.

 

[utvolpj]

what would change if he had a job? Still f'd up he can buy tobacco, alcohol or gamble on tax dollars

 

[emainvol]

what would change if he had a job? Still f'd up he can buy tobacco, alcohol or gamble on tax dollars

Didn't say it wasn't. I think it's interesting that the automatic assumption in these situations is that the person with the card doesn't have a job.

 

[vols4sure]

Let's be honest here, I doubt that store clerk is paying much in taxes either.

But since ****ing when are cigarettes allowed as a purchase? I was under the impression that it was just uncooked food products.

So? As it has been said over and over, handouts should for the truly needy and those that need a little assistance in hard time. It should not be a way of life. Although the clerk may even qualify for handouts, she has obviously shares this view and should be celebrated not put down because she is only a store clerk.

 

[emainvol]

So? As it has been said over and over, handouts should for the truly needy and those that need a little assistance in hard time. It should not be a way of life. Although the clerk may even qualify for handouts, she has obviously shares this view and should be celebrated not put down because she is only a store clerk.

It was sarcasm, should have phrased it to reflect that. I just think it is kind of *****y to look at the guy with the EBT card and tell him to get a "J-O-B." He shouldn't have been trying to buy cigarettes, but hell, she should be making assumptions either.

BTW here's the article where she goes more in depth into what she said to him

Firing squad ends clerk’s EBT stand - BostonHerald.com

And pj, you can't gamble or any of that according to this article. It prohibits liquor stores, places of adult entertainment and casinos

 

[utvolpj]

And pj, you can't gamble or any of that according to this article. It prohibits liquor stores, places of adult entertainment and casinos

some can't but the cash card can be used at an ATM also. There are no restrictions once the money is in your hands

 

[emainvol]

some can't but the cash card can be used at an ATM also. There are no restrictions once the money is in your hands

Yeah, but I don't know how you can regulate that, unless you require renters (among others) to acquire the proper capabilities to accept the card.

 

[vols4sure]

Didn't say it wasn't. I think it's interesting that the automatic assumption in these situations is that the person with the card doesn't have a job.

No, the logical conclusion for people buying cigarettes and beer with other peoples tax dollars is that they are the leeches of society. Taxpayers want their dollars to go to those needing some assistance to pick themselves up. Someone trying to pick themselves up would not be wasting money they do not have on beer and cigarettes. If they have money for it, they should not be receiving tax dollars.

 

[utvolpj]

Yeah, but I don't know how you can regulate that, unless you require renters (among others) to acquire the proper capabilities to accept the card.

if anyone was truly interested in stopping fraud it could be done. My suggestion would be to submit an invoice for rent from the complex and send the money to them directly. Putting cash in the hands of people that have none is just a bad idea

 

[emainvol]

if anyone was truly interested in stopping fraud it could be done. My suggestion would be to submit an invoice for rent from the complex and send the money to them directly. Putting cash in the hands of people that have none is just a bad idea

I can agree with that. I just wonder if the costs are lower – even when some of the money is potentially being wasted – to simply print a card and put the money on that. A lot has to go into processing things the other way.

 

[utvolpj]

personally I would be ok with paying for the upfront admin costs to get it going. Somehow I doubt it would cost us much more anyway and efficiencies later can cut down the costs whereas we will never police abuse of the system adequately (and it appears no one is concerned anyway)

 

[BigPapaVol]

I don't care what anyone buys with them, I hate the fact that we've gone out of our way to allow people to avoid the public humiliation of living on tax dollars.

 

[emainvol]

personally I would be ok with paying for the upfront admin costs to get it going. Somehow I doubt it would cost us much more anyway and efficiencies later can cut down the costs whereas we will never police abuse of the system adequately (and it appears no one is concerned anyway)

I don't think that abuse of the system is near as widespread and egregious as it is made out to be.

 

[lawgator1]

personally I would be ok with paying for the upfront admin costs to get it going. Somehow I doubt it would cost us much more anyway and efficiencies later can cut down the costs whereas we will never police abuse of the system adequately (and it appears no one is concerned anyway)

Cig manufacturers might just have a problem with that....

 

[emainvol]

I don't care what anyone buys with them, I hate the fact that we've gone out of our way to allow people to avoid the public humiliation of living on tax dollars.

From what I have heard from the few people I know that have worked in the DHS, or other roles in public assistance, most of the people are humiliated enough to ask in the first place.

 

[vols4sure]

From what I have heard from the few people I know that have worked in the DHS, or other roles in public assistance, most of the people are humiliated enough to ask in the first place.

I am sure a lot of them are. But I am also sure a larger percentage of those on public assistance 10 years ago were humiliated than the current percentage. 10 years from now the percentage that will be humiliated will be even lower until it is just a fact of life for most and they will openly flaunt it like this guy who even had his foster mom come back to the store to complain that it was not accepted.

 

[emainvol]

I am sure a lot of them are. But I am also sure a larger percentage of those on public assistance 10 years ago were humiliated than the current percentage. 10 years from now the percentage that will be humiliated will be even lower until it is just a fact of life for most and they will openly flaunt it like this guy who even had his foster mom come back to the store to complain that it was not accepted.

I don't really buy that. There are ****bags everywhere, but I would venture to say that you run into a lot more people on government assistance in a given day than you realize, simply because most of them A) actually do need it, B) don't abuse it, and C) are too proud to show it.