should people on food stamps be shopping at farmers markets or own homes?

[KB5252]

are you in a farming community?

I live in a rural area about 40 miles outside of Nashville. There are not many if any large scale farming operations in my county but there are smaller farms where locals grow produce.

As I said before I am sure things are much different in urban areas, but in smaller communities the farmers markets are cheaper, fresher and much nicer than anything you get in a store.

 

[utvolpj]

There are plenty of zero down buying options now. I can buy a 1200 sq ft house with a $800 note or a 900 sq ft apartment with a $950 payment. Pretty simple choice.

who offers that?

 

[droski]

I am not arguing for food stamps, I am obviously against them. But she gets them and uses them to buy food, can't say I have an issue with it.

the question is whether she deserves them. she has a job. she owns a home. she's in better shape than a decent percentage of this country.

 

[IPorange]

The point of public assistance is to not make the life of someone who might lose their home easier. The theory is that without this money this person would literally be homeless and starving. I bet if you went to this women;s house she'd have cable, a cell phone, and maybe even a flat screen tv.

edit: when i was a student there were times i couldn't afford fresh fruit and vegetables. i bought canned vegetables. now i'm paying ridiculous taxes, i don't even own a home, and people on public assistance are living high on the hog and do own a home.

I can't argue with this.

 

[allvol123]

the question is whether she deserves them. she has a job. she owns a home. she's in better shape than a decent percentage of this country.

I don't think anyone "deserves" them, but your first question was whether people on food stamps should be shopping at a farmers market. I don't care where they use them, I care that they are issued in the first place.

 

[Gramps]

It all depends on where you live. At my local farmers market you can expect to pay a little more than half what groceries sell the same product for.

same here

 

[UT IE 95]

who offers that?

google "zero down mortgage".

Here is the first link for starters:
First Time Home Buyer Program Specialist-Zero Down Loans

 

[droski]

dude that's a scam.

 

[rjd970]

google "zero down mortgage".

Here is the first link for starters:
First Time Home Buyer Program Specialist-Zero Down Loans

FHA only requires 3.5% down. It's something, but it doesn't have to be 10%.

 

[Gramps]

the question is whether she deserves them. she has a job. she owns a home. she's in better shape than a decent percentage of this country.

What is her circumstances for being on food stamps?
That's the question imo.

How do you know what kind of shape she is in?


Millions of people have lost their jobs during the last year.
Employers have also cut hours to avoid layoffs.

How do you know she has not worked at the same job for 10-20 years, bought a house in good faith. Has been living the American Dream of home ownership, then had her hours cut in half ?

Bad things happen to good people sometimes. I personally do not see anything wrong with the government providing a bridge to help hard working people get through bad times, such as we are in now.

I do think there should be a time limit put on government assistance. There is a hugh difference from helping someone through tough tiimes and someone making a career out of government assistance.

As far as someone buying fresh produce at the local farmers market with food stamps. I rather see them buying healthy food verses loading up on candy, potato chips, frozen dinners etc. at the local grocery store.

 

[volinbham]

I don't have a problem with her using food stamps on food as long as we have a food stamp program.

 

[KB5252]

FHA only requires 3.5% down. It's something, but it doesn't have to be 10%.

On an $80,000 home that would put the down payment at $2,800 if someone can afford that do they really require food stamps?

 

[KB5252]

What is her circumstances for being on food stamps?
That's the question imo.

How do you know what kind of shape she is in?


Millions of people have lost their jobs during the last year.
Employers have also cut hours to avoid layoffs.

How do you know she has not worked at the same job for 10-20 years, bought a house in good faith. Has been living the American Dream of home ownership, then had her hours cut in half ?

Bad things happen to good people sometimes. I personally do not see anything wrong with the government providing a bridge to help hard working people get through bad times, such as we are in now.

I do think there should be a time limit put on government assistance. There is a hugh difference from helping someone through tough tiimes and someone making a career out of government assistance.

As far as someone buying fresh produce at the local farmers market with food stamps. I rather see them buying healthy food verses loading up on candy, potato chips, frozen dinners etc. at the local grocery store.

She may have been working for 10 to 20 years. The article specifically stated that she has seen an increase in her allotment of food stamps, and it was accredited to Obama. that would mean that she was on food stamps for some extended period of time, probably 8 months or more ( I would suspect she has been on them for more than a year). The bottom line is if after 6 months your situation does not improve the odds are it will not anytime soon. The question then becomes do you and your family downsize to make things more affordable for yourself and gear up to make a new start.......or do you suck on the government teet for as long as it takes?

 

[rjd970]

On an $80,000 home that would put the down payment at $2,800 if someone can afford that do they really require food stamps?

I agree with you. Just saying you don't necessarily need 10%.

 

[MWR]

I do think there should be a time limit put on government assistance. There is a hugh difference from helping someone through tough tiimes and someone making a career out of government assistance.

To some, it's more than a career, it's handed down, generation to generation. And yes, I've seen it happen.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

To some, it's more than a career, it's handed down, generation to generation. And yes, I've seen it happen.

Exhibit A Mississippi
Exhibit B Arkansas

 

[vol_in_ar]

The point of public assistance is to not make the life of someone who might lose their home easier. The theory is that without this money this person would literally be homeless and starving. I bet if you went to this women;s house she'd have cable, a cell phone, and maybe even a flat screen tv.

edit: when i was a student there were times i couldn't afford fresh fruit and vegetables. i bought canned vegetables. now i'm paying ridiculous taxes, i don't even own a home, and people on public assistance are living high on the hog and do own a home.

Wow buying vegtables and fruit is "High on the HOG"

 

[DC Vol]

I'm surprised no one has brought up the fact this woman has 5 children. Kudos to her, though, on trying to raise those 5 kids eating well. So many on WIC and foodstamps don't give a rats ass about contributing directly to their obese children.

As far as shopping at farmers markets? It would depend on prices. I'm thinking in Davenport, Iowa the prices probably are not exorbitant.

 

[Gramps]

She may have been working for 10 to 20 years. The article specifically stated that she has seen an increase in her allotment of food stamps, and it was accredited to Obama. that would mean that she was on food stamps for some extended period of time, probably 8 months or more ( I would suspect she has been on them for more than a year). The bottom line is if after 6 months your situation does not improve the odds are it will not anytime soon. The question then becomes do you and your family downsize to make things more affordable for yourself and gear up to make a new start.......or do you suck on the government teet for as long as it takes?

I know a man in my hometown that was laid off last October. He had worked at the same place for 8 years.
He is married and has 2 small children. His wife is ill and cannot work. He had to go on government assistance in order to provide for his family. He searched weekly for a job, finally was hired the end of June. He took a $3.50 per hour paycut but was glad to get a job. For a 40 hour workweek, his wages went from $580.00 to $440.00. It took him 9 months to find a job so your bottom line of 6 months is not accurate.
He is now off all government assistance but is living on 75% of what he was making a year ago.

Should he have lost everything he had because of a layoff in this economy?

I do not think so. This is the kind of person/family that I am referring to as needing a little help. He got assistance for 9 months while looking for work. If he had not received the assistance he would have lost everything and his family would be homeless.

This type of situation is happening to millions of good descent hard working people. They deserve help.

 

[KB5252]

I know a man in my hometown that was laid off last October. He had worked at the same place for 8 years.
He is married and has 2 small children. His wife is ill and cannot work. He had to go on government assistance in order to provide for his family. He searched weekly for a job, finally was hired the end of June. He took a $3.50 per hour paycut but was glad to get a job. For a 40 hour workweek, his wages went from $580.00 to $440.00. It took him 9 months to find a job so your bottom line of 6 months is not accurate.
He is now off all government assistance but is living on 75% of what he was making a year ago.

Should he have lost everything he had because of a layoff in this economy?

I do not think so. This is the kind of person/family that I am referring to as needing a little help. He got assistance for 9 months while looking for work. If he had not received the assistance he would have lost everything and his family would be homeless.

This type of situation is happening to millions of good descent hard working people. They deserve help.

In the case that we were talking about the woman was employed, but still needed assistance. My thoughts were directed at her situation, not all situations.

And to answer your question "Should he have lost everything he had because of a layoff in this economy?" I would say that is a hard question to answer. I don't think he should have, but if he can't afford everything he has am I to take that as meaning we (taxpayers) should make sure he keeps it all? The answer to that is no.

 

[droski]

god has anyone heard of saving money so that if you lose your job you aren't out on the street?

 

[MWR]

.....This type of situation is happening to millions of good descent hard working people. They deserve help.

From what I've seen of this system (and that's a lot), it seems geared to help those who have no intention of helping themselves.

Same way with a lot of people who are no Tenncare or other govt. medical programs. They smoke, drink, eat junk food and make no other efforts to better their health. I think that if the govt (which = us) is going to pay for people's medical care, these people should be required to try to change their lifestyle so as to improve their health. Who cares, they can run to the doctor if they have any kind of discomfort.

You try that without insurance and see how you like it.

 

[vollygirl]

The inability to afford fresh fruits and vegetables (and instead becoming dependent on cheaper processed "convenience" foods) is part of our healthcare problem now. When fresh food is considered a luxury, there's something wrong.

 

[allvol123]

The inability to afford fresh fruits and vegetables (and instead becoming dependent on cheaper processed "convenience" foods) is part of our healthcare problem now. When fresh food is considered a luxury, there's something wrong.

I would say that is not very accurate.

 

[vollygirl]

I would say that is not very accurate.

You don't think people eating processed foods has an effect on their health?