Thread: Food Stamps: the latest entitlement

Sure, so easy to pack up your family and move when you have no money. A breeze.

Get real about this. It is easier to move for work when you are young and single. (I did it.) To think people who are absolutely skint can afford to go across country on a job locating expedition is ridiculous. It costs a lot of money to move to a new location especially with kids and grandma in tow.


The reason so many people are on SNAP benefits.....

Living on Minimum Wage

At least one part of the labor force has expanded significantly since the recession hit: the low-wage part, made up of burger flippers, home health aides and the like.

Put simply, the recession took middle-class jobs, and the recovery has replaced them with low-income ones, a trend that has exacerbated income inequality. According to Labor Department data, about 1.7 million workers earned the minimum wage or less in 2007. By 2012, the total had surged to 3.6 million , with millions of others earning just a few cents or dollars more.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...age.html?_r=1&

Originally Posted by misskit

Sure, so easy to pack up your family and move when you have no money. A breeze.

Get real about this. It is easier to move for work when you are young and single. (I did it.) To think people who are absolutely skint can afford to go across country on a job locating expedition is ridiculous. It costs a lot of money to move to a new location especially with kids and grandma in tow.

Not like it hasn't been done before - Okies to California during the dust bowl days?

Perhaps folks had more Grit back in those days before all the entitlement programs made them lazy?

If I'm not mistaken, the Federal government housed and fed the Okies who moved to California.

Wouldn't a better idea be to pay workers wages they could support their families on where they live rather than have mass migration around the country, Joad style, for a few jobs that may or may not acutally be available?

And I looked it up. Yes, the federal government had camps for Okies under the New Deal. There weren't enough jobs for all of them who arrived looking for work until the defense boom on the West Coast ten years later.

Originally Posted by misskit

To think people who are absolutely skint can afford to go across country on a job locating expedition is ridiculous. It costs a lot of money to move to a new location especially with kids and grandma in tow.

It does but if I found a good paying job in new location I would go there myself, make some money and reallocate family later. I have done so myself.

If the "system" is such that it provides no incentive to do the above then the system is broken. Much better a system which provides incentive to unemployed to become gainfully employed rather than one which deincentivizes folks from making hard change decisions when in hard times.

^ I can agree with that, to a point.

How many of these good paying jobs in a new location actually exists? Enough for the millions of people who are being paid minimum wage or little more to have one?

There is a dearth of decent jobs in the States now. Half or more of the jobs listings on sites like Monster or Indeed look like jobs but are in fact "schools" or scams.

Let me ask this question. What is more immoral, the fact that working people are getting government benefits because they don't make enough to live, or that corporations are making record profits by manufacturing overseas and paying US employees minimum wage?

Originally Posted by misskit

Enough for the millions of people who are being paid minimum wage or little more to have one?

Not even close but there are jobs to be had. The greatest need is in the area of skilled labor. Mechanics, technicians, etc. No need for a degree but need training in specific skilled labor categories. The government and institutions of high education have for far too long ignored skills training and placed priority on the premise all folks need a degree. This has resulted in huge numbers of "degreed" folks unemployed with billions in unpaid student loans and an acute shortage of skilled labor. This decades long misguided attitude is now why unemployment is dreadful.

It's time to give the skilled working man the respect and value they deserve. There is absolutely no reason someone with an MBA should be valued above a person who can repair our car, fix our plumbing, wire our houses or ??

Unfortunately the problem is not going to be solved overnight. Occupational skills training will take time. Many older unemployed simply will not be trainable and remain unemployed.

The only short term solution I can see is the creation of low skilled jobs via government projects. Far better to get some productivity than keeping folks on the dole.

Originally Posted by misskit

What is more immoral, the fact that working people are getting government benefits because they don't make enough to live, or that corporations are making record profits by manufacturing overseas and paying US employees minimum wage?

Companies will always find the most cost effective way to do business. Sending manufacturing jobs overseas is but one of many. Bottom line is the US does not need low cost manufacturing labor. Can't compete. Business is about profit. Not going to change.

Good news is companies large and small all over the US need trained workers and pay good salaries for them. A collaboration between industry and government is likely the only way the currently unemployed can attain, via training, skills to meet the job demand.

Is this what you're talking about Norton:

West Sound Technical Skills Center / Homepage

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Is this what you're talking about Norton:

Yes, except the link appears to be for for students between the ages of 16 and 21. I'm referring to adult skills training as well. Similar others across the US. Some large companies have skills training centers. Unions do except not near what they had in past.

Business/government collaboration in funding these training centers is the way to expand availability and entice more unemployed to enroll.

Point being our educational system is not providing our private sector with skills needed to fill positions.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Is this what you're talking about Norton:

Yes, except the link appears to be for for students between the ages of 16 and 21. I'm referring to adult skills training as well. Similar others across the US. Some large companies have skills training centers. Unions do except not near what they had in past.

Business/government collaboration in funding these training centers is the way to expand availability and entice more unemployed to enroll.

Point being our educational system is not providing our private sector with skills needed to fill positions.

Yes, you're right ... Link above are options for high school students. The one below is for adults:

Bates Technical College: Programs

Your Tax Dollars At Work.

It seems Sam's Clubs take Food Stamps (EBT Cards) in exchange for 'Cocktails In A Bag'

"Sam’s Club is pushing “cocktails in a bag” as an “EBT Approved” product for those on food stamps. EBT is a taxpayer funded “electronic benefit transfer” or food stamps in the form of a debit card."

SAM’S CLUB FEATURES “COCKTAILS IN A BAG” THAT ARE ADVERTISED AS “EBT APPROVED” - LibertyNEWS.com

Oh, btw, food stamp enrollments have skyrocketed 39% under Obama but that's probably Dubya's fault...

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Your Tax Dollars At Work.

It seems Sam's Clubs take Food Stamps (EBT Cards) in exchange for 'Cocktails In A Bag'

"Sam’s Club is pushing “cocktails in a bag” as an “EBT Approved” product for those on food stamps. EBT is a taxpayer funded “electronic benefit transfer” or food stamps in the form of a debit card."

SAM’S CLUB FEATURES “COCKTAILS IN A BAG” THAT ARE ADVERTISED AS “EBT APPROVED” - LibertyNEWS.com

Oh, btw, food stamp enrollments have skyrocketed 39% under Obama but that's probably Dubya's fault...

Dude ... even Papa Murphy's Take 'n' Bake pizza takes the EBT card.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Your Tax Dollars At Work.

It seems Sam's Clubs take Food Stamps (EBT Cards) in exchange for 'Cocktails In A Bag'

"Sam’s Club is pushing “cocktails in a bag” as an “EBT Approved” product for those on food stamps. EBT is a taxpayer funded “electronic benefit transfer” or food stamps in the form of a debit card."

SAM’S CLUB FEATURES “COCKTAILS IN A BAG” THAT ARE ADVERTISED AS “EBT APPROVED” - LibertyNEWS.com

Oh, btw, food stamp enrollments have skyrocketed 39% under Obama but that's probably Dubya's fault...

Dude ... even Papa Murphy's Take 'n' Bake pizza takes the EBT card.

Well, Papa Murphy's Pizza ain't booze now is it?

Tax dollars for folks to get drink on...

Originally Posted by Norton

Point being our educational system is not providing our private sector with skills needed to fill positions.

Not sure you can lay the blame on the educational system entirely but rather on some people's misguided ideas that a BA, MA or even a PhD in some Social Science area will provide a good income.

Realistic examination of what the job market needs like Welders, Electricians, Plumbers etc should be young folks first thoughts upon entering their last year of High School.

The job market for Liberal Arts degrees has gone the way of the Gooney Bird. Saw where there's PhD's flipping burgers at McDonalds while Plumbers, Welders etc are pulling in the big bucks...

A good plan B would be to get a CDL and drive truck until something opened in a field more to one's liking. It's basically a $35,000 a year job for the first couple of years doing over the road until you have the experience to get a local or dedicated route. Problem is can somebody receptive to giving it a try pass the medical exam and not have any DUI/DWI on their records.

^ I was looking at the SEATAC Airport jobs list and there are a lot of jobs open. Problem is as Miskit stated ... They really don't pay a living wage. Basically the pay is for someone who still lives with their parents.

I don't have a problem with people drawing welfare benefits that truly deserve it. It's just that I don't think society should have to pay for the piss poor decisions of others. If you can't afford 2-3 kids then don't have that many. If it happens it happens but the system as it is doesn't encourage personal responsibility.

Good tactic the rich and powerful employ. Keep the middle class fearful of the poor. And it's working.

Good piece on hunger in America. Unfortunately the debate has been cunningly shifted to vilify the poor and working poor.

6 Facts About Hunger That Demonstrate the Shameful Excesses of American Capitalism | Alternet

Put down the Gameboy & go outside!



Off Topic:

You keeping up with Duck Dynasty are ya Humbert?

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ I was looking at the SEATAC Airport jobs list and there are a lot of jobs open. Problem is as Miskit stated ... They really don't pay a living wage. Basically the pay is for someone who still lives with their parents.

What I have noticed in Kitsap county (and in Seattle if I ever looked at those airport jobs out of curiosity) is that:

Adults that will / have to / can take a full-time job that pays $10, 11, 12 dollars per hour are:

Married (sharing living expenses and combining income).
Living with BF/GF
Single and sharing a house or apartment with roommates.

Bare-bones survival in Kitsap for a single person, I've etimated at $12 gross, if no med insurance premium is paid out and one has no debt.

I have not factored in a mobile phone or TV cable bill.

Need new tires for your car? That could be a problem or time to use the credit card.

Kitsap has always been low pay and slow for work, but it's cost of living seems to have increased (probably like everywhere however).

Seattle has a lot more jobs, is hiring, and pays more. Of course, the basic cost of living usually is more.

A Vietnamese woman I was talking with in VN a few months ago casually but matter-of-factley said, "wages in America are low."

That said a lot.

^ My nephew graduated from Olympic High School a couple weeks ago and got hired by a contractor today in the shipyard building scaffolding. Starting pay $15 bucks an hour for an 18 year old with no work history.

Originally Posted by Humbert

Good tactic the rich and powerful employ. Keep the middle class fearful of the poor. And it's working.

Actually Humbert ... That post sounds like an often repeated left wing talking point ... Keep saying it often enough and I suppose it starts to make sense to somebody. Not sure who ... But somebody.

Anyway, IMHO it's not about fear at all. It's about personal responsibility and living within your means with as little government help as possible for as short a time as possible.

Assuming what you say is true ... How does that trump individual responsibility?