Government "subsidising" tobacco use?

[xanderxman]

OK. I am not sure I am posting in the appropriate section so please feel free to move or delete as necessary.

I have seen this over and over again for years and I am finally fed up enough to post about it on a public forum.

I stopped by my local 7-11 today to grab a six pack on the way home from work as it had been one of "those" days and I wanted to unwind a bit. I was in line behind a woman that had a loaf of bread, a pack of bologna, a pack of cheese and 4 two-liters of soda. She proceeded to pay for them using her EBT (Government assistance) card. She then proceeded to initiate another transaction (which makes me angry anyway) to purchase 2 three-packs of cigarillos. She whipped out a fresh $50 bill to pay for those. Seriously?!?!? She was grocery shopping, at a convenience store where prices are at least twice that of the grocery store, on tax payer money and using her cash to buy tobacco.

As a tax paying citizen it really irritates me when I see this kind of thing. I realize people fall on hard times and need help and I am fully willing to help those people. But when people use their "assistance" to buy food products (at a 7-11 no less) in order to be able to use their cash to purchase tobacco it really hits me the wrong way. Wouldn't their assistance be better used by purchasing at a less expensive place, like the grocery store? At least make me feel like my tax dollars are being put to something close to good use.

I would feel better if our tax payer money was put to use getting people in this situation started vaping rather than smoking. It is cheaper and better for them.

 

[Iffy]

Don't forget to vote Tuesday!!!

 

[xanderxman]

For all that is worth, I am going to.

 

[paulishuku]

Hopefully you havent opened a huge can of worms here. But honestly I agree with you. I cant tell you how many times Ive been in your exact position, and frame of mind in the past *cough* 4 years *cough* alone. I feel like, if you're wanting to accept money assistance from the government then everything you buy should be restricted to certain stores, and items and receipts audited.

To dig the hole even deeper.. Just think of this. All of the money that goes to welfare programs is tax money, right? That money goes to recipients which counts as unearned income and is not taxable, because its already taxed. So in reality, people can collect SSI, Welfare, Food Stamps, and Child Support and not a single dime goes to help pay for others because it's already been taxed!

Just a note though, I have NOTHING against Disability Insurance, which is different than SSI.

 

[tracilynnie]

The problem with situations like that are based on the fact that some convenience stores are actually retail contracted as grocery stores and to do so have to carry certain products such as milk, bread and meat products.. Yet these businesses are still able to have other things in them for example a fast food restaurant.

I worked in one awhile back that accepted EBT as it was labeled a grocery store and also had a Subway in it. The law says that EBT can be used on a fresh non-prepared form of food. Well, Subway is 'technically' a fresh non-prepared food and because it was part of the grocery store, it had to accept EBT. Now I was on EBT for a little while myself and even I would get ridiculously frustrated with people who would come in and buy 15 foot long subs and use their EBT cards to pay for it spending $75 of tax money on fast food and then I'd watch them turn around and walk to the other counter and spend cash to buy cigs and beer.

The welfare program is there for people who need help getting on their feet. I am happy to say I no longer need food stamps but I watch people like that take advantage of a system that is designed to help people like me and hold my breath waiting for the entire thing to be thrown away due to misuse.

I know exactly how you feel...

 

[Absintheur]

It happens all the time...and yes it bothers me seeing folks buying junk food with their EBT then turning around and spending cash on booze and tobacco...and then buying lottery tickets. I know for a fact there are now 4th generation welfare families here in my town...4 generations that have never worked...just waited till they were old enough to get on welfare...have a couple kids to up their income and just live off the taxes I pay. I am sorry it shouldn't be that way.

Feed the children...I am ok with that but there is enough public service work that needs done that the adults should earn the money they are paid. No job? then you report to a work center and do public service work 40 hours a week. Picking up trash, painting public buildings, cleaning up parks, removing graffiti...there is more than enough that needs done that would relieve the budget of the State.

TANSTAAFL...

 

[filter]

regardless of your stance on welfare/food stamps/assistance/etc, it is absolutely unbelievable that they are allowed to use it at places like that. i can't afford to grocery shop at convenience stores with MY money so why should other people be allowed to grocery shop at convenience stores with MY money? unreal.

i had a somewhat similar experience though it lacked the convenience store markup and the tobacco. i was at a regular supermarket and the woman in front of me "bought" about $150 of the best cuts of steak the store had (filet mignon, ribeye, boneless ny steak) and got it all on food stamps (ebt), the only thing she had to pay cash for was the name brand kingsford charcoal, which she also paid for with a crisp fifty dollar bill. since i was right behind her and only bought one thing i followed her out and saw her get into a brand new mustang. i just don't get it. part of me wants to milk the system (cant beat em, join em) and part of me is sickened and angry by it (i leave the store with one item to eat and it wasn't a premium cut of steak and get into an old honda civic). taxes are taken out of every one of my paychecks so that i can pay interest to china on debt that was accrued by wars and by funding this woman's filet mignon.

 

[Syav]

If I'm correct, an EBT card is consisted of $200 "groceries only" plus additional $200 cash. At least, that's how it is in Minnesota. Do you know how many people using EBT card nowadays can also afford Android smartphones? I think the EBT card should be "groceries only", otherwise they can purchase electronics and booze when they cash out that additional $200.

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved to The Lounge

 

[xanderxman]

Well, everyone is entitled to a smartphone, especially when I am helping to pay for it. And please make sure you get your nails done as well. Don't forget the beer and smokes on the way out.

And there are still people that wonder why plenty of Americans are completely ...... off with our current government system. And yes, I have decided to stop using capitalization when referring to our government. When they show me they care about me I will start showing I care about them.

 

[xanderxman]

Sorry Unforeseen. Wasn't sure where to put this.

 

[JAY73]

now i know all of ya'll are pretty upset but lets not forget about people who don't milk the system, my wife draws ssi and medicaide and if it was not for ebt we would not eat do i some times stol at e-z mart for loaf of bread sure did i buy cigs to when i smoked you bet that does not mean i milked the system does it piss me off when i go to a food bank and see some one get four or five boxes of food and drive off in an escalade while i get one box and push my shopping cart home cause i cant afford a car lord yes, but to the op dont judge her even if you know her you dont know what her life is like or the hardships she is enduring maybe she was in a hurry to get some food for her family beforo going to a second or third job you just dont know remember judge lest you be judged save that for the bif guy... just saying...

 

[elmattias]

Don't forget to vote Tuesday!!!

this guy has the right idea....lets go mittens!!!!

seriously though this thread is probably gonna be outsided soon.

 

[bubucis]

If I'm correct, an EBT card is consisted of $200 "groceries only" plus additional $200 cash. At least, that's how it is in Minnesota. Do you know how many people using EBT card nowadays can also afford Android smartphones? I think the EBT card should be "groceries only", otherwise they can purchase electronics and booze when they cash out that additional $200.

400$ per week or month?

 

[DaveP]

I'd like to see everyone work and support themselves. It's not reality, especially in the current economic climate. I've seen the same sorts of things go on in line at the grocery store and in the convenience store.

You can feel better about it once you realize it's not a free ride. Most of the benefits are limited in duration and must be reapplied for periodically. Those that can't continually justify need drop off the system eventually.

That said, some manage to stay in the system for the max full benefit period of 5 years. After that, it becomes difficult to obtain benefits and the ones they get are reduced significantly.

 

[Mac]

If smoking tobacco and consuming alcohol shorten's people's lives. Wouldn't non productive members of society smoking tobacco be a good thing? Assuming the person in line in front of you get's medicaid and early ssi etc. Wouldn't it be good for our country's bottom line for them to be drinking heavily and smoking like a chimney?

 

[elmattias]

it gets worse in some states,I know here I've seen at least one time someone pulling cash from the atm with their food stamp card.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[xanderxman]

I am not judging people who need assistance. I said in my post that I realize there are those who truly need it and I am happy to help. But, especially in my area, there are people who make a career of assistance. It is their equivalent to a paycheck. I see someone getting out of a brand new Lexus with at least $2,000 worth of chrome rims and a very nice sound system. They go into 7-11 and proceed to buy all of their food related items on EBT and then they pay for their beer and cigs with 50 or 100 bills.

Maybe they should have saved the money on the car and bought a beater that would get them to and from a job so they could afford to buy their own food. I am certain that the people who do not milk the system also do not drive a car like that and have the latest fashionable sneakers that cost hundreds of dollars. The ones that truly need it and want to better themselves scrape and save in order to get off of it and make a better life for themselves.