Texas to outlaw the use of SNAP for purchasing junk food/energy drinks.

[breadisfunny]

The Nanny States of America.

so your outraged because people dont have the right to die of starvation? or that they can't buy unhealthy foods in texas anymore?

[endersblade]

Good freaking move, I say. Maybe curb the obesity rate just a tiny bit, hopefully. I had a friend who was on $200 a month for food stamps, and would blow almost all of it within the first two or three days buying capri sun, candy, and energy drinks. Always pissed me off.

[melodramocracy]

Imagine, if you will, a nanny state so insidious that it gives poor people money, but only for certain things. The horror!

Imagine, if you will, the ever-eroding idea of personal responsibility. If I make poor choices for food, then I get to suffer the consequences, no matter who's paying for it. Perhaps we should just kill several birds with one stone, and ban junk food altogether.

Or, imagine a population that loves to point fingers at folks on food stamps, screeching about how irresponsibly they're using food money, and what a drain on society they are, but seem to have no concern over the shit that gets served in public school lunches (also from.. wait for it... tax money).

But that's different, or something.

[TheImmortalLordAtlas]

The government is perferctly well within its rights to dictate what people spend government fundings on.

[obdigore]

Imagine, if you will, the ever-eroding idea of personal responsibility. If I make poor choices for food, then I get to suffer the consequences, no matter who's paying for it. Perhaps we should just kill several birds with one stone, and ban junk food altogether.

Or, imagine a population that loves to point fingers at folks on food stamps, screeching about how irresponsibly they're using food money, and what a drain on society they are, but seem to have no concern over the shit that gets served in public school lunches (also from.. wait for it... tax money).

But that's different, or something.

Strawmen! Strawmen everywhere! An entire army of them. My fellow villagers, get the torches, we have work to do!

[Rhaide]

I fully agree with your point, I have seen people around here buying cigarettes, pornography, and alcohol with our equivalent of food stamps. These people are disgusting, and I'm glad states are cracking down on them, it's honestly the first step in fixing our 'free stuff for the lazy folks and moochers' practices in this country.

However, if you have the time, I'd really like to see an itemized list of how you manage to only spend 180 dollars a month eating like you do... A rough estimate for your exact diet here would be:

Cheerios (1 box lasts about a week) = ~4 weeks x 3.50 = 14.00
Soup (15) x 1.00 = 15.00
Bread (2 loafs for half month you aren't eating soup) = 4.00
Lunchmeat (3 packages for your sandwiches) = 12.00 unless you're eating unhealthy products
Chicken/pork/beef (30 nights) x 5.00 = 150.00
2 cans of veggies x (30 nights) x 0.80 = 48.00

Since you weren't specific about drinking, I'll assume you drink mostly water and the things you mention are consumed sparingly.
Coffee would run you at least 10 dollars a month assuming you drink a single cup each morning. (10.00)
Tea would run you about 5 dollars a month assuming you drink a single cup every other day (5.00)
Milk would run you 2.50 a gallon, you're going to need probably at least 2-3 gallons assuming you're eating your cereal with milk and drinking milk too (5.00 at least)
V-8 will run you 10 dollars a month at least if you're drinking a decent sized glass a day. (10)

So NOT including things like frozen pizza, eggs, or creamer, not to mention things like toilet paper, paper towels, soap for washing dishes, etc etc... you're already at:

$273.00 total. Even with coupons, you can't get close to the amount listed.

That is well over the 180 you say you spend. Even if you manage to find things at somewhat lower prices than what I spend around here (and I'm talking store brands and off brands, I'm not giving prices for name brands here, I'm assuming you're buying the cheapest stuff that won't kill you) or go without a meal here and there, it seems unlikely that you're able to live off that for an entire month at least where I live.

I'm not calling you a liar, I honestly would like to know how you do this, if there is some sort of trick you use or you buy the 'valu-time' or 'for-maximum-value' brands (god forbid, those WILL do terrible things to your body). This would drastically help me, I'm not short on cash, but I would really like to lower my spending as I spend a ton on food every month for myself and my soon-to-be wife.

[melodramocracy]

Strawmen! Strawmen everywhere! An entire army of them. My fellow villagers, get the torches, we have work to do!

Let me know when you see one.

[Spectral]

Imagine, if you will, the ever-eroding idea of personal responsibility. If I make poor choices for food, then I get to suffer the consequences, no matter who's paying for it. Perhaps we should just kill several birds with one stone, and ban junk food altogether.

Or, imagine a population that loves to point fingers at folks on food stamps, screeching about how irresponsibly they're using food money, and what a drain on society they are, but seem to have no concern over the shit that gets served in public school lunches (also from.. wait for it... tax money).

But that's different, or something.

So, do you have some actual point about the policy, or did you just want to shout "personal responsibility!"?

---------- Post added 2013-02-10 at 11:58 PM ----------

Chicken/pork/beef (30 nights) x 5.00 = 150.00

Holy fuck, why would someone eat 2 pounds of chicken every night? Foodstamps isn't intended to be for bodybuilding. That's not even really budget shopping at all, I can go buy boneless, skinless chicken thighs for $2.50 a pound any day I want to.

[Sorrior]

I'm intrigued. Proceed...

Aside from those with an EXCEPTIONALLY rare disorder that makes water(even their own sweat) dangerous. SOME people with various autism spectrum disorders are for whatever reason unable to consume water. I am one and i have met others. I don;t know if it is things we add to it(i HAVE noticed that te more pure the water is the more i can handle before getting sick) or if it is purely psychological.

What i DO know is i have tried tap water, bottled water, flavored water and NONE have i been able tpo drink more thena VERY small amount of before gagging and just being unable to consume more. I have even tried small amounts to train away this reflex..Doesn;t work.

It's strange unusual and pretty rare but it DOES exist. Those people are the only reason. We wind up resorting to juices, sodas and similar non straight up water beverages.

As long as even a few of those are allowed fine but you have to be careful about such laws.

[pallydan]

1 months supply of meat is not $150.

Eggs are also cheap protein.

I'd go with fresh over canned produce.

Buy in bulk.

The cheapest route for basic nutritional needs would be spaghetti. Dry noodles last forever. Meat sauce can be frozen and keeps well. Sauce is cheap and so is ground beef when bought on sale. Spaghetti has a good balance of protein, veggies, carbs, and fats.

1 months supply -
~30 sauce glass jars = $45 ($1.50 each), $30 (canned tomatoes)
~30 boxes of noodles = $30 ($1 each on sale)
15lbs of lean ground meat (1/2 lb per sauce) = $60-90 ($4-6 per lb, ground chicken/turkey/beef/pork in bulk)

$120-165 as a rough estimate for someone who has to eat about 2400 calories/day.

1 jar sauce (350 cal)
1 box dry spaghetti (1600 cal)
1/2lb ground meat (400-500 cal)

[Kalyyn]

Coffee isn't necessary either. Don't criticize energy drinks (which I don't drink) while condoning your own stimulant crutch, that's just downright hypocritical.

The difference is that coffee isn't blatantly, hideously overpriced like energy drinks are (excluding Starbucks, which is irrelevant anyway because we're talking about grocery stores)

[oplawlz]

Aside from those with an EXCEPTIONALLY rare disorder that makes water(even their own sweat) dangerous. SOME people with various autism spectrum disorders are for whatever reason unable to consume water. I am one and i have met others. I don;t know if it is things we add to it(i HAVE noticed that te more pure the water is the more i can handle before getting sick) or if it is purely psychological.

What i DO know is i have tried tap water, bottled water, flavored water and NONE have i been able tpo drink more thena VERY small amount of before gagging and just being unable to consume more. I have even tried small amounts to train away this reflex..Doesn;t work.

It's strange unusual and pretty rare but it DOES exist. Those people are the only reason. We wind up resorting to juices, sodas and similar non straight up water beverages.

As long as even a few of those are allowed fine but you have to be careful about such laws.

You do realize that soda is water with a flavored syrup added, right? You can still buy juices and milk under the restrictions mentioned by the OP.

[Ayla]

1 months supply of meat is not $150.

Eggs are also cheap protein.

I'd go with fresh over canned produce.

Buy in bulk.

The cheapest route for basic nutritional needs would be spaghetti. Dry noodles last forever. Meat sauce can be frozen and keeps well. Sauce is cheap and so is ground beef when bought on sale. Spaghetti has a good balance of protein, veggies, carbs, and fats.

1 months supply -
~30 sauce glass jars = $45 ($1.50 each), $30 (canned tomatoes)
~30 boxes of noodles = $30 ($1 each on sale)
15lbs of lean ground meat (1/2 lb per sauce) = $60-90 ($4-6 per lb, ground chicken/turkey/beef/pork in bulk)

$120-165 as a rough estimate for someone who has to eat about 2400 calories/day.

1 jar sauce (350 cal)
1 box dry spaghetti (1600 cal)
1/2lb ground meat (400-500 cal)

Dont forget the cost of Insulin. Welcome to the Diabetes club.

[obdigore]

Dont forget the cost of Insulin. Welcome to the Diabetes club.

Why would someone eating pasta every day be more susceptible to Diabetes? I'm not saying you're wrong, I don't know. I thought Diabetes was caused by having years of extremely high blood sugar?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

So it turns into screaming of *PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY*. Oh lord....Light have mercy on melo

[Rendia]

Why would someone eating pasta every day be more susceptible to Diabetes? I'm not saying you're wrong, I don't know. I thought Diabetes was caused by having years of extremely high blood sugar?

Because of all the carbs in the noodles. It isn't JUST sugar that causes diabetes, it is Carbohydrates, which sugars are, but starches are as well.

Pasta is actually NOT good for you. And wheat pasta tastes life 7 different kinds of dead dog ass...

[Sorrior]

You do realize that soda is water with a flavored syrup added, right? You can still buy juices and milk under the restrictions mentioned by the OP.

Heh as i said in the first post it's something about straight water.

And that's good then.

---------- Post added 2013-02-11 at 05:50 AM ----------

Because of all the carbs in the noodles. It isn't JUST sugar that causes diabetes, it is Carbohydrates, which sugars are, but starches are as well.

Pasta is actually NOT good for you. And wheat pasta tastes life 7 different kinds of dead dog ass...

This pretty much. In fact carbs are worse then alot of sugars for a diabetic.

I actually had the same "Damn diabeties much" thought to his post.

And yeah former full diabetic here. Gotten down to being pre diabetic.

[Ashnazg]

Yeah, it's pretty wild. I went from that big, poorly insulated place on the lower floor to a 700 sq. ft. apartment on the fourth floor of a new building, and I average about $80 a month for gas and electric together now. Most of it's because I always have my computer and TV on.

Lucky you. I live in a brand new apartment near Manhattan and my electric bill hovers around $200/mo in Dec - Feb, and $150/mo in June-Aug. 900 sqft and electric heating/AC only (no gas heating). And I don't even own a TV, and I try to keep my computer off at night

[shimerra]

Let me know when you see one.

A thread discussing food stamps for the poor and you attempt to invalidate the argument because there is no displayed outrage about the quality of school lunches. Go figure a thread discussing food stamps and people are talking about food stamps and not school lunches. What a Topsy turvey world we live in. Oh also the "Eroding personal responsibility" bogey man. Reminds me of that Bullshit episode about manners.

See the strawman is thus: as you pointed out they are both similar because they are tax payer funded. However, you attempt to refute the position that food stamps should be limited in what they can buy by saying because outrage about unhealthy school lunches isn't expressed here that the outrage that is being expressed about food stamps is disingenuous or misplaced or incorrect. But you never actually attempt to refute the actual position itself and make the potentially incorrect assumption that the same people who are expressing concern over what food stamps can buy aren't also concerned with what schools serve for lunch. TLDR: You did nothing to weaken, refute, or disprove a position you disagree with you just imagined an inconsistency, pointed said imagined inconsistency out, and declared yourself the victor.

[Palmz]

Please correct me if I am wrong but isn't most junk food i.e. cakes, cookies, cereals, energy drinks etc mostly refined sugars? Sugars that have been produced in a lab through a chemical bonding process to mimic real foods and provide ZERO benefits to your natural health? Empty caloric food that slowly decreases your overall health, causing health issues that I am going to have to pay for AGAIN when you lay in your hospital bed because you aren't a responsible human being. These cards should only allow six categories. Whole meats, low starch veggies, fruits, natural fats, grains and dairy.

If I am going to help you with your assistance then I want you to live a healthy life because I don't want to pay for the consequences of your irresponsible and selfish reasons. If you want to enjoy junk food then you damn well better be paying for it with money you earned outside of government assistance. And if you do fall into a hospital for having health issues because of that said junk food you paid for with your own personally money, then you are paying for the hospital bill!