#food stamps, #ebt cards, #fraud, #antipoverty programs, #President Obama
Recently you might have heard how people are using their food stamps to buy Marijuana. This story has added to the alarm that taxpayers have felt after seeing individuals also using food stamps for items such as porn and alcohol. Yet what should food stamps be used for?
I believe food stamps need to be there as a safety net for those least among us to insure that they receive the basic food and nutrition to survive but nothing more. The current system equally rewards those who are trying to escape poverty with hard work the same as those who are living on the system. This government systems keeps those impoverished by enabling them to buy items that hurt their ability to become independent. We need to change this system so that we can continue to help those less fortunate and give them the ability to escape the bonds of poverty that they are stuck in. We also must realize that these monies are taken away from the hard working taxpayers pocket and therefore they should have a right to decide how these monies are spend. Here are a just a few ways I would consider changing the system. WHAT LIMITATIONS IF ANY WOULD YOU PUT ON FOOD STAMPS/EBT CARDS.
(1) EBT cards can only be used for certain food items and basic necessary supplies that are beneficial to those who are utilizing these services and are reasonable priced. Some of the changes would be instead of soda you would get seltzer water and instead of chips you could get nuts etc. The basic necessary supplies could be paper towels, toilet paper, soap, shampoo but only reasonable priced items.
(2) Those who are working either part-time or full-time would have a gold EBT card which would enable them to purchase additional food items for their families
(3) EBT cards could not be used to withdraw or add cash to them but only to purchase food items and necessary items listed in 1.