Going somewhat back on topic....Rolling Eyes....
Here as another example of abuse from this same Government fund.....
http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-ne...

I love to hear that I make people jealous of how well I live. It makes me feel good inside especially when all I have is a high school diploma. I was lied to and made to feel like a failure for several years because I didn't obtain a degree beyond high school even though I was top 15% in my class and score in the 90%+ of the ACT in math and science. I chose to work hard for a living giving up weekends and days off frequently to work for today and the future of my personal finances. I was not born rich, after paying off what I had for student loans at 19; I had a little over $100 left to my name. I'm proud to say less than 10 years later I now have just under $200,000 I can pass onto a family member if I died today between cash assets, property, IRA, and mainly whole-life insurance. I was able to achieve all of this before I am even 30 when supposedly there are 1 in 5 people poor enough to qualify for EBT. So I think I know a thing or two about lazy when I see it folks ;) And to make poobah happy with a quote, “get busy living, or get busy dying.”

Lemke10, you totally mischaracterize poobah's comments. Your insult is the easy way out of intelligently responding to poobah's posts. For that you aren't worthy of respect.

Lemke10, I provided additional data from the state and engaged in a civil discussion. When I provided that data from a different perspective than you had and it didn't lend itself to your arguments, this is what I get back from you. Before lobbing insults at others, you may want to take a look at the reactions by others to your comments:

"It's hard to believe there are people like Lemke10 in this world."

"Lemke10 should remember the old adage that is so very true. "There but for the grace of God go I"."

"Lemke must be one lucky [expletive deleted]. He sounds like he has never been down and out."

I don't know if poobah is a man or woman, but regardless there is no way poobah is married. No one would ever put up with a character like them for an extended period. Look at poobah's 5,000+ posts. Constantly quoting or bashing others posts, guess, but that's what happens when you can't come up with an original thought.

partarican1 - I relied on the quote "Rock County had 26,151 recipients receiving $36,207,351 or an average of $26.63 per week per recipient" from poohbah, go pester him. Poohbah, I already told you, since I pay my own way, I don't have to accept the lowest-cost choices on everything, so my Woodman's receipt from last week isn't going to help you. (Frogger, should we try to guess how many people WILL show up looking like something that got dragged in by the cat, or worse, if they show up at all? "If they don't want to take me as I am, I don't want their stinking job." Sound about right? This is not on topic, sorry!)

partarican1 said, "I'm not giving you my recipies."

I didn't ask for your recipes. I asked for quantities of several items you listed, but you're apparently not going to give that information. That's your choice and I respect it. Have a nice day.

I also apologize personally to you partarican1! How much you spend and what you spend it on is your choice! Maybe one I need to start thinking about while still getting what I want to eat! And until the next ridiculous discussion have a great day and take care! :)

tink0803...me too...end of my part in this discussion...brightest blessings to everyone :)

again- why the deletion of comments saying we are tired of lazy people???

There is a job fair tomorrow! They atually said in the commercial"SHOW up like this is an actual interview" that means no tshirts and jeans in case you don't know what that means. Also act like you actually want a job!

I am done with this topic. We went from people being obese, lazy with tattoos and with no jobss who are popping babies out every year who are on food share, buying expensive foods, or strickly junk food, energy drinks, while talking on their cell phones, etc...to what we can buy with what amount of money, I think I may have just been dragged into that have nothing better to do person I was talking about in my first post! I apologize and hope you all have a great day! :) Stay healthy, happy and always smile, or open a door for someone, or let someone know you think they look nice today, because no food can ever make you feel inside if you are just happy with yourself and except others for who they are!!!

poobah-yes, I do realize what I've said, and I'll repeat myself for you here, I'm not giving you my recipies...why is it so hard to fathom a thrifty shopper who was able to feed her family healthy foods, for a cheap price? wasn't there a series of articles in the Gazette within the last year or so about exactly what we're going back and forth on here? a woman was able to be a thrifty shopper cheaply...this kind of stuff should be the norm and not the extreme...

partarican1, you do realize that you are claiming to feed an entire family of four for $1.70 LESS than what the USDA says is the least expensive nutritional meal plan for just ONE middle-aged male? Something just isn't right.

partarican1 asked, "what more do you need?"

The quantity of rice, potatoes, noodles, fresh carrots, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers and cheaper cuts of meat like canned tuna, chicken, pork or ground beef required each week. Those are in addition to the exact quantities you previously mentioned of 2 box non-brand name cereal, 1 gallon skim milk, 3 loaves bread, 1 jar peanut butter, 1 jar jelly, 1 bag apples, 1 bunch bananas, 1 bag frozen veggies -- all for under $40.

popular misconception is that you need a butt-load of dairy or meat products to be healthy...milk with the morning cereal, and a glass at dinner...what is wrong with drinking water? we all need at least 6 8-oz glasses/day...and tuna sandwiches, pb+j, or hotdogs are great lunch foods, too...serve them with a piece of fruit or with fresh veggies instead of chips or boxed foods like mac-n-cheese, or instant potatoes...and it's easy to shop on the dime if you only shop the periphery of the store....

I'm not giving you my depression-era cooking style secrets or recipes, poobah, but I'll tell you I learned it from my grandmother, who lived during the great depression as the oldest child in the home looking after a family of 7...and let it be known that all my children are healthy adults and they never went hungry on $40/week for the whole family of 4...

One gallon of milk a week for 4 people, two boxes of cereal, what do you drink during the day or with your meals? So it sounds like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a week and cereal for breakfast with little or no milk, and nothing to drink at all! And then for dinner you get 5 peas each and have to cut your hamburgers in half to make sure everyone gets one! Sorry, I am so happy that works for you and your family, just seems almost impossible in my situation! Again I am not out to judge anyone considering everyone else seems to do that for us, but in all reality I don't think there are many out there that can do what your doing and not have to run to the store at least three times a week for something!

I've also heard that family dining at home encourages slower eating, which benefits digestion...we didn't buy chips and soda, and cookies and cakes and other high sugar/high fat treats...and occasionally we'd have to go back to the store for things like a small bottle of olive oil or a can of tomato paste, but we never spent more than what we were allowed on the food stamp program...

JoyM, respectfully, that's the problem. So far, no single person has been able to give a specific example of how they are able to feed themselves on $26.63 per week. And neither has a family of four been able to give a specific example of how they feed a family of four for $106.52 per week.

The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion authors a monthly publication called the "Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average, July 2012" [ http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/Fo... ]

Using the "thrifty" plan level, which is the least expensive of four levels of food costs (thrifty, low-cost, moderate and liberal), these are the USDA figures to feed a family of four nutritional meals:

One child aged 5: $24.20 per week

One child aged 9: $35.00 per week

On male aged 35: $41.70 per week

One female aged 35: $37.10 per week

That's a total of $138.00 per week. A shortfall of $31.48 from what Food Share provides. $31.38 represents 23% of the family's food budget and basically means one or more persons don't eat nutritional meals that week.

The situation is worse for a single male requiring $41.70 per week and receiving $26.63 per week. That shortfall of $15.07 represents 36% of their food budget and means they don't eat for 2.5 days of each week.

poobah--like I said it was for a family of 4, eating the serving size...what more do you need?

JoyM- it was $200 per month, not per week...what is your monthly food bill sans products for the home? it's great that you can afford that for your family, and there are a lot of people out there who wish they could afford to spend that much every week for their families, myself included...

That's for how many people, partarican1? And the quantities?

poobah- 2 box non-brand name cereal, 1 gallon skim milk, 3 loaves bread, 1 jar peanut butter, 1 jar jelly, 1 bag apples, 1 bunch bananas, rice, potatoes, noodles, 1 bag frozen veggies, fresh carrots, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers, and cheaper cuts of meat like canned tuna, chicken, pork or ground beef..all under $40/week at Woodman's and Kwik Trip gas station...

no junk except for the jelly and white bread...it can be done, you just have to get creative...

poohbah, I can't give you exact examples, but I will tell you that my weekly tab for 4 is routinely under $200, and that includes personal items, cleaning supplies, paper goods, OTC health products, along with produce, whole wheat bread, brown rice, healthier pasta, canned goods, and meat and yes, some soda and snacks...which I can afford to buy WITH MY OWN MONEY AND NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S. When we have gone through job losses, the budget gets tightened to fewer prepared foods with sodas and snacks virtually eliminated...it is still possible to pop corn in a pan at home and not buy pre-made snacks...and if you are out of work, you do have more time to do prepare foods from scratch while you look for work which, unless you are able to relocate (who can sell their houses these days, even if they want to?), will not take 40 hours a week to do each week.

yeah or that someone can buy a can of Red Bull but not toothpaste or toilet paper! Seems pretty silly! Mama6 I applaud you for what you do, it doesn't sound easy and doesn't sound like you have it easy, but you are doing what you can and getting by it sounds. KUDOS to you!!!

Like I state below...we feed a family of 7 on $162 of Foodshare per month. Now let me rephrase that...we feed a family of 7 completely dairy and gluten free (by medical necessity) on that! And that doesn't include the one person's extreme medical needs. The main staple of our diet is the 50lbs of white rice we eat per month that cost about $20. Not very nutritious...but we don't have a lot of choice.

To clear a few things up about people who are incorrect about some of the "facts" they're using to make a point.. You can buy energy drinks with EBT; however, monster & I believe NOS is NOT covered by the EBT. Don't ask me why you can buy a Red Bull and not a Monster but I had to clear that up. So to the person who made the remark about Monster.. You are incorrect. It has been that the EBT doesn't cover Monster for a while now.

correct you can get papa murphys, because it is not cooked! I am unsure about what people are using when they buy monster energy drinks or food at wal-mart just know what I can and cannot buy! And a papa murphys pizza really is no different than buying the ingredients to make home made, so I really see nothing wrong with that once a month as a pizza movie night with the kids!

partarican1 said, "and it is possible to feed a family of 4 on $200/month; I've done it most of my adult life with my kids and husband..."

$12.50 per week per person for food. Please do share a typical weekly food plan with us.

I also agree it can be done just not the way I like to feed my kids, and I don't make my kids eat junk food they get it very seldom and pop to them is like an expensive champagne would be to me! These are treats, or snacks, not meals. My kids love to eat and they like their vegetables, roasts, home made pizza instead of frozen, chicken breast on the grill instead of some nasty tasting frozen chicken nuggets. So I guess I get what I know my kids WILL eat! and if these foods are luxury foods to most of you than I guess that is the way it is! Again I spend more than I probably should out of my pocket on groceries. But all the food in my house usually gets ate up with hardly any waste, so I feel as if I am doing it the right way!

i saw a post that said you cant buy hot cooked food with your card....a friend of mine can order a pizza from Papa Murphy's because you cook it your self and also she gets the ready made chicken and onion rings with the card also from walmart she does complain that your paper products should be included and bath products because they are needed...

nicely put the both you! I cannot agree more!

and it is possible to feed a family of 4 on $200/month; I've done it most of my adult life with my kids and husband

and who says you have to feed kids junk food? last time I checked, the parent was responsible for the health and welfare of their children, and also the ONE IN CHARGE...so the excuse that your kids won't eat healthy is on the parent and not the rest of the community...here's a tip: if you don't buy it they won't eat it-sure they may get junk at someone elses home, but at least you've done your part at home....

I agree,and I receive EBT. I have to be careful that i use them wisely, buying bulk, watching sales, knowing what store has what items that i want that are particular to that store and what the variety is at each store.
I agree people abuse food stamps and it amazes me. The selling of the food was a surprise to me, but there are households of multiple recipients. There are also households without sufficient income to keep gas in the car to look for or keep work once a job is found and gas is needed until that first paycheck. Electric bills, kids clothes, and it's not just little kids, teens cost a lot, then there's school fees. I even had a Christmas without any presents, how hard is that for a teen or any kid? But that's the reality of being poor.
It's just a shame that unappreciative people get EBT. The introduction of the card curtailed the abuse of the paper stamps, but believe me there are those of us shaking our heads too. We wonder how they get away with it when we're struggling.
I've reported people, but these people have buried an inheritance in a family trust, have a 25k van and just got a 51k house, flat screens, tivo, iphones, ordering stuff online, family pays phones, insurance and they still get public assistance?...republicans in democratic clothing...I think that is a slap in the face to poor and disabled that need echo and food banks, hell, that need homes. Actual poor people that have to walk in pain for food, are confined to wheelchairs, wanna a reality check, go to a second harvest food bank, makes me count my blessings
It's embarrassing to go to a checkout and have the cashier give you a dirty look or change their friendly attitude when they see an EBT card. I've had things bagged however and when i complained the checkout(store mgr)told the bagger not to worry i used EBT. right in front of me! So it hurts both ways...and that's the real deal for EBT.

yes, there is abuse of the food stamp program, and yes, there are cashiers who don't care what you buy as long as they can move you through the check-out line as fast as possible...and there will always be those few who abuse the system, and give the others who don't a bad rep for being on food stamps...

I've been on food stamps in the past, and I've been the cashier checking people out at the grocery store...have I ever committed food stamp fraud? no...have I ever prevented food stamp fraud as a cashier? yes...being in the system gave me a unique perspective on how others abuse the system...

for example...I know a girl who refuses to work, she has issues health-wise (she doesn't follow her doctors recommendations for her health issues) but it's not enough to keep her unemployed, and she receives disability benefits from the feds and the state...she sells her food stamps when she's low on cash, and milks the system so she'll never have to work again, even though she is perfectly capable of having a full-time job...

sly as a fox, or stupid is as stupid does? she's managed to manipulate the system in her favor...there are a lot of people who need food stamps that would never consider doing the things this girl does...and I feel bad for those who get the short end of the stick because of people like this girl I know...will I report her? without actual proof other than what she tells me, what could I do? not a whole lot, I presume..

just was told you can only buy energy drinks that have nutritional facts. Which pretty much is only Red Bull!

well not with mine. I have gone shopping and my daughter wants one once in a while and it ALWAYS comes up at the end of the purchase where I have to pay for that with my debit card, which I already knew it would! Yes, I said I buy my 16 year old one once in a while! I even buy chips and soda on occassion or maybe some ice cream! Oh geez, the janesville food stamp police are going to have something to say about that!!! All of you commenting obviously don't have kids, or you have kids that love to eat carrotts, lettuce and celery as their snacks. My kids are good and do what I ask, they get rewarded with a snack of their choice or maybe even take them out shopping to the local dollar store and let them pick out $5 worth of junk that might break in an hour. So what your all saying is I should not reward my children in anyways so I can buy more lettuce, carrots and celery! BLAH!!!

Yes, you can buy energy drinks with food share.

All the assumptions. Yes there are $7 an hour maybe even $8 hour jobs out there, I agree everyone should try and get a job, but you know what they would still be on food stamps. So you would still have something to say about that person! Yes I do work, I work almost 40 hours a week, and get paid more than $7 an hour, and yes I get food stamps. I will share this because I give a rat. I get $198 a month for me and my three kids! If anyone out there can take me shopping (with or without coupons) and buy enough food with that so my kids can eat breakfast everyday and also have a good dinner than please message me and we can meet up somewhere because I want to know where and how! I refuse to feed my kids mac-n-cheese, .29 cent ramon noodle soup, $3 pizza's from aldi's to get by on that $198 a month. I still spend a lot of money out of my pocket a month for food! Milk alone for me & my kids for a week is $10 or more, so there is $40 of my $198 a month so my kids can drink milk with their meals, cereal etc...so really I agree lets see some example of prices, brands, etc to make my $198 last for at least 20+ breakfasts and 20+ dinners! OH and also at least these obese, lazy people are spending their food stamps on food and are not the ones out in the parking lot selling their cards!

JoyM said, "Also, poohbah, my family of four could get by carefully on $106.52 for food only..."

Well let's see a weekly food plan for your family of four then on $106.52. All I keep hearing is how easy it is to eat on $26.63 per week but nobody is willing to give examples of what that would consist of for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day for a week. Additionally, it is more cost effective to feed four people than it is to feed a single person. So perhaps you have a weekly food plan for a single person on $26.63 per week as well.

you CANNOT buy energy drinks, any paper products, cigarettes, any fast food or alreaddy cooked food (HOT) from grocery stores...so what you think you see someone using might not be what you think it is!

Holy crap, here we go again! Does no-body have anything better to talk or comment about in Janesville Wisconsin! If this is the most exciting journalism we can come up with here in Lamesville than I feel ill! Stay out of everyone else's business and live your life to the fullest and be happy and love your kids, your husband, your wife! Yes you can think the person in front of you buying a huge delicous steak on food stamps is obese and has a tattoo on her arm, who cares....really????? Like I said before on the other crazy article about food stamps, mind your own business! I know I know you PAY TAXES blah blah blah, I do too! I do not abuse the system and I KNOW there are many out there that do, but sitting here complaining about it isn't going to change that. And to be honest I would rather see that obese person buying a nice good steak than loading up chips and soda! Sure was glad to see Frogger gave his/her two cents on this blog! Must be sitting at the local tavern using free wifi again! :)

At Lyon's Quickmart on the corner of Main Street and Racine Street they have two pin number keypads on the counter and one of them is clearly labeled "Quest" in large bold font. When you stand in line you clearly see which keypad people use. I have personally seen a lot of Monster drink, beef jerky and candy bars and other questionable items run through that keypad and then be distributed to groups of young adults who consume them in the lot, no children present. In my mind I always say "You are welcome for me buying that purchase for you." I agree that there is a need for more checks and balances in the Quest system to make sure the money goes to those who truly need it instead go going to whoever makes Monster energy drinks.

Also, poohbah, my family of four could get by carefully on $106.52 for food only - remember, it can't be used for toilet paper, soap or deodorant, which are the kinds of things which raise your grocery total quickly and which are necessities. It is ludicrous that it can be used for soda and chips, which also raise your total quickly to the exclusion of other items if that is your budget.

You can't really abuse EBT...at least not at the grocery store. When you swipe it, it only pays for items that are allowed to be purchased. As far as people selling the use of their EBT card in gas station parking lots...I'm guessing that it is about as prevalent as the voter fraud that the GOP keeps talking about yet never able to find any. If a person has an EBT card, they've met State standards for having it. Our elected officials get way more benefits than the poor in this country. They get full pay retirement for the rest of their lives and a really sweet healthcare deal too. So if I were a fiscal conservative, I probably wouldn't start my crusade on the costly dangers of EBT abuse, just saying.

poohbah, lemke doesn't have to stretch his food dollars if he's using his own, so why would you think his current spend is valid for someone using our money to eat?

To blast all people on assistance is as ignorant as saying there is no abuse and the programs should just be wide open, why must there be such extremes on these threads and a lack of intelligence and rational thought?

So, Lemke10, you say that eating on $26.63 is "very easy to do" but are apparently unwilling to share your previous week's food budget with us. I figured with all of your suggestions about what people should be doing, and not doing, with their Food Share dollars that your food budget would serve as a great example for Food Share recipients to follow.

26.63/week is very easy to do if you actually tried to make an effort. Mmmm I feel a documentary coming on. Don't forget about WIC, food banks, Echo, Church programs, reduced/free lunches, etc. There are many ways to double dip for food!

Lemke10, instead of using your convoluted story about your $199.96 getting passed on, which only serves to obfuscate the painful truth, let's make this math both simpler and more meaningful. Using the 2011 data link you provided that shows benefits per county and statewide total, and using this link: [ http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/em/rsdata/r... ] that shows recipients per county and statewide total, we can see the average benefits per recipient by county and statewide.

Rock County had 26,151 recipients receiving $36,207,351 or an average of $26.63 per week per recipient.

ROCK COUNTY FOOD SHARE RECIPIENTS RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF $26.63 PER WEEK.

Statewide there were 816,215 recipients receiving $1,142,135,382 for a statewide average of $26.91 per week per recipient.

There's some simple and painfully realistic math for you. Maybe you're willing to share your food budget for the previous week with us and we can see how close you came to $26.63.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/e.... This is a great page to use to educate yourself on the reason why they don't have more restrictions for the foods you can and cannot buy with your foodstamp benefits. Please do not judge. Everyone with a food stamp card is not a cheat, liar or thief.

Here's a link to view for all the people who think they are entitled to EBT benefits and not be judged.

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/em/rsdata/f...

In 2011 there was $1,142,135,382 paid out in EBT benefits (over $36 million was in Rock County). The population of Wisconsin is 5,711,767. That means every person 1 day old to 100 years old would get $199.96.yr IF we all qualified for EBT. But we don't, I never have and never will. So that means my almost $200 share goes to the on 5,711,766 people and so on with the other non-qualifiers. After a while that number becomes rather sickening with how much Wisconsin pays out to keep lazy people fed especially since 2012 is on pace to pay out $30 million more than 2011. You can argue with me that not all of those people are lazy. Great! But if they are so poor, why do so many of them smoke, drink, and have tattoos and piercings; all which you can not buy on EBT?

Also EBT users do not pay applicable sales tax on food items so they get soda/energy drinks/candy 5.5% cheaper than you and I pay for it.

You answered neither of my questions, truthteller. Do you want to try again?

Poo, because I am smart and see through this scheme.

truthteller said, "As one who gets the food share I must say it is abused. I truly believe this to be a way to get voters to vote democratic since they are the ones that back such a liberal program."

Does this mean you will be voting for Democrats? If not, then what rational basis do you have for believing that food share is a way to get voters to vote for Democrats?

I wanted to add that food share is not just for the very poor. You can make very good money and still get it if your family is large.

As one who gets the food share I must say it is abused. I know several people who will let you use their card for fifty cents on the dollar. Also we can buy all junk food and pop if we want. Although we don't do this I feel guilty getting anything other than the basic foods. They say one in five in this state is getting food share. I truly believe this to be a way to get voters to vote democratic since they are the ones that back such a liberal program.

To bad there is not a religion about helping those who need a hand instead of Christianity, whose main goal is looking out for themselves.

As I said earlier the businesses want EBT money as much as they want the green stuff. It deposits in their accounts just as easily.

janesvillean, it could be that the checkers are told to shut up my management so the customers will keep coming to that store. For instance, Woodman's will not call in to report people abusing the handicapped parking stalls...after all, somebody might stop coming there. (Not that I would want them as patrons if I had a business.) It would probably take a customer who saw the EBT abuse happening to make a big noise before management does something. And even then, the something could be to boot out the customer who brought it up, not the one who abused the system.

Clydales- IT was not November- don't know who it was giving out free food but people were picking up abgs and bags of it but have to have a cig before we drive away.

Wow, Steve. I didn't realize you were born yesterday.

It is no doubt true that many (and probably most) of the food stamp recipients use it properly. However, a great many do not. Furthermore, there are some advocates who think that food stamp recipients should be allowed to use their EBT cards at restaurants. That is such an insult to those who struggle to get by on their own who make just a few bucks more than the food stamp program allows. They neither buy steak nor eat out. And it's an insult to all the folks who are always told by such advocates that the next round of tax increases they demand will only cost them the price of a dinner out every month. (By now, those folks have long since run out of dinners they can give up in a month!)

Reform is sorely needed. But if buying votes is the real motivation behind the massive expansion of these kinds of programs, the only way to reform is to throw out the ones that benefit from this vote buying scheme. Even if we do, reform, as we saw from the recall madness, isn't going to be easy. Those who benefit from the status quo, just as the ones who were incensed by Governor Walker not so very long ago, will bellow and stampede just like cattle being branded.

I agree that there is definitely some people that abuse the EBT system; however, for those of you to judge that ALL people abuse is it inappropriate. I'm 20 years old and my family used food stamps. I usually don't comment on anything unless I feel my opinion should be voiced. For those of you who are making the tattoo & fake nails comments.. I am a hair & makeup artist & I can also do acrylic nails. Before you judge someone maybe you should think about their story. I can actually do a french manicure on myself for $8. I don't go to salons because I can do it myself. I also cut my hair, my boyfriend's hair, my father's hair, my friend's hair, etc. It saves money. I could go into detail about what my family goes through money wise but I don't feel that's necessary. Both my parent's are on disability. I'm wise beyond my years hence why I felt I needed comment. I see on facebook all the time people trying to sell their food stamps and it disgusts me because it makes people like myself & family look bad. It's sad because everyone only talks about the bad.. And ignore the people who actually use is correctly and need it. The EBT we get isn't nearly enough for us to eat for the full month but yet I see people who don't need it get more money for the same amount of people in my family a month & try to sell it.. So yes, I agree the system should be looked over but don't put us all in the same category.. It makes you look ignorant.

Frogger- You said "I went to see some special animals at the fair grounds and echo was there handing out food"
What day was that? I happen to know there are only two events that ECHO has at the fairgrounds. One is the annual Thanksgiving distribution, the other is the monthly Mobile Market. One happens in November. Mobile Market doesn't occur during July. So when were you there looking at animals and saw ECHO there distributing food to their clients?

This topic always reminds me of....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq-hx73or30

These checkers, if they have actual knowledge of individuals abusing the system, should be reporting this fraud. If they are not reporting actual knowledge they are probably just repeating gossip and unsubstantiated rumor, as far as the law is concerned, and I don't know why you should take their observations seriously.
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It is probably likely that people living in poverty have poor planning and financial management skills, and in a sense they may take the benefit for granted, but I don't know what you're proposing to change this situation. The WIC program, in particular, tries to educate mothers about nutrition, but SNAP benefits are too large a program to tie to any such classes as a requirement and hurdle.
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I think most people who are not in poverty have little idea how difficult it is to live that way. I have myself observed people who get free groceries at ECHO as well as the fairgrounds Mobile Market. This isn't just walking up and taking -- there is the necessity of having your identity and eligibility checked, and a line to wait in, and the need for having a ride for many without transportation. It can easily take up four hours, about four times what I think is a tolerable time to shop for groceries. If you need to go someplace for four hours just to get some food, you have potentially a work conflict that could cost you your job.
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/be...
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-5-stupid...

frogger- Actually some are. I know a few artists and they will negotiate prices (to fit a budget) and even trade products for their services.

rtabb, food stamps are not like Social Security where you have to pay in to take out. Foods stamps are an entitlement based on (reported!) income levels and household size (frogger, to your point about popping out more kids...this is one of the reasons; we can't go into the others here). I don't want recipients to stay locked in their home; I want them to get out and get hired for a job if they are not disabled and if they aren't already fully employed. However, too many visible tats and piercings will reduce that likelihood, which was the topic of a previous blog.

". Also how do you know what their tattoos cost, maybe they have someone they know who is an artist who doesn't charge them or does them for very little"
yep-sure- LOTS of tats are going out for cheap-lol

There are many people that use EBT that really do need it and will buy good foods and drinks.At my job I see a lot of abuse. The counter will be piled high with candy,pop and other junk foods.Many times after an EBT purchase they will buy lottery and smokes of some nature(often name brands). A lot of these people drive better cars than the customers that don't recieve this sort of help. I don't think that a person should deny themselves a treat once in awhile but do so in moderation.The money would go farther if bought in a grocery store.I also see a lot of people buying energy drinks and other junk for thier friends.Parents will send their kids to the gas station to buy what ever they want. we were told that we can let them use the card as they know the pin number. I don't like this but I do as I am told.There seems to be no one to control what it is being used for or how.

JoyM- Where does it end? Should we put a GPS on their car also? To make sure they don't drive around more then they need? Maybe people who receive assistance should just stay locked in their homes and dwell on the negative. I'm sure they already feel pretty bad about the situation they are in. Also how do you know what their tattoos cost, maybe they have someone they know who is an artist who doesn't charge them or does them for very little. I'm sure every penny you spend is on a need and not a want. All i'm saying is that people need to quit judging each other. I don't even know how the food stamps thing works, but i has far as i know you have to pay in to get benefits. So isn't part of the benefits they receive "their money"?

billnewbie- why because they keep popping out more kids, who they don't give a crap about, to get more free stuff.

I have a weird question about homeless people. Do you have to live in a home to recieve these benefits?
If homeless people are so hungry why don't they apply for these programs?

It's pretty simple here. If you have an entitlement system that has ANY room for fraud, that system should be replaced! It doesn't matter how much fraud or what class/race/creed/gender commits it, fraud is still fraud. That's what gets so many people ticked off about expanding any/all of the entitlement programs; they just see more of their hard-earned money being put into these programs where the possibility of being misused is there.

Yes- I am aware of abuse. We were just discussing this on Gregs Blog.
We bought a 1lb steak the other day. Yep it was one of those $15 ones. We had dinner 2x with it. IT was really good too. In the other blog somebody was upset that a food stamp person would/coudl buy steak. I mentioned that a meat portion is 4 oz. IF you eat the proper amount it isn't that expensive. IF you eat the whole darn thing yourself then it is. My question if these people are so poor and receive food stamps why are they so overweight? Why can they buy and smoke 2 packs a day? How is that affordable whe y uo don't work? IF you smoke you should quit and pay for your own food! You get free breakfast and free lunch and echo and food stamps. Maybe you are getting to much free food huh?
I went to see some special animals at the fair grounds and echo was there handing out food and this obease chic was piling in bags of groceries with a butt hanging out of her mouth. This is what makes me mad!
We use coupons- why dont they use coupons??? We buy generac why are they required to buy NAMEBRAND???

carletto"JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE GET FOODSTAMPS DOES NOT MEAN THEY CAN'T EAT AS GOOD AS THE ONE WITH CASH.....
yep so start using coupons and buying generic like we do! I never buy sports drinks at $3 a can!
"baegucb
Sep 24, 2012 at 9:45 a.m.
Suggest removal

So Steve, who did you or the store call, to report the abuse?

Yes WHO do we call? President?
joy- well said.

It is hard to understand why anyone would sell the food stamps they get to feed their own children. How can anyone be so self-centered? On the other hand, perhaps they don't need the food stamps to feed their children, they just happen to qualify for them since the requirements seem to be so loose. That could explain why the food stamps are used for steak and other high priced food items that truly needy people spending their own money don't even waste their time looking at.

The need for tightening the requirements for getting food stamps is obvious. Unless you look at food stamps as a political program as well as help for the needy. (That is, a vote buying program) If that is what food stamps really are, that would explain why the requirements have been loosened and there is no desire on the part of the federal government to toughen them. That also explains why some of the posters here think it's irresponsible to mention the problem at all. The problem they have with this subject lies in the fact that they probably expect the recipients to vote a certain way out of gratitude. But they don't want everyone else to realize how their tax money is being used for political purposes and vote accordingly.

rtabb - a little plastic surgery might make me feel better and improve my mental health, but I don't ask other people to pay for it. The tattoos and the piercings have nothing to do with good or bad people - it has to do with a WANT instead of a NEED, and sometimes if people didn't blow all their money on WANTS, they might not end up in NEED. Since tatoos can cost hundreds of dollars, that's maybe a couple of weeks or more of groceries that you could have had INSTEAD OF NEEDING OUR MONEY. What we are looking for here is personal responsibility. We expect it of our kids...oh, wait, some parents don't...and see where it gets us all. You can do whatever you want (that's legal) with your own money - just don't expect to do it with mine.

I keep reading comments abouts "nails and tattoos". WHO CARES? If someone has tattoos or piercings and fake nails does that make that person bad or evil? What does having tattoos or fake nails have to do with anything? And do not tell me "these are extra expenses not needed". Maybe these things help their mental state so they feel a little better about themselves instead of being depressed. It continues to amaze me how some people feel the need to constantly judge someone else.

You know, back in the days of WWII, there were ration stamps, and people could only get so much of certain items. I'm sure there was abuse then, too. And when food stamps were actually stamps, even as a child I recall watching people carefully choose their permitted purchases so they could get close to 99c back, which the clerk HAD to give in cash, and then they would turn around and buy cigarettes right then and there with the change. (YES, cigarettes used to be under a buck back when I was a kid.) So abuse by way of debit card is not a surprise, although it frustrates me greatly it does not have better oversight. I do think that there need to be stricter, not looser, limits on what can be purchased on the card - it makes no sense that "treats" can be purchased but not soap and toilet paper. And Carlito, when you turn to others for assistance, you should take what is provided and not ask for more - that is, if you are on food stamps, you should be buying healthy food and not junk or luxury items. (In my children's pre-K class they were taught, "you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit" on days when there were birthday treats. A good stance for everyone.) And I don't mean a mom should not buy cake mix and frosting for her kid's birthday, but I do mean she shouldn't be buying a $25 Disney character quarter-sheetcake out of my wages, either. I believe Mama6 when she says they make do carefully. I don't believe certain recipients make due when they are dripping with gold chains and other bling hanging out of their obviously-new and not worn-out leather coat and on the same fingers as their $50 acrylic nails. (Even if they do the nails themselves, they need to stick to their own nails and some plain nailpolish because all the fixin's for those nails still cost cash they should be paying for their needs, not wants.) And don't even get me started on piercings and tatoos.

The system is a joke. So are the people who judge others. When wages stay the same or decrease while the cost of everything is going up, up, and up, and people qualify for and receive help shame on everyone who passes judgement on those. FYI the workers talking about customers should have been fired. Good job Steve keep up the horrible work!

Along with the money put on these cards, we also pay the service fee each time they are swiped. Anytime you hand someone a check or a credit card you are asking for trouble - not from everyone, but there is always someone. I believe it would be just as cost effective to have warehouses where those in need can collect what they need.

It is not anecdotal. In WI, the food stamp program is called Foodshare. Here are 2 stories about how prison inmates were getting benefits and how county workers were helping themselves and other people to defraud the system.
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"A Legislative Audit Bureau review released Friday says 447 state prison inmates received FoodShare benefits while incarcerated and found that 1,639 people received benefits in January even though they were ineligible."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/a...
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"An elaborate scam involving creation of phony debit cards for government food benefits has grown to at least 12 people, 11 of them Milwaukee County employees, according to criminal and disciplinary charges.

Five of the 12 - including four county workers - have been charged with multiple felonies in connection with the swindle, which defrauded the state FoodShare program out of more than $350,000 over three years, according to criminal complaints."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/p...
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There is very little oversight. Here is an egregious case from Florida.

"During the time that Brenda Charlestain committed nearly $24,000 worth of food stamp fraud, prosecutors said she spent money on plastic surgery, an expensive car stereo system and a bright pink custom paint job for her 2008 Dodge Charger."

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_pa...

@Carlitosway - No of course I was not there. I am basing my statements on news reports from Texas and Louisiana filed by those that *were* there at the time the abuses occurred.
@Mama6 - I don't think anyone is judging those that use the program for legitimate purchases. Clearly you need to feed your family, and that's why the program exists. This article is about those who abuse the system. Good luck to you and your family :)

How about throwing some facts into the conversation:

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/f...

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/e...

Good Point Poobah.
As for the system, it's a joke.

I think one needs to look at the evolution of the EBT program. I agree that people abuse this entitlement a lot but has anybody ever asked why are people able to walk into their local take and bake pizza establishment and use an EBT card? Why are McDonalds and other fast food companies lobbying the feds to allow the use of EBT in fast food restaurants? They want access to the stream of dollars. Do you honestly believe that a bunch of poor and inner city people have enough political power to make the whole EBT problem themselves? They clearly had help in the form of businesses wanting access to the dollars that were being spent. So while yes I agree we have arrived at a point in our history where there is no stigma or shame associated with being on the dole, those who are on the dole don't just wear flat brimmed hats and hoodies, they wear suits and ties as well.

I have no doubt that abuses take place,
but I have trouble with Steve's story.

If things happened as you described them, this checkout person should be terminated. The details of other customer's transactions, and the opinions an employee has about other customers, should never be shared with other customers in the store -- solicited or unsolicited.

You know what I don't get? In today's technologies why is there not a system that monitors electronically when someone uses thier EBT card and what they use it for? The system could all be computerised so the cost of labor would be minimal. Then the computer would watch for key words or purchases that would suggest someone abusing the system and they could be reported for investigation and possibly removal from the system. Close to the same system that is used to monitor credit card users. It is known who's card is used, and what it was used for. Thats how they use the information to send you a bill.

So Steve, who did you or the store call, to report the abuse?

I think this story is a good example of what is wrong with these programs...
It is NOT the program itself, but rather the management of it...actually the INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT...and this is not a cheap shot..it is fact...
Unfortunately when programs like this to help our AMERICAN citizens are created there never is any $$$ to follow up and control them...
Which is why I am so strong to have mandatory drug testing.....
JMHO..

Great commentary Steve - I have often felt that those who get food support should have a pre-set (to some degree) list of what they can purchase. Much like the WIC program.

I would love to see it involve fresh food versus processed, but I know many of those families have parents working a lot of hours and using public transportation (which adds to your "working day" versus driving yourself) and they simply don't have the time or energy to cook from scratch. But healthy options, like WIC seems to be an easy answer.

It makes perfect sense to me. Cash in your EBT card for 50 cents on a dollar, then go to ECHO for your food. Free lunch at the Salvation Army, too. BTW: You said "ECHO and church food banks" when you should have said "ECHO and other church food banks" since ECHO is a church food band.
From their website "ECHO, Inc., created in late 1969, is a non-profit, faith-community sponsored charity organization,"
This religious organization also get plenty of tax dollars, too.
I'm just sayin'...

Feduptaxpayer: Couldn't you, along with all the others who indulge in the same repeated behavior, stifle the Obama bashing for once...or bashing of any other individual politician, for that matter? This is something that's been around for decades and falls on no one individual's shoulders.
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In addition, I would venture to say that many, if not most, chronic abusers of the system "support" no one but themselves and have probably never voted in their lives and never will.

Mama6: You are obviously a sincere and conscientious person, kudos to you for the effort you give. Unfortunately, those who are much less motivated and are actual abusers of the system will probably never read any of these types of articles or responses to them, as they couldn't care less. Do they rationalize that they are ripping off the government and not their fellow citizens? Have they fallen in a rut of entitlement? Is it a family tradition?
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Many years ago I found myself in dire straits and got signed up for one month of aid in the form of food stamps. On the day that I arrived at the facility in Rockford to receive them, I was amazed at the numbers of people there who were hanging in the parking lot, smoking and socializing with all the rest of the "regulars", most driving tricked out, late-model vehicles. Hence, I was deprived of the naivete of Steve.
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It is discouraging to arrive at a food/clothing pantry with a donation and see a line of people waiting outside, many covered in tattoos and smoking cigarettes. I don't indulge in either one, but from what I gather, they are both fairly expensive and could be considered "luxury" items. Personally, I'd rather spend my money on food, clothing and other necessities.
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However, I know there are others not abusing the system and I refuse to let those who are turn me away from sharing altogether. So I still give and hope that it reaches someone who truly needs the help and isn't just working the system because of laziness and wasteful spending habits.

There are definately two things of note here.
1. People admit there is something wrong and needs to be fixed.
2. Nobody wants to fix the problem.

How blind could you be to think that some people wouldn't abuse this system? Do you also think that everyone who is drawing unemployment is actually looking for work or wants to work for that matter? There are millions of people in this country who are content with being poor, have no drive to succeed and are happy to just barely get by in life and these are the people who will abuse our generous entitlement system

It would appear that the point of this commentary isn't necessarily to judge those who need help, but to point out that there is little, to no government accountability to the taxpayer. Everyone has a story to support both sides of whether or not there is abuse, but if we as a society don't start demanding accountability with our vote then there will never be any.

I think this sums it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzspsovNv...

Btw - it's a satire.

Why aren't the people who are attacking this blog raving out at least as much against the people who are abusing the system and malnourishing their children?

All those crappy foods and beverages at the store are purchased by people of all kinds -with money that was mostly earned by people who provided labor or services for it. Which means what Knox saw is not unusual. So, does anyone want to make the claim that when someone receives food stamps they all of a sudden switch to a totally healthy diet? LOL. Accordingly, people who pay the taxes that become food stamps have a right to scrutinize how that benefit is used.

Attacking the scrutiny that non-food stamp users apply to those who abuse that benefit is just more political correctness. Political correctness is a twisted mentality that is used by people who what to impress everyone with how unusually sensitive they are toward others. Political correctness is not a mentality that can be taken seriously.

All the millionaires and mucky-mucks who caused the "economic downturn" should be serving decades in prison.

Again pass Judgement on all for a select few. SuperDave Were you there did you see them get the money and go buy drugs? It amazes me that he said, she said becomes Fact!!!! Yes a few people abuse the program and it is sad and disgusting. Yet many do not and I personally know how it feels to be judged and comments made when I have had to use EBT when down and out and had to get them as my pay did not cover all my needs as a single parent of 4. I founf the sale irems and made the few I got stretch and some people would comment on the meat I had or other things and my responxe was the chuck steajs were much cheaper today then the porkchops and chicken. JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE GET FOODSTAMPS DOES NOT MEAN THEY CAN'T EAT AS GOOD AS THE ONE WITH CASH.....Maybe if people would stop the judging and hate based on a select few, This country would find solutions to these issues. and show people some dignity as it is hard to hear the comments WHEN SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT A CLUE AS TO THE SITUATION OF THE PERSON USING THEM...BTW When Florida did the drug testing for foodstamps it backfired and it was less then 2% that failed the test ad that was majority THC. Maybe they need to test the GOP foe drugs as they are off the wall with their perception of the American people and comments of late,sometimes the old saying if you have a guilty conscience then you think others are doing as you,,, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us/no-... http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/us/sta...

This is disturbing. It is so easy to judge when you don't know what is going on. We are a family of 7 with one parent working full time at a professional job that includes a commute plus being self-employed on the side. The other parent keeps the family glued together as the first parent is gone 12-15 hours a day. Some members of our family have serious food allergies and medical conditions that require special foods. All our food is cooked from scratch...no fast food, no restaurants, no convenience foods. Our food mostly comes from the organic aisle as it must be gluten free, etc. To me canned spaghetti sauce and store bought bread are convenience foods. Everything is from scratch and dinner ususally takes 2-3 hours to prepare every day. When we get our tax return back in the spring, we buy half a cow, a pig and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable share for the year. We also plant a garden. I am working on finding time to can tomato products right now. We receive $162 per month total Foodshare benefits and a few WIC checks. This is our entire food budget as the one parent's income does not cover our housing and utility costs. We have private insurance and have many medical bills. Clothes and shoes are on waiting lists and only the oldest gets "new" clothes. Our life wasn't always like this. At one time, the other parent made over twice what they make now. Through a series of lay offs, we ended up where we are now. Then we went seriously into debt while battling insurance companies trying for 5 years to get a diagnosis for one of the kids. I hope that one day things will get better and we will no longer need to live off the $162 grocery limit or qualify for benefits. Maybe one day we will be able to increase our income, because I sure don't see us decreasing our expenses. Our vehicles are both 18 years old, our TV that we bought in 1992 died in February and hasn't been replaced (not that we had anything more than rabbit ears for it), and we can only buy a couple toiletries like soap or shampoo every couple weeks. I am very good a using coupons...I definitely used them on my FoodShare purchases as well as some WIC vouchers for a certain dollar amount. I cringe at paying full price for ANYTHING! No one smokes, no one drinks, and we haven't been on a vacation in a decade. I am not looking for sympathy, but this is just our reality. So next time you judge those in the store, remember you don't know their story.

I don't think anyone is forgetting Wall St. & Capitol Hill, the focus of this commentary is simply on something else at the moment. But, abuse and disregard is rife and rampant from the top to the bottom, and it seems to me that us folks in the middle are always getting the squeeze.

"Apparently, there are many loopholes and that many take advantage of the loopholes based on those that deal with the cards on a daily basis." How irresponsible to write something like this. It's bad enough that there is NOTHING emperical about this, other than the old adage, 'you lie, and I'll swear to it.' I'm sure there is fraud, and yes, we should do what's necessary to eliminate as much as we can of it. But to make it sound like it's completely out of control based on two people talking is wrong. It's funny: So many people will insist that we 'draw and quarter' the 'small guy' who games the system for a relatively small amount. BUT, when it comes to the people on Wall St. and Capitol Hill who gamed the system to its near breaking point--for the whole world--well, we've already forgotten that. But by golly, let's go after little guy with everything we have when HE steps off the line!

It is this abuse that turns so many off on these programs. There needs to be accountability for the people using these cards. Accountability to the program and to us, the taxpayers paying for those cards while diligently watching our own spending and skipping the steaks for ground beef.

I'm not familiar with the EBT program. But I do remember that after Katrina, many people were given debit cards that were pre-loaded with money, up to $2000 if memory serves. There may have been rules, but they were not enforced. Some people went straight to the ATM, took it all out in cash, and used the cash to buy drugs!
Human nature being what it is, people are much more likely to waste other people's money than money they actually earned themselves. That's always been the problem with supposedly well-intentioned social programs.