Maybe it needs to come down to doing things Like Germany does. Put them in apartments that have a managaer. Then you can give the manager a list of things you need and they will pick it up and NO ONE gets the money except the grocery store. The only way they get the money is to get the list of items that the person purchases by using a specific code that is know for that program.

Yes there still has to be checks and balances but there is no money in anyone's hands except the government paying for the food.

So I guess 2 1/2 years in prison is ok with you people? How long would they have gotten if they had stolen it from a bank?

America is a food stamp nation. Almost half of all Americans are receiving food stamps, today. Americans no longer feel shame living off food stamps and welfare; they consider them entitlement programs. Whether the receipients really qualify for food stamp is beside the point. When almost everyone is getting freebies from the government, Americans don't like being left out or miss a good deal.

Americans think food stamps are free gifts from the government. Those who know better rationalize it as a gift from taxing the rich. But it is the middle working class that pays the most taxes and pays the higher food prices when government sponors give-aways. Like government guranteed loans that caused high college tuition and housing prices, food prices go up when government subsidizing the grocery bill.

America has more poor people today than when LBJ declared War on Poverty fifty years ago. Having spent more than ten trillion dollars during the past several decades waging War on Drugs, War on Hunger, and War on Illiteracy, the Big Federal Government has only created more junkies, poverty, hunger, and HS drop-outs than ever before. And the Department of Defense, charged with keeping America at peace, now wages four needless wars around the world costing American taxpayers nearly one trillion dollar per month. Never has America enjoyed less peace around the world in its entire 200 year history than today.

As long as America practice socialism, there will always be scoundrels who know how to milk the system in the name of freedom, love of country, and free enterprise.

confssed

How long would they have gotten if they had stolen it from a bank?

How long would they have gotten if they worked for a bank?

seize his personal possessions and cash and deport his ass,probobly not even a U S citizen, but put him in jail first with no rights like most foreign countries

wallst

America is a food stamp nation. Almost half of all Americans are receiving food stamps, today. Americans no longer feel shame living off food stamps and welfare

How many of those Americans work a full time job? But don't make enough to live on?

I have said it before and I'll say it again. Without real leadership in Washington, this nation is doomed. Lack of leadership has destroyed opportunity and indebted this nation to the breaking point. Social unrest will most likely follow if we do not soon Fire Them ALL. Never vote for any incumbents. We need to replace all 537 people in Washington at the earliest election cycle and keep doing it.

People in Washington gave us bad trade policies designed to ship jobs overseas, They succeeded. They gave us bad monetary policy and a private federal reserve and devalued the currency to 1/30th of what it was in the 1960's. They succeeded. They gave us a tax policy that penalizes work and the taking of risk with private funds. they succeeded. They gave us a banking policy where excess risk taking was done with public funds. They succeeded. They created a housing bubble and then popped it and destroyed the wealth accumulated in an entire generation. They succeeded. And they continue to succeed. Fire Them ALL. Neither party is worth a damn. One term allowed and then out, no benefits, no pension, no political career, no nothing. Serve and get out.

Oh come on....this is news? I know this goes on everywhere....but I do think Illinois is a good place to start......Go to the small college towns.....every kid in college is on food stamps and playing the game.

Khaled Saleh, 48, the owner of Sunset Food Market in Waukegan was charged with illegally exchanging cash with customers using food stamp cards and nutrition coupons during an undercover investigation.

so what happens to the customers who got cash to buy their drugs and guns????

Food Stamps should be eliminated!! There is too much fraud

How many of those Americans work a full time job? But don't make enough to live on?

Sorry, food and shelter are priorities, not drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, iphones and plasma TV's!

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-06-11/news/fl-boynton-fraud-folo-20100611_1_food-stamp-ebt-convenience

The investigation showed that store clerks were allowing customers to use Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy beer, cigarettes and get cash, a Boynton Beach Police Department release said.

(Continued since I ran out of time to edit)

I WORKED all of my adult life. I qualified for SSD based SOLELY on my income before I became disabled. I was REQUIRED to also apply for SSDI (the SSI portion of disability) in order to get the $200/mo in "cash assistance" and EVERY PENNY had to be paid back to the state once my SSD was approved. It was taken directly out of the "back amount owed" once my SSD was approved and went directly from the Social Security Administration to the state - I never saw that money in my checking account. During that 18 months of waiting, I had NO INCOME and became essentially HOMELESS. I also had to borrow money from my father to keep my health insurance going so that I could take the medications that were REQUIRED for my disability. See, single people generally don't qualify for Medicaid. My medications at the time would have totaled more than $1,500/mo if I didn't have health insurance to pay for them. As it was, my father also had to loan me money to pay for the co-pay using my insurance.

@WallStfat: You must be an accountant for StuporPAC.org... Our federal budget is immense, but it is around 3.8 trillion per year, currently. Total. I don't know where you get ideas like our wars costing a trillion a month. What we have spent on the wars since 911 might be 6 trillion total and some of that comes from projected future care of the wounded. That is obscene, but not a trillion a month. You make some great points that get lost when you fudge...

wallst

"Half Americans on food stamps", you must mean all the car companies--banks/insurance and the farm companies, never mind universities and countless other companies--that are collecting, is that what you mean? only between 12-15 % are on food stamps, if you mean regular people. But I guess the 55,000 heroes from Vietnam and even a few from Korea, soldiers are still living up and down the west cost in door ways and on the lawns in San Diego San Fran and almost all the other cities, with little or no medical, these hero vets have lost their dignity 40-45 years ago when they were US soldiers attacking other countries mostly for nothing, so how are they supposed to live without food stamps, since we have destroyed their heads, never mind the other 22 million disabled (some from birth) we actually have in these US of A.

These poor people are just trying to figure out how to make money. Look at Rick Scott, governor of FL, he stole several hundred million dollars from Medicare, had to pay a fine, pay it back and became governor. They just picked the food stamp program and should have picked Medicare instead where there is no jail time.

One more Cast makes a good point. But, there are 346,000,000 million Americans of which only 1/6 get food stamps, not 1/2, that is a HUGE difference. With that said the amount that do receive it is too high. I have no problem with people who need it, but we need a better way to catch the ones who abuse the system.

I raised 2 children without ever getting any, we struggled at times. I even know a Grown man who lives across the street who gets them right now, who decides who is eligible? he claims he gets his kids on weekends, and I only saw them over there once! Bullcrap .. Now that there pisses me off, he doesn't not need food stamps, he should get a frigging job.

And you spend all your time watching him. What else do you do if you are watching him 24/7?

Socialism at least spreads the rewards of the greed more evenly. punishes those who work for what they get evenly. And it has failed everywhere it has been tried.

Fixed it for you.

And, get rid of the food stamp program altogether. Problem solved.

Milking the system has nothing to do with socialism...it has been a perfected art form since the invention of money, artificial scarcity and/or priesthoods of one ilk or another. Socialism at least spreads the rewards of the greed more evenly.

Of course it does, the opportunity for handouts opens the door to abuses. This is common sense. Massive bureaucracies to administer the handouts, which are unable or unwilling to ferret out fraud and waste, further open those doors. Again, common sense.

How you equate that priesthoods is beyond me. Possibly you are referring to the tax exempt status of religious organizations. Those organizations are tax exempt, not "priesthoods." Any earnings of the staff of said organizations is taxable, as all other income. Furthermore, their tax exempt status is key to the American right of freedom of religion.

I suspect you just have an anti-religious bias. Folks like you have easily forgotten that before the federal government assumed to role of provider of all manner of public assistance, it was religious organizations that primarily provided the same services. And, I might add, more effectively and efficiently.

For every case we hear about in the press there is probably 1000 that we do not. Gee, what is 1000 X $800,900 ? About $8,000,000,000 per year! How much is the sequester? About $95,000,000,000 this year. This does not include the massive day-to-day fraud from the individual food stamp holders. I am sure that you could triple the institutional rate. This would be about $32,000,000,000 / year in direct fraud in just ONE government program. And the dems say that there is nothing to cut!

Confussed-If they had stolen from a bank they would not have been charged. I have learned this

happens a lot. My niece, who had a drug problem, stole 100,000 from the bank she worked for.

Nothing but loss of job. I told someone at work this and he know of other cases. Apparently they

don't want the bad press. So people are just walking. Someone has to make up that 100,000. Hmmm.

Who would that be?

I say; get a rope!

Dick-2100935

These poor people are just trying to figure out how to make money.

BULLS**T!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to make money, GET A JOB!!!!!

And don't give me that bleeding heart Liberal/Progressive sob story that there are no jobs. My neighbor lost his job during the meltdown in 2008. Since then he has worked at more jobs than I can remember. He has never taken any government assistance for him and his family of 4.

Today he is a manager at Burger King making more than he did before.

The entitlement metality that Barrack Hussein is promoting is crippling any possible recovery.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200-300 years. Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage”. ~ Alexander Fraser Tytler – (1747 – 1813) – Professor of Universal History, and Greek and Roman Antiquities – University of Edinburgh

Today our great Republic is being reduced to a Democracy. Our Founders and Framers warned us about the "excesses of Democracy".

We are a 50/50 nation. 50% of Americans work for a living and 50% vote for a living.

This is what has brought every socialist system down, everytime.

Jim you and your buddy Fatcat are full of shzitttt. You randomly make up statistics to support your BS argument.

@Charlie-1915998 In order to see it, you have to be looking for it. I've seen it too. Way too many people on government assistance who shouldn't be. I used to work next to a food bank and watched people drive up in nice cars, go in, and come out with bags full of free groceries. Look around...it's a lot more common than you choose to believe. If you don't see it, it's because you don't want to.

I have a rope. We can use it.

Enablers in thefts, crimes, shootings, .

need to be severely prosecuted and punished.

This "honor amongst thieves" is ludicrous.

You can't expect law enforcement to cure social ills when JOHN Q.PUBLIC has "snitch-paranoia".

Many of our social systems (IRS loopholes to Food Stamps) are riddled with an invitation for abuse.

See Something..... Say Something.

Next is to go after those freeloaders that buy red bull, chips and candy with their EBT. If the government really wanted to save money, they could start saving by putting real limits on welfare. Why is that people on welfare live as good, sometimes better, than I do when I'm working 50 hours a week and trying to support a family?

If you want to live a middle class life, then you should have to get a @!$%#ing job, not have it handed to you.

I can't understand this. I've been in the food industry for over 45 years. I've worked with large chains such as Kroger, HyVee, Safeway, Publix and Shaws to mention a few. I've been in . I cannot figure out why so many conservatives have seen this couple with their $100 in food stamps driving off in a brand new Cadillac, but I never have.

If you'd like to witness this firsthand, travel to the nearest major city, find a store with Lexan surrounding the register area that accepts EBT, WIC, etc, and hang around for no more than 15 minutes.

I live one block from such a store. The scenario Tiredoflosers described has occurred at least 50% of times I have been in that store, which, is a minimum of 4 times per week.

What exactly did they steal? Govt gave person A a product, person A sold product to person B for half price, person b resold item for regular price and made a profit. Pardon me, but isn't this how businesses operate on a daily basis? and how is this any different than Person A buying a product from any reseller then selling it to someone els

that's what happens when you live off the govt.. they own you and tell you what, how, when, where to live your life.

good luck with obamanation

Hate foodstamps? How about this? There is a federally funded program through Americorps where they recruit people to sign up for foodstamps and the paid recruiters are required to meet a quota for the number of people they sign up to the program!! So the government is actually seeking out people to be on the dole!!!! Ya gotta wonder why.

in god we trust on the dollar bill...but in food stamp we eat...they gon'a hang fatima...wonder if she's kin to fatalbert....hey hey hey...

flnobody

So you are so stupid to think everyone on food stamps is on drugs, smokes, drinks, has a iphone and plasma tv. You are one dumb a@s hole!

You must be one of them!! FL loser on the government dime!

kepone, I see this all the time. I went in a mexican grocery store and most of the people were paying with food stamps and driving off in new P/U'S and SUV'S. Yep, you tax dollars at work.

For all you people who SAY you saw something illegal happen with food stamps, why aren't you calling the police or, at least, a fraud hotline?!? You complain but do nothing about it. Typical whiners.

This man goes to jail for less than $1 million, but the President gives away billions of untraceable stimulus dollars and he's still walking around.

I can't understand this. I've been in the food industry for over 45 years. I've worked with large chains such as Kroger, HyVee, Safeway, Publix and Shaws to mention a few. I've been in 1000s of grocery stores all over the nation. I cannot figure out why so many conservatives have seen this couple with their $100 in food stamps driving off in a brand new Cadillac, but I never have.

I worked at a grocery store in southern oregon about 15 years ago. I personally loaded groceries into the back of a brand new Cadillac that didn't have any plates. I also bagged these groceries and there was steak and other high price groceries in there. She paid with food stamps. Anecdotal I know, but this does happen.

All the nuts crying socialism and such are buffoons. This has been going on long before Obama ever took office. And take note, red states are the worse offenders.

WallStFatCat

America is a food stamp nation. Almost half of all Americans are receiving food stamps, today. Americans no longer feel shame living off food stamps and welfare; they consider them entitlement programs.

I live in small city where not one of the elderly or Senior who drive well maintained automobiles they bought when they retired feel proud of being on Food Stamps after Wall ST and the Banks took their 401K's and savings. Yes some are well dressed in the classic clothing purchased back in the day. For some it has been so long the clothing is back in style. What the hell is wrong with you people? No Grandparents? Go hang out at your local Senior Center and spend some time with these people. Get a reality check. You spend more on Lattes in a week than they spend on food. Get Real!

If we would just cut out the WASTE in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, and Food Stamp programs there is an $85 billion "sequester" amount saved right there PLUS some!!

It is estimated there is a $4.5 Billion waste in Food Stamps alone every year. In fact a basic study found that Food Stamps went to 2000 dead people in New York and Massachusetts alone.

Medicare fraud is estimated between $60 Billion and $90 Billion a year.

Medicaid waste is estimated at $22 Billion.

And so on. And now we passed an even BIGGER program in ObamaCare that will waste hundreds of billions a year when it is all said and done (but I digress).

Government programs are where the waste is. We can keep current services the way they are but by cracking down on running these programs right can save us $150 Billion to $200 Billion a year without even blinking.

Keep in mind this is only ONE case. There are many many cases like this. They need to print the pictures of the recipient or have the name on it ands how ID, but the government doesn't want that because if they did voters would have to show ID and that wouldn't be fair to the illegals.

AlexM: You are right.

I go into a Walmart nearby occasionally just to pick up a few items and always amazed at the CARTLOAD of food I will see in some people's carts. I can look at the person and know they can't afford that much food and sure enough they pull out their SNAP card. Cart totals of $250 or more are not unusual.

But then I look IN the cart. Steak. Ribs. Shrimp. THEY EAT BETTER THAN I DO!!

We conservatives are very caring and I don't want ANYBODY to be hungry. But I don't want them eating better than me either. I price shop. I decide to buy chicken because it is on sale. I buy hamburger and make a pasta dish that feeds a family of four for about $10. And I am helping pay for steak, ribs, and shrimp for others? Sorry, something is wrong here.

If someone is hungry I definitely want to help. But they should go to a county location where they are given a gallon of milk, a 5 lb bag of potatoes, a 10lb bag of rice, 4 lbs of chicken and 2lbs of hamburger meat, a package of bologna, and a loaf of bread. Here you go. If used wisely you can easily feed a family of four for an entire week. This nonsense of giving people HUNDREDS of dollars to buy whatever they want is ludicrous!!

Tighten up the ship. We don't need to make anybody starve - just GIVE them food that they can eat. If they want steak, ribs, and shrimp they can earn the money to buy it.

Theft and fraud are not punished nearly as severely as they should be.

No matter where you're stealing the money from, someone worked hard for that money. If you steal $800,000, you've essentially forced someone to work for free.

For easy math, lets say they worked for $10 an hour. So they forced another human being to work for 80,000 hours, without compensation. Their punishment should be the same as if they'd abducted someone, and forced them to do slave labor for 80,000 hours.

OMG!!! A Faux News talking point word:

FOOD STAMPS !!!!

Here come the army of nitwits!

keypone- you are right about the churches doing it more efficiently, the problem started when people cried about not wanting to be affiliated with any church, I say if these atheist want to eat let their atheist brothers take collections amongst themselves and PAY FOR THEIR OWN. We should return to where we were before this welfare system was created, if you don't believe then let your unbelieving brothers support you,NOT ME. DIFFERNET- I have complained of abuse I have personally seen and they do NOTHING about it.

flnobody I take it you think there is NO corruption in the government. WAKE the FU CK UP A$$HOLE get your MSNDC blinded eyes open. If you would watch & listen to more news sources then you would have an IDEA on what is really going on in America. I know that takes to much actual work, to get INFORMED.

You low information voters have MSNDC & the Dem party to tell you what to think & say, that is alot easier than doing the work yourself you LAZY A$$HOLE.

It is clear that food stamp cards need to be made to look like normal debit cards in every respect. No one including the cashier should have the ability to tell your on assistance. Why? It is not because of embarrassment or shame, it is because it is clear that those same people that work at those stores ( or hangout watching poor people at stores ) are using that info to come online and bash people for food stamps.

There is fraud in every system. I bet if there where a study of how many people do a bit of cheating on their taxes we would find a tight correlation of them being the same people scream about others who who cheat welfare.

So you see a person on stamps getting into an expensive car.. Can you tell that that car is registered to them, or is it on loan by a rich family member? No one should ever be ashamed to ask for help because societies have just as much responsibility to individuals as individuals do to society.

This world we live in in the US that says that the individual has all the responsibility to society and society has none to the individual is doomed to fail in a big way. Socialists in the US? I think not,there is nothing social about us anymore and just because there are assistance ( laughable ) that is less then 1/10th of what a true socialist system would give there people dose not mean that you people know anything about "socialism".

It is absolutely laughable that any of you think you can use the word socialism to describe benefits in the US, because it just is not so, socialists give far more to their people then food stamps and a kick out the door.

WallStFatCat and JimSpence,

the majority of the food stamp recipients are people under the age of 18, and most do not hold jobs. The others who receive food stamps also hold full or part time jobs but do not make enough money to put food on the table. Then there are the elderly and disabled. Do your homework before commenting on topics you are not educated in. Our nation's job economy began falling in the last year of Bill Clinton's Administration when the dot.com boom busted. There was not enough time for him to make a significant impact for changing the job economy and it was up to GWB's Administration. But what does little Georgie decide to do when he gets into office...that's right, he lowered taxes! Eight months later NYC was attacked by terrorists and the economy, especially jobs, went downhill. With those lower taxes it also meant the government was taking in much less in tax revenues. In 2002 GWB decided to go to war with Iraq over false accusations of WMD. The economy tanked where millions of Americans saw their retirement savings disappear just as babyboomers were starting retirement. Jobs declined further and GWB thought he had a victory after 6 months of war in Iraq then showing himself to be the idiot he was...stood on the aircraft carrier with a victory banner. A victory that we never saw during his 8 years in office. You don't go to war spending billions of dollars AFTER to cut REVENUE. The smart choice would have been to roll back those tax cuts. The economy tanked again in 2008 when the housing boom also burst then peaked just as we were getting ready to swear in a new President. The first 2 years we gained significant ground, though the bail outs were questionable considering it did not create jobs and executives still received bonuses while Americans were still losing their jobs. The following 2 years became a standstill because of lame @ss Congress, the worst this nation has seen in years (the numbers don't lie unless your an idiot who refuses to believe the truth). Guess what, Mitt Romney's 47% showed their gratitude for him during the 2012 election and the GOP is being forced to look themselves in the mirror and question who they really stand for...the American people or Corporate American and themselves?

Food stamps are a Godsend to those who do need it. How would you like to go for days or weeks not being able to afford to feed yourself, or perhaps a family because inflation. Amazing how we still have inflation when people are losing jobs left and right and everyone's pay is tanking except for corporate execs. Teddy Roosevelt was the last real Republican. He had balls to take on Corporate America. Just read his autobiography and you will see...perhaps you will learn something along with way. By the way, the average person collecting food stamps barely receives $30 a week, in some states they received less. And it is only a suppliment to pay for groceries not their entire grocery bill.

FLnobody 1.5: I actually know the answer. I know a former VP at a bank who got into the client's trust funds. He was a Trust Fund Officer and had access. Answer: 20 months in Atlanta Fed Prison. So here is Kaled, steals $800k and gets 2 years. A kid on the street who'd threatens Kaled's cashier and takes $40 would get 5 years. A punk caught with marijuana could get 15 years and have his car, personal proerty and all cash taken by the cops without due process. Just another example of gubmint employees giving a pass to white collar crimes and slammin it hard on punks who do the small stuff. Kaled will not have to sell his house and restore $800k to the state, plus a $1mil fine/penalty plus do the 2 years. But they will no doubt have a great awards ceremony in Vegas for the agency. And the those who put Kaled away will get recognized as saviors of the Union. When Kaled gets out he'll return to his mansion and activate his next business venture.

Different I have call DHS they tell me that they can use them anyway they want to, They are to busy to look into it. What do you do then. I see other family members using them for sick relatives, I do get that, as long as the food is going for those it was intended for. When you see them getting ribeye steaks & other expensive foods you know they are abusing the system. So reporting it to DHS is a WASTE of time.

They are OK with the fraud that is committed against us taxpayers. The workers get a paycheck & bennies, they do NOT care there friends & family are taking advantage of the GOVERNMENT.

Years and years ago my husband and I hosted a pool party for our sons. They were allowed to invite one or two friends and their family to come enjoy a day in the pool and a bbq. (we said parents must come so that they would be responsible for their kids safety in the pool, not us) so any way, one kid had 5 brothers and one sister. We were all sitting around talking about this and that watching the kids. Some how the topic came up about jobs,the woman with 7 kids said and I quote "I would love to go to work but, if I do that the state will cut back on what we get in food stamps and ACCHS(state paid medical), we make more getting assistance than what we could make with both of us working, so i stay home."

I will never forget that, it still ticks me off. When I called the state to report her. They were not interested. The worker stated "ok we will see what if anything we can do, thank you is there anything else i can help you with?"

Here is a fact for everyone: Just how lucrative JP Morgan’s EBT state contracts are is hard to say, because total national data on EBT contracts are not reported. But thanks to a combination of public-records requests and contracts that are available online, here’s what we do know: 18 of the 24 states JP Morgan handles have been contracted to pay the bank up to $560,492,596.02 since 2004. Since 2007, Florida has been contracted to pay JP Morgan $90,351,202.22. Pennsylvania’s seven-year contract totaled $112,541,823.27. New York’s seven-year contract totaled $126,394,917.

Look at the dates...they all began under GWB!! That is how our government works. Also keep in mind, it is Corporate America that is also lobbying Congress NOT to put restrictions on food stamp purchases. Companies like Walmart, Sams Club, Cosco, Kraft Foods, Coca Cola and others paying Congress to vote against restrictions. And low and behold, JP Morgan is profiting bigger than ever from the food stamp program with every swipe of the food stamp EBT card. These contracts are transactional contracts, meaning they are amendable based on changes in program participation. Each month, the three companies that administer EBT receive a small fee that can range from $.31 to $2.30 (or higher depending upon the number of welfare services on an EBT card and state contractual requirements) for each SNAP recipient.

Well, you call up a JP Morgan service center. When you do this, there is a very good chance that you are going to be helped by a JP Morgan call center employee in India. That's right - it turns out that JP Morgan is saving money by "outsourcing" food stamp customer service calls to India.

In the meantime, did you know it was announced that JP Morgan has admitted that they wrongly foreclosed on over a dozen military families and that they have been overcharging "thousands" of other military families on their mortgages.

JP Morgan...so patriotic in their ways to show their love of their country (USA) and the American people...NOT!

WOW Julieann When are you going to get yourself informed on what happened. You are saying that G Bush lowered taxes, yet you forgot to add that by doing so he increased revenues from taxes. So you your IGNORANCE is showing well.

If the Dems would NOT of pushed there failed policies that caused the Housing & Finacial CRISIS's we would of NEVER got into the problem in the first place. The war in Iraq you are referring to was VOTED on & agreed to by the DEMS also. You want to blame 1 side without even looking at the reason it happened in the first place.

Like Oblamer saying its Bushes fault. I did NOT see where G Bush sued a bank to give a mortgage to someone that could NOT afford it. Yet look up Obama VS Citibank. You will see that Oblamer sued Citibank to give a mortgage to a couple that could NOT afford it.

Barny Frank told Congress that Fannie & Freddie would NEVER need government assistance. We see he was wrong on that one also. When are you people going to quit voting in these failures on the left.

I am not supprized this happened, but I am that he was caught and this was actually reported. If you think for one second this is an isolated case, you are an idiot. Again, the cockroach analogy...for every one you see in the light, thousands are hidden behind walls. This is what happens to our tax dollars when liberals rule.

Again Julieann It was thode pesky Dems. That drew up the banking rules & regulations. I say you get mad at them and let them know you do NOT like the way they run the government. Maybe then we can get them to straighten up there wild spending habits.

To blame Bush for JP making money would be like blaming you for me making money. Not very productive just pointing fingers at who you think is to blame. Do some actual research and find out who implemented the policies that cause the problems.

101doc, apparently you did not hear your neighbor very well. She said she wanted to work. Getting a job would have meant she lost what is important...food, health care and other things. I know plenty of people working but can barely afford food to put on the table and health care is so expensive they cannot afford to pay for it. The rising cost of health care is so out of control thanks to health insurance...the ones that dictate what services you can get and cannot get unless you pay for them yourself. Health care is not cheap if your job does not have affordable care, if you or a dependent has a pre-existing condition.

I have Cystic Fibrosis...in just 10 years time (between 2002 - 2011) I spent over $275,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for health care. Many of these services and medications are ones that I had been taking long before health care expenses grew out of control. I was born with CF. It was not something I contracted because I did not exercise, ate unhealthy foods, smoked and drank excessively. As a matter of fact, I do keep myself healthy by exercising regularly, I eat healthy foods (no fast food junk, not even pizza), and I do everything my doctor and I discuss to beat this disease that has no cure. That $275,000 I spent of my own money was what insurance companies refused to pay as costs for services and medications grew out of control...faster than my pay rate, even as I earned my 3 college degrees. Imagine that, working full time and going to school full time to earn my degrees and living on my own, paying my own expenses through life. Vacation...what vacation? Can't afford it. I long for the days when I earned just $25,000 a year and medical care was affordable. LMAO...I didn't even have a college degree back then. I went to college because I wanted a career. One that paid well so I could help those less fortunate than myself. Instead, my college degrees are just one of the many reasons I can barely stay in the workforce as jobs are being lost in this country. Earning a 6-figure income?? You wouldn't know it the way I live. I still live in the same apartment I moved into 15 years ago making just $25,000 a year. I cannot afford to move with my medical expenses and this is the first year I will be earning $100,000. But after expenses I will be living like someone barely earning $45,000 a year. I work to live. To think, with $275,000 I could have bought a house. I probably should have followed everyone else and filed bankruptcy instead of paying the large medical bills. Doing the moral thing is not always the solution. I don't even have a savings account or a retirement account. I am 40 years old and somehow I am defying the odds to not become a statistic of Cystic Fibrosis, but what good is that if I don't have money to retire like everyone else? Put yourself in the shoes of these other people. Before you open your mouth and bash someone, find out what is really behind their story...walk in their shoes!! Things are not always what they seem. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. Be grateful you are not like your neighbor or myself. I don't wish this on anyone and I am sure your neighbor does not wish it on anyone else either.

Julieann I do agree with part of your statements. Like you put that foodstamps are a godsend to those that need them. Just extra income for those that do NOT need them. That is a different story though. The problem I see is we give them food stamps they sell them for 50% so they have cash for DRUGS, Cigs & Beer. I am NOT saying ALL of them do that. But I have had some people ask me if I wanted to purchase some from them, I always SAY NO. I am sure someone is buying them though. I guess I should start taking advantage of the cheap food also. I have to high of standards though, that and I have MORALS.

I would like to point out that unless you are the cashier punching in the button that says food stamps, you cannot tell that is what a person is using for sure in most states. There are cards issued that are state cards and any funds that come from the state are put directly onto those. I receive child support for my son and it goes on a card that looks absolutely identical to those that recipients of welfare and food stamps receive. Unemployment can also go onto these cards, as well as a paycheck for a state employee. Please don't assume that all of us using state cards are receiving some sort of aid. I work full time and earn a good paycheck, so I can choose to buy steak with my state issued card that my son's father is putting the money on. My 15 year old athlete needs the protein!

steve-1962, you may be 10 years older than me but you are not wiser than me. GWB did not raise revenue on decreasing taxes. Read what you just wrote...JUMBO SHRIMP!!

I voted for GWB the first time but I was not stupid enough to make that mistake twice. After all, look at his resume...he bankrupt the oil company his daddy gave him. He even bankrupt a MLB team (Texas Rangers). Must have been all the pot he smoked that decreased the necessary brain cells he needed to avoid bankruptcy.

20-25 years ago I worked in a grocery store. Day in and day out you saw the fraud as a cashier. At the time I was a single mother working off of minimum wage which was $4.25/hr and was DENIED food stamp assistance. I learned how to save my money the smart way, as well as finding a better paying job, all without the assitance of the government. I am proud of the person I am.

I now work selling property insurance and see every single day people who come in wanting insurance on their brand new vehicle which could be anything from a cadillac to a Dodge or Chevrolet. Yet they complain, not about thier car payment but about the insurance payment, and have the nerve to tell me that they only get their check once a month and they are on a fixed income.

I work my butt off, I miss time with my children at sporting events and school programs because I am working sometimes 60/hr a week. Yet these charaters sit in front of me and flaunt the fact that they are living off the government.

The people living off the government are proud that they do not have to work, they are proud that they recieve their check or food stamp card to live off of so they do not have to actually work.

What is even more sad... My poor grandmother who is 87 years old, finally was approved for some government help She gets $500 to live off of and $53.00 for food stamps.. Have any of you tried to live off of $550.00 a month.. SICK!!!!! She is one who needs the help and yet can barely get it. No one is going to give a job to an 87 year old. Yet there are people who are perfectly capable of working but find ways to cheat the system because their big toe is hurt, and for some reason cannot not work. I SEE IT EVERY DAY!!!

The only way any of this will get better is if people wake up and speak up!!! Also to the person who stated to call the police or the food stamp police while seeing the fraud going on... How you gonna stop someone and say... "Can I get your name please, I would like to turn you in for welfare/foodstamp fraud". You cant turn someone in if you do not know who they are. There are ways to call it in but without names and such, its wasting time.

I am sure my tax money could be spent a lil better than what this government is doing.

steve-1962, it is only a fraction of those on food stamps that abuse it. Most food stamp abuse comes from those higher up the food chain...those with authority like these owners of the grocery store. The same goes for other fraud relating to medicare/medicaid and social security. The ones abusing it or committing fraud are those with the power and authority like doctors, health care workers and administrators. Very little abuse comes from the actual users. And remember, users are going to take what is given to them.

Also, Michelle has a ligitimate point. I know someone who gets their child support on a debit card. I was in line at Target with her when she was purchasing her 3 kids new shoes and some ignorant idiot asked how come she was purchasing shoes with food stamps. She doesn't receive food stamps, just child support. Most child support is deducted from the supporting parent's paycheck then sent to the receiving parent in different forms. Not everyone has a checking account especially if they live paycheck to paycheck because most banks charge a fee for minimum balances. You have to qualify to join a credit union to avoid such fees.

America is a food stamp nation. Almost half of all Americans are receiving food stamps, today.

You are incorrect. It's more like 15% and the US is not the only country that offers assistance to its citizens.

Michelle: The cards may not look like anything other than a debit card but still clear it is a SNAP card and the reason is because a cart full of groceries always has at least one item that is not "allowed" and has to be paid in another matter.

So when I am behind somebody with a cart of groceries and the customer asks for a total for their SNAP card then I know. Then I hear something like "$287.47 for that" and the customer slides their card. Then I hear "and the balance is $21.47" meaning the "non food stamp" items. THAT is when I realize that I just helped buy this person steaks, ribs, and shrimp!!

Sorry, I want to help those who REALLY need food but then you should only get some chicken, hamburger, rice, potatoes, and milk. I'm sorry - those on the SNAP program should NOT be eating better than me!!

fedup

You must be one of them!! FL loser on the government dime!

Yes I'm living off the government dime. Its called military retirement. I spent over 20 years in the Air force. But like every thing you say, you don't have any idea what you are talking about. You are just a load month idiot. Here, I found this link to a true story about you.

youareanidiot.org

huntingmom, 10 years ago it was cheaper for everything. Before my 3 college degrees and living on just $25k a year I could afford everything life had to offer, even a week long vacation on the beach in the islands. Today, on just $100,000 I cannot afford to take a vacation nor buy a house. My credit scores range between 750 - 800 because I still have a student loan I am paying on but no credit card debt. Health care prevents me from living a life of a 6-figure income person. All my friends live in luxury high rises in NYC while I live 12 miles away in the same apartment I had for 15 years. I recall back in the summer of 1987 at the age of 15 when I worked two minimum wage jobs in Florida at $2.75/hr. I had my own apartment for the summer. Mommy and daddy did not help. I rode my bicycle to and from my jobs.

Today, the national minimum wage is barely less than $8/hr. No one can live the way I did back in 1987 and nor can they live the way you did 10 years ago. Health care has skyrocketed out of control especially if you are like me and health complications are in the way. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease a person is born with and there is no cure. The median age to live to is 37. I am defying the odds at the age of 40 (41 in May). I do not wish my life on anyone. It sucks because I did nothing to deserve this life but I am making it the best I can. I just wish I did not feel like I was being punished for something I did not do.

I know someone who told me an interesting story.

This person (I'll call "Bob" for the sake of the story) is "well off" and had a relative visiting for the holidays. The relative was going through some difficult times and Bob wanted them to have a nice holiday.

So a couple days before Christmas Bob tells his wife to get a nice ham for meal. His relative pipes up and says she wants to buy the ham. Admirable and the relative was wanting to help. But then the relative followed up with "I can use my SNAP card".

Bob said he was real nice and told his relative that was okay and he wanted to buy the ham but told me later "what I wanted to say was 'so I am STILL buying the ham'"!! In other words the relative said she wanted to buy the ham but was going to use taxpayer dollars that Bob paid anyway. So indirectly he was paying for the ham either way!!

Again, sorry to repeat myself but I get frustrated with the program itself. Help those who need food is fine but let them stop by a county location and pick up 5lb of potatoes, 10lb bag of rice, a gallon of milk, dozen eggs, and some chicken and hamburger. Sorry, I don't think those who "need" food should eat better than I do!!

ProBusiness, I agree with you as far as the types of food that is allowed to be purchased. Personally, I think food stamps should be ran more like the WIC program where vouchers are given to buy specific items. I remember my mom getting those for my brother and sister when I was young and she was given so many vouchers per month with certain items listed on each one. Specific brands of healthy cereal were allowed, so many gallons of milk, and peanut butter. I'm sure there were other things as well, but I don't remember what they are now. That type of program makes a lot more sense to me.

Is this where SafeLink.com fits in too? The advertising pinpoints Food Stamps and those on Medicaid ON TV!!! WTH!

If someone would just enforce the same with ALL government agencies that waste and let fraud run rampant we would not be having these seqestration scare tactics by our polticians but for some reason it seems reallay easy to defraud just about any government ageney with just a little imagination.

Tom Smith123

kepone, I see this all the time. I went in a mexican grocery store and most of the people were paying with food stamps and driving off in new P/U'S and SUV'S. Yep, you tax dollars at work

Probably illegal immigrants - like this grocer most likely was - who purchased their nice new cars using money from fraudulent tax refunds obtained by claiming dependents in Mexico

The American middle class has an endless supply of money to give to moochers, thie.ves and freeloaders, it would seem...

$844,000.00 & you get a lousy 30 months for ripping off the public till, while someone caught with a baggie of weed some times serves as much as 5 years!??? There is some thing very wrong with this & I'm willing to bet it has to do with being an immigrant minority. Please tell me where is the justice in this type of sentencing? I still remember the judge in Burien, Wa.. who when sentencing a young Vietnamese man for having killed a child while driving drunk (his 4th DUI), stated, these people just don't understand our cultcher yet, I'm sure once released he will never have another problem like this again. With credit for time served he was given probation. This K-rap needs to stop now.

Oh, those people you see using food stamps, than loading it into a nice SUV?

Might have been me.

twice a month I suppliment two low-income households by taking them grocery shopping; since they don't have cars themselves to carry the groceries in (try taking milk/eggs/bread/fresh meat enough to feed 4 on the bus or for a half-mile walk.) I also buy them some minor luxuries, particularly if the kids got good grades, or their rooms are tidy, etc.

In my experiance, the people who assume others are doing bad things only assume so because it's what they themselves would do.

You take this screwed up situation and add to it the fact that these people were likely subsidized in their business by our gov't and you get yet another immigrant who knows the stupid Americans are going to make them rich. Mind you, not all are dishonest; I know many that are good people and they complain about these asswipes making it hard on everyone else. We need to stop subsidizing business, especially for foreigners.

See Something..... Say Something.

Tried that once. A young woman with three small children was selling the money on her card for half its worth and using the cash to party on with her current boyfriend. The children were roaming the public housing project next to the library, sometimes even coming into the library where the folks there kept a candy dish out.

One of the librarians, an aunt of the woman in question who knew the details, felt if she reported the Food Stamp selling, the woman would be arrested and the children would be taken and the family could step up and take care of them. Her niece would not allow them to do so because they were her meal ticket.

When she called the Food Stamp office to report the selling of the benefit, she woman asked her if she could produce witnesses, if she knew the niece's SS#, the names of the people buying the benefit, their addresses, the niece's card number.... and any tangible proof it was happening other than her word.

They don't want to go after the individuals. It's too much trouble. The aunt was trying to do it this way to avoid a face off with her sister and the niece in court and causing a family row. It ended up that way any way.

For those of you who keep saying report the fraud, I have a bit of information for you that is from personal experience and very important. While it pertains to Medicare fraud, it can apply to almost any government aid program.

My daughter worked for a doctor who accepted Medicare. She starting noticing some issues with the Medicare billings and brought it to the doctor's attention. When he failed to address it, she reported the potential fraud and quit the clinic. While the clinic was being investigated, the doctor filed a slander lawsuit against her. It cost her $5000 to get a lawyer to represent her. The doctor's lawyer made a big error in his slander filing that potentially opened his records to investigation during the lawsuit. When that was discovered, he dropped his lawsuit. She was out the $5000 and had no legal recourse to recover it. Even the Medicare investigators refused to help her claim of witness intimidation. She lost money trying to do the right thing. Now tell me, if you think that you're going to be threatened legally for reporting fraud, would you do it?

Buy low, Sell high, get rich any way you can -- and all for the Love of MONEY. Hey, it's the CAPITALIST Way!

But giving US resources that are to feed America's poor to MEXICANS????

THAT's OK with OBAMA

Funny so many want to blame Obama for food stamp abuse yet it was Bush that rescinded Clintons prohibiting food stamps going to non citizens in his 2002 farm bill. Obama hasn't done anything to make food stamps easier to get, Bush added millions.

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: January 10, 2002

The Bush administration proposed today to restore food stamps to many legal immigrants, whose eligibility for benefits was severely restricted by the 1996 welfare law.

The White House said that at least 363,000 people -- legal immigrants who have not become citizens -- would qualify for food stamps under the plan, to be included in the budget President Bush sends Congress in early February. The proposal would cost the federal government $2.1 billion over 10 years, the administration said. In October, 18.4 million people were receiving food stamps.

The welfare bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 made noncitizens ineligible for food stamps and many other types of assistance financed with federal money.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/10/us/bush-plan-seeks-to-restore-food-stamps-for-noncitizens.html

"I worked at a grocery store in southern oregon about 15 years ago. I personally loaded groceries into the back of a brand new Cadillac that didn't have any plates."

• Oh -- I see how it works. You saw soothing 15 years ago so that means today everyone on food stamps drives a brand new Cadillac.

I have little doubt that fraud does occur. But keep in mind that the individual States administer the program. Many are too cheap to staff it adequately and a number of States farm it out to private businesses. If you ever took the time to read the regulations in various States, you would see that the laws are ridiculously strict. But the fact is that the States don't enforce their own laws.

A common issue is that States get complaints about abuse and their legislature responds with tougher laws against the abuse. Then they cut back on administrative costs and employees. It makes no sense. In reality, States and the subcontractors they use to administer these programs actually benefit financially by having more people receiving benefits. It is really not in their best interests to crack down on abuse. That said though, the amount of estimated abuses is overall, small and doesn't cost justify what it takes to enforce the laws and prosecute the abusers. It is financially expediant to look the other way.

Evidence is pretty clear that more than 2/3rds of recipients are working full time jobs. The problem is they don't make enough money to get themselves above the poverty level. Many people are caught in a trap. They don't have the education to get decent jobs and/or live in areas that simply don't have enough decent jobs to go around. They can't afford to better themselves with education and their kids are being raised in the same trap.

The problem is much more complex than lazy people mooching off tax payers. Wages in this country for at least lower and middle class have been stagnant or decreasing for the last 40 years. Someone earning minimum wage 40 years ago, would be earning between $10-$11/hour in today's money, yet minimum wage is only $7.25/hr. About 15 million people today are working full time at minimum wage jobs. They don't earn enough to live, let alone improve their lives. 40 years ago, few States had sales tax. 45 do today. That alone is another big hit on minimum wage earners who spend virtually every penny they make. Other local taxes and fees have also become more popular in the last 40 years. Add in payroll taxes and you are typically looking at 12-15% of the minimum wage income going toward one tax or another. Someone working a full time job at minimum wage earns just about $15,000 per year. Take out the taxes and you are around $12,500- $13,000. That's not enough for food and shelter in most parts of the country for a single person. If they have a spouse and a kid or two, they are in big trouble. They will never dig out of their hole because they can't even afford the shovel. The average "food stamp" benefit is $3/day. That is hardly extravagant for someone earning $290/week before any taxes.

But did you know there is another minimum wage? That's right, there are two minimum wages. People who work in jobs like food service who receive tips, have a lower minimum wage. It is $2.13/hour. Think about that next time you stiff a waitress. In theory, their employers are supposed to make up any shortfall in tips, to get them to $7.25. The reality is that it often doesn't happen. For one thing, if they ask for it regularly, they are begging to get fired. Better to just shut up and keep your job. Something else worth remembering is that these employees usually have no benefits what so ever. If they are sick, they come to work anyway because they need the money. And these are the people handling your food.

Low wages is one of the biggest problems in this country and it just keeps getting worse. All the while, people on the high end have seen very nice increases in wages and compensation. I saw a very interesting perspective on this from a very well known and highly regarded economist. It is well worth watching and does a very good job of explaining today economic problems in America. Check it out, it is worth watching. http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-taming-capitalism-run-wild/

Hummmmmmmm The sentence sends out a clear signal ..... "White Collar Crime Pays ..."

Unless people have knowledge about peoples circumstances or situations who recieved food assistance, keep your ignorant comments to yourselves and quit being childish. Be happy you are not so down on your luck that you have to have them. And what is a family where one or both parents work full time supposed to do, STARVE their children. As for the person still ticked about the lady with 7 children, do you have ANY idea how much child care is?? I see why she stayed home with her kids, she would have went into debt if she had went to work! But anyways, if people are caught selling their food stamps for cash, they not only should serve serious jail time, but also be kicked off of the program for the rest of their lives. That kind of threat probably would make some people think twice about it. As for Khalid, 2& 1/2 years is absurd! ALL his assets should be taken away and his butt deported with his wife to their home country. We have enough criminals here already, we don't need other countries too.

Scrimini at 1.88. What you are describing is the the paycheck for life syndrom. The gubmint employees get a paycheck for life whether the program is good or bad, whether they do a good job or not. Couple that with the corporate interests as Julianne above described and you see why 40% or more of the US population is on gubmint assistance and it's growing. She describes the lobbying the corporations do to protect and expand the programs because they profit from selling to the SNAP card holders.

screminmimi,

I watched people selling their food stamps, right out in the open, at the Valu Plus store in Wilmington Ca., around 2000/2001. I called the police and the food stamp fraud unit. I gave a description of the guy AND his car licenses plate. NOTHING happened. The very next month, the same people were selling their food stamps to the very same guy.

I don't believe in letting people starve. Most people use them for their kids, which is what it was intended for. However, to just ignore the fraud, knowing I go to work and earn that money for these thieves, it chaps my hide.

Already feeding them. Why can't they get a "legitimate" job and pay for their own gas, electric, property tax (I doubt they are in a position to have to do that), phone?

People can get help with all that and even get a free phone with 400(?) minutes on it a month. These dirt bags took advantage of the system and of the people and as far as I'm concerned 2 1/2 years is nothing. No mention of a fine or paying the money back to the government? Doesn't seem like $844k is a bad hall for 2 1/2 years.

and as far as I'm concerned 2 1/2 years is nothing. No mention of a fine or paying the money back to the government? Doesn't seem like $844k is a bad hall for 2 1/2 years.

Not to mention, also, that this is only one grocer in one city.....

roninxian asks "Why can't they get a "legitimate" job". Let me give you a perfect example of what many peoplle face. I have a lady that works for that is one of the brightest, hard working people I have ever employed in my small business. I took a chance on her when no one else would. And do you know why no one else would hire her, it wasn't because she didn't have the job skills, she definitely did, it was because she had a minor felony drug arrest for simple possession of marijuana five years ago!

So, before you criticize, or question, look around, and try walking a mile in someone else's shoes.

There are even companies that refuse to hire anyone who has lost their previous job.

"Why not allow people with food stamps to convert a portion to pay legitimate bills like gas, electric, property tax, phone.....?"

Well -- it's like this. One of the biggest pro food-stamp organizations is The Food Marketing Institute. They represent the grocery industry in general and food manufacturing companies specifically. They have lobbyist in Washington to make sure food-stamps go for food only.

Mexico - Already have subsidy programs that do offset utility bills.

And do you know why no one else would hire her, it wasn't because she didn't have the job skills, she definitely did, it was because she had a minor felony drug arrest for simple possession of marijuana five years ago!

She could explore getting this conviction expunged, preempt background checks by bringing it up during the interview process, check with NORML for companies that do not test for marijuana or deny applicants for possession convictions, start her own business... Good for you for looking beyond such trivial matters, but to say this woman was entirely unemployable, I'm not buying it. Not at face value, not from personal experience.

Mexico - Already have subsidy programs that do offset utility bills.

Many such programs already exist in the US.

because they get most of those things paid for by the gov't already most of them are better off them the working middle class hell what could we do if our housing power free cell phone and groceries and medical was paid for not counting when you file taxes you get 8 to 9 thousand dollars return Hey did you know that you pay for them to have a free cell on you cell phone bill I looked I have 5 phones on my plan and I pay .93 per phone for someone to have a free phone one lady said she had at least 15 had 5in her pocket book right then that free 200 min per phone yea and the sad part that money will never get repaid and if he goes to jail well we'll be keeping him up

So tired of paying for id 10 T s to lay on their butts and get paid for it

Mike - Whether you like it or not, marijuana is an illegal substance. I am not saying that it should be but under the law as it stands right now, she committed a crime. We can't pick and chose what laws we want to follow and then cry unfair when we get caught. She chose to do something illegal, got caught and has had to suffer the consequences of those actions. I am not saying that it is fair but it is what it is.

Give me an example of someone who has really been discriminated against and then tell me to take a walk in their shoes before I question or criticize. Someone who is not being hired for what they are, not what they did in their past.

kepone

And do you know why no one else would hire her, it wasn't because she didn't have the job skills, she definitely did, it was because she had a minor felony drug arrest for simple possession of marijuana five years ago!

She could explore getting this conviction expunged, preempt background checks by bringing it up during the interview process, check with NORML for companies that do not test for marijuana or deny applicants for possession convictions, start her own business... Good for you for looking beyond such trivial matters, but to say this woman was entirely unemployable, I'm not buying it. Not at face value, not from personal experience.

Sorry to bust your fantasy, but the background checks are now done before things progress as far as an interview. Until you've been there -- do NOT claim that you know what it is like.

Donna P-2692688

Give me an example of someone who has really been discriminated against and then tell me to take a walk in their shoes before I question or criticize. Someone who is not being hired for what they are, not what they did in their past.

Over 50 years old, no longer able to move "fast enough" to satisfy the "go go go GO!" production-numbers-oriented industrial big-wigs, because of medical and age-related issues. Been without full-time permanent employment for more than 10 years -- and just cannot afford to get that magical piece of paper called a "degree" because the $40,000 just is not there and there are no grants/loans available to someone of my description. Willing to do the work, able to do the work -- just not able to do it "yesterday" like the bosses in their cushioned arm chairs think I should be able to.

Facing being evicted from my apartment because I simply cannot afford to pay the rent, which in turn means that I will be labeled as "unreliable", making it that much more difficult to get hired when there are no employers willing to hire me to begin with because I am "too old" and "too slow".

That IS discrimination.

There are still plenty of jobs available that do not do background checks. In our company you go through the process and can even be hired if you pass the drug testing but if anything comes up after that, they will not pass probation and will be let go.

As Tea Party folks continue to look at Blacks and Mexicans with great suspicion, Russians and other Asians continue to run amok with the real rip-offs.

There is a big gap between 'employable' and 'able to find work'

The pot possession might not have automatically excluded her, but if you're choosing between otherwise equal candidates, and one has a drug conviction, the other not...

A big THANK YOU AVENGER for your honesty, you could've used the Food Stamps but didn't and you didn't abuse the system like some scum bags. The same problem applies to Medicare, MedicAid, & Social Security fraud. One possible solution is that these social programs privileges intended for the needy could only be redeemed at licensed authorized stores and/or doctors using special coded keys without any MONEY exchange and proof positive identification. Authorized vendors would connect and validate service with Medicare, MedicAid & Social Security computers for services rendered, NO MONEY exchanged and only validated codes for food purchases and medical services would validate the transaction instantly. Until then we will continue to have a quagmire of multi-million dollars in taxpayer's funded social programs fraud.

It all comes back to "not wanting them to feel bad" attitude. These programs were designed to help those who need some help, much like churches and communities did in the past. A person not wanting to continue to receive this charity would make an effort to help themselves. Now people do not see it as charity, rather something they are entitled to and for some a money making endeavor.

Thank You Typical American. Most people are not going to abuse the system. If you pay attention the Abusers in this story were Greedy Slime looking to make a buck? Gas $3.80 a gal. Who can do that? Dr's appointments ?grocery shopping ? Senior Center for Hot Lunch? Food Bank? I want to live in the entitled world you people live in. Where do people without money get gas? Where do you live that has door to door bus service for the Elderly? OH! I know all you solid taxpaying citizens are volunteering to drive the elderly to appointments and shopping. Right? Shut the hell up and get out there~ in the real world.

most of us without money or resources walk or bike or do without shlt! geez! its the WAY it is. if i cant afford something guess what? I take care of my needs 1st then maybe if anythings left then come the WANTS!

Too many ''Want'' way more then they need!

Hey Mo: The 'real world' is a lot easier to function in if you studied in High School, like they told you

He is serving about a day for every grand he took.........

Think of what the fat cats on Wall Street would serve.....

right roger-we should return it to the churches where it belongs and the atheist population needs to set up their own way of getting the money together to support their brood.

drz-

this is one reason why social programs exist. Who are YOU to decide who is WORTHY OF HELP. Just because you believe in "God" you think you are better then everyone else and if someone doesn't share your beliefs then they don't deserve to eat? You are pathetic, get off your high horse and stop calling yourself a Christian.

no I do not think I am better then anyone. I don't believe welfare should even exist,the churches took care of their own and the only reason welfare was created was because people didn't want to believe,you don't have to,but the goverment should not have to feed anyone. This does nothing to improve anything for the poor,how am I on a "high horse" as you say? wanting the atheist to take care of their own is somehow wrong? the churches did a great job of helping the poor and still do.

I knew someone just like you, high and mighty on a self righteous kick. Guess what even the so called high and might fall, but when they do, they fall the hardest and my friend did. If the government wants to put a hardship on those who are poor by taxing the cr@p out of them and everyone else, then they should help them out. And giving them assistance DOES improve their lives because they are NOT STARVING. And guess what, not all churches have food assistance like you claim.

Those who believe in GOD do not get special treatment here on earth, but don't think for 1 nano second that non believers will either. This is not about GOD, it is about the abuse of the taxpayers funds that are going to unworthy people. I mean really, most of the social workers were on the system at 1 time or another to begin with, they are community organizers trying to get a free buck anyway they can while helping the drug infested population.

If you know anything about icebergs - when you"see" an iceberg, you are only seeing approximately 10% of the whole thing! So you are correct - "this isn't even the tip of the iceberg"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And your job of course will be to proudly stand there at the entry of the government apartments in your immaculate and pressed People's Guard uniform scrutinizing citizens for any possible infractions while your nightstick taps out the lost seconds of your dutiful life.

hindu...pakistani's.....they own all the corner mom and pop stores now. Most of them sell everything from crack pipes to counterfeit name brand clothes.....our government helps them over here and sets them up in business with government loans. Then these parasites take advantage of the poor by buying their food stamps for half price and re-selling merchandise at jacked up prices. They will be back in business 6 months after they get out of prison.

Well said, only thing I would add is during the day their job should be community service such as Picking up trash off the streets, mowing our parks, etc. If we continue to give everyone something for nothing, they have no incentive to better themselves.

Also no government store, they would just sell the food for crack. Just operate a soup kitchen serving basic cheap nutritious fare. Don't like it, get a job!!!

Charlie: Since you have a job you get screwed like the other 49% who work for a living and didn't vote for Mr. Obama....you must really be a conservative - LOL - just kidding. Please don't start calling me names. By the way all kidding aside, you are eloquent and well-written - which again is odd since you aren't in the 49%. I know I will catch hell for that, but I am trying to invoke some levity on this Beautiful Tuesday...!! HOOAH

Charlie, I, too am impressed by your writing skills. Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and Beck are so consumed with hate that Barack Obama, a half black man, is our President, that they have become fountains merely spewing toxins into the airwaves. I assume they are educated men, but the one thing they missed in class was respect for the office of the President of the United States. It's alright to disagree with politics; in fact, it's expected. But to accuse this particular man of being a Muslim or a terrorist, or the other vile names they've used, makes them appear as nothing more than a lot of the trolls who post on these threads daily. Again, thanks for your input.

Charlie 1915998, you may not believe the post about the people with the Cadillac Escalade so I don't know if you'll believe my story. I live in Dearborn, Michigan. Our neighbors who came here from Iraq, purchased their home for $95,000 cash. The wife told me herself. She said they saved $1000, a $1000 until they had enough. Mind you they only lived in the U.S. for 7 years at the time, two of them in Kansas. Talking to the children, the oldest is a little impaired and shares too much and the younger siblings hush her. They have a Bridge Card and thought everyone had one. A year after the bought the home for cash, they get and yes, this is true, a Cadillac Escalade. They have Medicaid. My cousin works at Costco and tells stories of how people purchase food with Bridge Cards and big screen t.v.'s with cash. She said that one man had four Bridge Cards of family members that he was using. It's not about being liberal or conservative, it's about people getting wealthy while bilking the system.

You are spot on Shelley. These are not the exception, most of these stories are the rule.

"Charlie: Since you have a job you get screwed like the other 49% who work for a living and didn't vote for Mr. Obama....you must really be a conservative - LOL -"

Hey -- I'm a REAL conservative which means I'm NOT a Republican. In listen to Republicans today, one would think that on January 19, 2009 the country was in great shape with a massive surplus, record low unemployment, a booming economy, increasing wages -- everything was just outstanding. Then -- Obama took office on Jan 20, 2009 and everything immediately came crashing down. That's not exactly the way it was. Bush and his Republican Congress turned the largest surplus of all times into the largest deficit of all times. We are paying for it today. The current deficits are NOT a result of massive spending by President Obama. This spending was on the books ling before he took office. In fact, President Obama has spend less money on new federal programs (adjusted for inflation) that any president since Eisenhower.

I believe in balanced budgets. You pay as you go and if you have a surplus, you SAVE it because you may need it in the future. That's NOT what Republicans do. If yo have a little extra, you spend it. Then if you need money later and don't have it, you put it on the credit card. That's what Republicans did and we are paying for it today.

Also InDogpatch -- I'm 66 years old. I planned to retire in 2005 but the economy put a 5 year hold on that. Since then, things have improved. But over my working years I can say I made more money when Democrats were in the White House than I did when Republicans were.

Yes Shelley -- we can all point to cases of people abusing the government safety nest. But this idea that 47% of the population is sitting on their asses figuring out how to get government handouts is simply NOT true. If it was true we would have a whole lot more than 47% of the population doing it.

And it's NOT just the poor on the government dole --- don't forget the bag banks, big oil, big argi-business, etc, etc, ect.

USPS - I know of no Mexicans named Kalehd Saleh - most likely Middle East where cheating is the law of the land

I have seen more and more of people from these countries using our systems to steal! I've worked in NYC with a few - they just shrug and say so what - that's the way it is in my country

How do you know that they are not US citizens, USPS User? By their name? My kids are born US citizens, but they have names from their dad's country.

And as Barbars says, I don't think many Mexicans have Arabic names. You can't deport a person from, say, Syria, to Mexico.

Use your noggin, USPS User!

USPS, and what is your plan for US citizens who abuse the system, send them to prison where more tax money will be spent on one individual per year then it cost to support a family of 4? Just curious due to the fact it is not only illegals but those who have spent generations on public assistance thus also committing fraud.

I think that USPS meant that they should be sent to Mexico to learn what it is like to live on a couple of dollars a day, not that they were Mexicans and should go back.

good point but that happens every day.People that have to serve 3 consecutive life sentences can be sued for millions. Maybe there is a special bank that loans money to people that can't possibly pay it back ooops, I guess they all do that.

gunowner ftw!

dman

Best post yet.

Here, here, Ned.

dman, the USFDA puts the figure of food stamp recipients at 46.6 million. I think your figures are a tad off.

"The majority of those receiving food stamps are the working poor, people who work at subsistence wages, sometimes at multiple jobs, and yet earn less than money than it costs to live."

• Hey -- stop confusing ditto-heads with FACTS.

canemah, I think your stats are a bit off. Between 12-15% of the population are on food stamps.

Larger work force,easier to find skilled people. Before 1950's there were very few women OR minorities in construction,industry or blue color jobs. NOW companies are forced to hire woman and minorities qualified or not. Not saying that they can't be comparable workers but there is much larger pool of workers to choose from now. AND PLEASE don't give me some bs of how they pay them less. Worked sided by side with these workers and they make pay scale now days.

The percentages may be off...but the underlying reason is correct... One of the nation's largest employers... WalMart, has a policy of paying minimum wage for part-time employees only. You don't get full-time hours unless you are in management. They only offer health care to full time employees. Most of their employees qualify for food stamps and other assistance programs.

Well done, WalMart... and many other employers... for watching your bottom line by making sure the taxpayers are taking up the slack by paying your people with food and healthcare benefits.

That's right.

The food stamp program is essentially a subsidy for the owners of WalMart and other corporations paying minimal wages. Socialism for the wealthy is a-ok but for the working poor a bane on society. Go figure.

The actual percentages may reflect how the receipients are counted - a single mother with two children may count as one person on the welfare rolls, for example, but all three are counted as "receiving benefits", even if the children are far too young to work themselves.

I think it's silly to get worked up over the actual percentages though. Dman's main point is valid: why can't people working full time (and more) still not afford basic necessities? I hear all the dittoheads whining that providing food stamps and other similar programs is a disincentive to work, but what's the incentive to work if you can't possibly get ahead, even with multiple jobs?

"NOW companies are forced to hire woman and minorities qualified or not."

BULL@!$%#.

dman, the USFDA puts the figure of food stamp recipients at 46.6 million. I think your figures are a tad off.

Actually, canemah, it is either your reading comprehension or powers of logical reasoning which are "a tad off".

I said that the nation's Welfare Rolls constituted approximately 5% of the total population, not the number of people receiving food stamps.

You don't need to be on welfare to receive food stamps. You need only have an income that places you and your family below the national poverty line.

That was my point, that this nation has ever increasing numbers of working poor, people working one or more jobs who still cannot afford to properly feed, clothe and house themselves.

Here're where you can see the stats for yourself (http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/).

This couple were the Owner's of the Grocery Store that were appealing to the greed of the stamp holder's and were greedy and wanted to make money from this scheme. They are all guilty.

I have known lots of people on welfare that have done this.

Lots??? How many people do you know who are on welfare?

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!! Just one problem - you asked it before I did! LOL!

Have a nice day!

cheaphoarde

Why weren't the people using the food stamps arrested also? I'm sure they know the rules of food stamps.

Some handles say it all...but to your point:

Why? So you can pay for them to be kept in jail instead not to mention the wrecking of families left behind. Why don't you aim your anger and frustration at the wealthy corporations and individuals causing this situation in the first place instead of at the people just trying to survive the system?

are you for real

Are you?

Hopefully cut them off from all future benefits, forever. It's not worth putting them in jail.