New Welfare Restrictions Target Booze, Tattoos, etc.

[MrSplitshot]

The fact that some people actually try to debate this and argue that it is somehow a welfare recipient's "right" to spend their government assistance funds on whatever they want to is reflective of the sad welfare state that we have become. You shouldn't have to justify your spending?!?!?! Uh, yeah....you absolutely should have to.

http://www.lex18.com/news/new-welfare-restrictions-target-booze-tattoos/

Let me be clear. I have no problem with assistance for people that are legitimately trying hard every day and can't make it on their own...no problem at all. A lot of people have the deck stacked against them sometimes. But if you think I'm EVER going to concede that it's somehow OKAY for people to be able to withdraw cash from their EBT cards and take it to buy liquor, cigarettes, booze, strippers, drugs, guns, or trips to the casino...you're crazy. I mean, lost your freakin mind crazy...

Are you kidding me?

You want to work as a stripper to make money to support your family? Hell, I'll applaud you for the effort and doing what you've got to do. But you want to buy a stripper with cash from the EBT card that was financed from tax dollars collected from me for hours that I spend working hard away from my family? You can go jump off a cliff and do the world a favor, as far as I'm concerned.

[mhall]

I could not agree more. Perfectly stated in every way......

It's all part of the ''Give me'' generation we are raising. One of the main reasons I hate Obama with every fiber in my being......Because he's all about this.

[Chubminnow]

So that's what one of those cards looks like huh? I was wondering, this is the first time I have seen what the card looks like. The first time I saw a vendor advertise that they accept EBT Cards was at a Farmer's Market about two or three weeks ago.

[DJD]

Unless cash withdraws can be monitored, which they can't, I see this action as bold but ineffective. I'm with you guys I hate to see waste and hate even more to see gubment boobs fumble around and try to figure out how to fix what they broke!
Maybe the best answer is to stop giving assistance to every Tom, Dik, Harry, Juan, Miquel, Chiquita and Alice that applies? Maybe??? Maybe if the economy was headed in the right direction we wouldn't have so many folks (more than ever) on assistance programs?

"Welfare recipients are issued their benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards, which can be used like debit cards to buy things or to withdraw cash from ATMs. Some states have barred the use of the cards to buy certain prohibited products; others have banned cash purchases of such items, too."

[MrSplitshot]

What happened to the days when Food Stamps were actual paper...they stood out from regular money...people plucked them from the little books at the grocery store counter and you could only buy certain things (food) with them?

Granted, there was fraud there too, because people would sell them to other people at a discounted rate for cash so that they could buy beer and cigs....but at least you had to be halfway covert about it.

Now it's just a debit card blank check to buy whatever in the hell you want anywhere that accepts a debit card?

Again, sad welfare state...but I suppose that I should expect no less from a government that runs ads on the radio about how great it is to be on public assistance.

[bassin_bug]

I believe there has been a generation of people raised up who have a sense of entitlement and are now raising their kids to do the same thing. If one person in the family gets on welfare, it's like a cancer that eats through the entire family; they all get on welfare and it goes from generation to generation. A few years ago I actually overheard conversations between men who were congratulating each other because they refused to work and got welfare benefits for their entire family. It didn't matter if their daughters popped out a houseful of babies, just more money from welfare. I am all for supporting the poor and disabled but I have no pity for lazy slobs.

There are people who deserve help when they fall on hard times. Not all are willing to lie down and let taxpayers support them.
Just this week, I have had 3 different men stop by my place asking for work, begging me to hire them. All had fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. All have clean background checks and have been truthful. I can hire one, maybe two, but which two? There are three people in need and it breaks my heart that I can't help them all.

[roadrunner]

[QUOTE=DJD;494910]Unless cash withdraws can be monitored, which they can't, I see this action as bold but ineffective. I'm with you guys I hate to see waste and hate even more to see gubment boobs fumble around and try to figure out how to fix what they broke!
Maybe the best answer is to stop giving assistance to every Tom, Dik, Harry, Juan, Miquel, Chiquita and Alice that applies? Maybe??? Maybe if the economy was headed in the right direction we wouldn't have so many folks (more than ever) on assistance programs?

"Welfare recipients are issued their benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards, which can be used like debit cards to buy things or to withdraw cash from ATMs. Some states have barred the use of the cards to buy certain prohibited products; others have banned cash purchases of such items, too."[/QUOTE This money needs to come back to a local agency to hand out the money and watch what it is spent for. Plus any one on welfare has to do public service jobs if they are capable. They can pick up trash at the park along the roads umpire softball games wash city vehicles paint buildings weed eat help at food pantries there are a lot of services that would help cities townships and counties save money.

[Bobby Headrick]

Ok YOU CANNOT withdraw food stamp money from this card, they can only withdraw the money alloted for the KTAP, or welfare as it is called, and that amt ranges from 185 to 325 a mth max. and welfare only can be drawn for six yrs max. The people still sell benifits off their card, 50cent on the dollar, Ive watched them hand card to another in Walmart. People stiil gonna buck the system, I just wish people like the ms VALDEZ in the above mentioned article was more in tune with the real world than the "paper" one they live in, thats whats is wrong with the system too many in charge that dont know relaity from fantsy. And no it aint all Obama's fault on this, the heads of theis dept are idotis both at the state and fed levels. I get mad as all you do, I just need the job.

[HURRICANEBOB]

But you want to buy a stripper with cash from the EBT card that was financed from tax dollars .

I agree with you completely. Essentails only.

On the lighter side. When they use their welfare money to pay a stripper, atleast they are keeping the stripper employed and off unemployment compensation

[waterdog101]

there's no way to help the needy. without giving the lazy young men and women a free handout. and in most every household there are small kids that need to eat, and have a few rags to wear. and even if the lazy adults that are supposed to take care of the little people, waste most of the tax money given to them. if the kids get feed one meal a day from their lazy parents, then the waste is worth it. it breaks my heart to think anyone is hungry. me and the wife was in Knoxville today, stopped at a store on 441 to get something to drink, as I was leaving the store this man asked me for some money for food, at the first glance of him as he spoke to me, judging by his looks the first thing that ran through my mind was he would buy wine instead of food. but what he did with the money I gave him I don't know, I gave it to him so he could eat, and it made me feel I helped him. and as I got in my car the guy said to me, God bless you brother, and after I left there his words keep going through my mind, and I thought of what the Bible says about being kind to strangers, for many an Angle has been entertained unaware. the very wasted tax Dollar hand out, you want to do away with today, could be the food ticket your children may need to eat 10- 15 years down the road.

[DJD]

Funny you bring up the man looking for food or help. Here in Lexington if you get approached by a person looking for money it's because they need to get to Harlan or Hazard. They have the story of a broke down vehicle and need cash to catch a bus or to put gas in their vehicle. In the last year or so I have had at least three requests from folks with this story. One at a gas pump, one while downtown Lexington and the other at my bootcamp workout. The Speedway on Richmond Rd next to the old Chevy Dealership had a guy this weekend with a sign saying Harlan on it....just sitting outside of the store.
The fact that people are asking for cash or food doesn't mean they actually need it. I guess I don't see the good in people like some folks do. I used to see that in people looking for handouts but once I started talking to them first and getting the same story I felt like I was getting a load of bull from them. Now if I get a new story I might give a few bucks if they sell me on it.

[MrSplitshot]

I hear you Dog....I'm also one of those guys that usually will give the buck or two in my wallet to someone desperate enough to ask for it on the street....I think being kind to strangers and people in need is the right thing to do, but I'm also becoming a skeptic too.

I go to the Car Wash on Winchester Road in Lexington and have been going there for years. It's not in the best area, but it's near my office and has the highest pressure in town. I get panhandled there a lot. Last fall, I had a guy come up to me asking for some cash, because his car was broke down and he wanted to check in to the motel next door with his wife and kid for the night. (There is a motel next door, all be it a pretty rough one.) I sat there for a minute and for some reason the guy just didn't seem sincere to me. I told him that I would gladly pay for a night at the motel next door for he and his family if they were in a rough spot...then I said let's walk next door and get y'all checked in. He was real quick to say thanks, but you don't have to take time to come check me in, you can just help me out with the cash. I told him that I didn't have cash but would pay for his night in the motel room with my credit card. Then, the guy called me something that rhymes with bass and hole and stumbled off. True story.

On the flip side, my wife and I were coming home one night and stopped at a Long John Silvers to eat supper...we had the baby with us and were pretty occupied fooling with her...but I noticed a guy sitting out front on the curb who looked pretty rough. He kept looking inside at us and when I would make eye contact he'd look away real quick and put his head down. I came to the conclusion that he was either homeless or in real bad shape...then I thought about how fortunate I was to be sitting there eating supper with my wife and kid, a few dollars in my pocket, and a home to go to...so I went up to the counter, spent $5 on a meal to-go, and took it to him outside. He didn't say much, and I think he was mentally challenged somehow, but he tore into that sack and ate like it was his last meal. I asked him if he had a place to go and he didn't answer me. Stuff like that tears me up wanting to help...and then stuff like the guy at the car wash trying to pull a scam for booze/drug money makes me fire engine red with anger...

I guess that's just the way it goes.