There has been talk of not allowing food stamp users to purchase junk food with those funds. It's nothing new, there have always been restrictions on what could be purchased. The intent being to ensure the money is used for its' intended purpose. We al know that doesn't always happen and we all know it will continue regardless. The old adage, where there is a will, there is a way applies. I worked in retail for a time and have seen a few of the tricks used.
When I was small my great grandfather was eligible for welfare. He was born in 1879, and so social security and a retirement plan weren't part of his younger days. When I was 15 he was eighty nine, hardly employable and so his income wasn't just fixed, it was welded! At that time welfare recipients received boxes of food stuff, you know, to ensure their health and welfare. That was provided by the government and distributed locally on a regular basis. The government purchased those products as surplus, a benefit to the American economy and farmers. But there was a stigma attached to that, a bit of shame came along with that. Yes, others in the community generally looked down on those receiving those handouts. It was, as it is today considered charity, and many appeared more than able to work but refused. Even my great grandfather at 89 felt a little ashamed that he had to rely on that.
Food stamps began in 1939. At first there were two types, one could be used to purchase anything on the grocery store shelves while the other could only be used to purchase surplus products. This was during the great depression. Thing is, those stamps had to be purchased. Over the years things were changed and expanded. Fast forward to today where recipients are issued an EBT card and it is automatically loaded with a set amount. The reasoning behind that was two-fold. It would streamline the process, as having to produce the "coupons" and the attendant paperwork involved in tracking all that was getting cumbersome. Another reason was, to mask the use of those benefits from those that didn't receive them. It's supposed to remove the stigma because no one would know. It didn't work, everyone knows who is using snap benefits! And with that, came the expansion of fraud. It certainly enabled those wishing to take advantage. There are several ways to go about that. I've seen a number of them first hand.
But you know what it all comes down to is motivation. When you make the road easy to travel, the traffic increases. It's really not a difficult thing to understand. There was a time when accepting charity was viewed in a different light, by those receiving it. There was a bit of shame associated with that. It wasn't viewed as something you were entitled to, something to be proud of, something to hand down to your children as a legacy, it was quite the opposite. Today requiring and qualifying for a handout is considered as some sort of accomplishment, or entitlement, generally based on things that happened one hundred years ago or more. What is the motivation to change any of that?
Well, you will hear those proclaiming that is all they want to do, break free. You will hear every excuse, every reason, every possible scenario that prevents them from "escaping" poverty. You will hear how very difficult that is, how impossible a task is set before them. You will hear all the tales or oppression, of prejudice and bias. You will hear how there is just no way to break free. You will hear that this, this is there destiny. And then when someone does succeed, breaks free from the cycle it is hailed as a sort of miracle. It is almost always viewed as some sort of lucky break, like winning the lottery. The truth is, that individual was motivated to succeed, personally motivated. And that is the key, if you are not personally motivated to act, you will not act. And it doesn't what your financial status happens to be. It doesn't matter what race, creed or religion you are. None of that matters.
But here we are in 2025, removing as much motivation as possible in the name of charity. What we are doing is enabling. By removing any shame, any stigma, any thought of personal responsibility for your position and condition in life, we are enabling those that lack motivation to continue down that path. We have made the road to dependence much easier to travel, removing the struggle and making it smooth sailing. We are even promoting the idea that those that have succeeded, the "wealthy" folks, should be forced to provide the "poor" with all the luxuries the rich can afford, it's only fair! Just because I'm poor doesn't mean I shouldn't own my own home, two cars, a boat and go on family vacations. I should receive exactly the same level of healthcare as the richest person on the planet! I should be able to dine at the finest places, wear designer clothing and go to the most prestigious universities. I'm entitled to that as a human! I shouldn't have to earn any of that, I'm entitled to that.
When we started creating entire months to celebrate "lifestyles" we started on the final path to total dependence. It is the removal of responsibility for your choices. In the modern parlance, "it's all good." Well, the truth is, it isn't. It's true you have no control over the circumstances of your birth or your childhood. That ends when you become an adult. Then you can change those circumstances. What do these "lifestyle" months really celebrate? There are reminders to those in those "communities" of how oppressed, how held back and marginalized they are, and that is why they are entitled to special consideration, not being held to the same standard.
And what is that standard? Self sufficiency. That is the standard for every person. It has absolutely nothing to do with anything else. Nothing to do with race, creed, religion, or nationality. Perhaps that is best expressed with an old adage, God helps those who help themselves. It means being personally accountable for your choices. You will never be self sufficient when your independence is dependent upon the charity of others. No, you have to earn self sufficiency, it can not be granted, administrated by the government. That is dependence.
Replaced with an EBT card just like the working folks have. Makes things
a bit easier, more comfortable.
No comments:
Post a Comment