Get your welfare cash at the local mini-mart

[cleller]

Good story out about the owner of a mini-mart being arrested, along with a bunch of accomplices for scamming the food stamp debit cards:

"Pat Lu, 48, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and fraud after police raided his Quincy, Mass. mini-mart and said he was personally skimming $30,000 per month from the federal government’s food-stamp debit card system. Bail was set at $100,000.

According to a report from NECN-TV, Lu was the ringleader of a complex scheme involving at least 53 suspects engaged in welfare fraud that has netted $700,000 in the past year and a half.

Police said customers would come into Lu’s store with debit cards they had received as part of the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Lu would swipe the card, ring up a phony sale for the value of the card, give the customer 50 cents on the dollar in cash, and pocket the rest."
http://news.yahoo.com/massachusetts-welfare-fraud-mini-mart-owner-skimmed-30k-223625057.html

I've always thought it was just ridiculous that these places were allowed to participate in the food stamp program to begin with. Food stamps, or their modern equivalent should be limited to full service grocers only. It would be nice, with all the technology to be able to exclude stuff like candy, pop, steel wool, etc. The ways people exploit the system are never ending.

Maybe every county could have one warehouse that is open twice a month for food stamps, like real socialists.

[Turd_Ferguson]

This **** has been happening for decades. Hell, they just busted some store a couple of months ago up on MLK and NE 23rd...Imagine that.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I remember when the gov't welfare office gave em food instead of food stamps. Lots of cheese and peanut butter. But the peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth and required a chisel to remove.

[cleller]

I remember when the gov't welfare office gave em food instead of food stamps. Lots of cheese and peanut butter. But the peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth and required a chisel to remove.

Uck. I'd rather get a job than eat that junk.

[olevetonahill]

Uck. I'd rather get a job than eat that junk.

That was its purpose

[Turd_Ferguson]

I remember when the gov't welfare office gave em food instead of food stamps. Lots of cheese and peanut butter. But the peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth and required a chisel to remove.

Uck. I'd rather get a job than eat that junk.I've heard tale that the cheese and butter were good stuff.

[Soonerjeepman]

our school's secretary would buy the old food stamps...that looked like monopoly money...for about .25 on the dollar...then go get her groceries.

I always thought that was really pathetic...her being black..buying FS from the poor blacks in the school...nothing like keeping the system going, knowing these folks were buying beer/cigs/etc

..her excuse.."if I don't, someone else will"...

[badger]

..her excuse.."if I don't, someone else will"...

This is the common justification in screwing the system... because we all know it's happening, so might as well get ours if others are getting theirs.

Knowing that this is the justification that everyone that screws the system uses is reason enough for me to never want to do it. If this sh!t gets too out of hand then the programs won't stick around for those who are honest and truly need it.

[olevetonahill]

This is the common justification in screwing the system... because we all know it's happening, so might as well get ours if others are getting theirs.

Knowing that this is the justification that everyone that screws the system uses is reason enough for me to never want to do it. If this sh!t gets too out of hand then the programs won't stick around for those who are honest and truly need it.

Good, Send em back to Commodities line. Every month they get a supply of Basic Vittles and In the spring they get a Bunch of Garden seeds

[OU_Sooners75]

I've always thought it was just ridiculous that these places were allowed to participate in the food stamp program to begin with. Food stamps, or their modern equivalent should be limited to full service grocers only. It would be nice, with all the technology to be able to exclude stuff like candy, pop, steel wool, etc. The ways people exploit the system are never ending.

Maybe every county could have one warehouse that is open twice a month for food stamps, like real socialists.

I have never had food stamps or whatever, though I know there was at least one point in my life I could have qualified for them.

That said, I don't think there should be any such restrictions as you are suggestions outside of perhaps restricting them to full service grocery stores.

As for limiting what they can buy with them, they already do. Unless you qualify for other assistance, food stamps does not include non food items. You cannot buy beer or alochol. You cannot buy things like paper plates, steel wool, or hot foods (food from a deli that is hot).

But to say they should restrict the purchase of things like pop or candy, I really do not agree with with.

[OU_Sooners75]

I remember when the gov't welfare office gave em food instead of food stamps. Lots of cheese and peanut butter. But the peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth and required a chisel to remove.

Government cheese was great though!

Never ate the peanut butter.

[OU_Sooners75]

Good, Send em back to Commodities line. Every month they get a supply of Basic Vittles and In the spring they get a Bunch of Garden seeds

This is what should be done...hell if they did it this way, I would try to qualify for it so I can just get the seeds...LOL

[olevetonahill]

This is what should be done...hell if they did it this way, I would try to qualify for it so I can just get the seeds...LOL
Years ago. Ya just had to go to yer county Commish and pick em up. No qualifying

[cleller]

I have never had food stamps or whatever, though I know there was at least one point in my life I could have qualified for them.

That said, I don't think there should be any such restrictions as you are suggestions outside of perhaps restricting them to full service grocery stores.

As for limiting what they can buy with them, they already do. Unless you qualify for other assistance, food stamps does not include non food items. You cannot buy beer or alochol. You cannot buy things like paper plates, steel wool, or hot foods (food from a deli that is hot).

But to say they should restrict the purchase of things like pop or candy, I really do not agree with with.

I've been in convenience stores after midnight, and seen access cards used to buy chips, candy, fountain drinks (must have a lid and no straw), etc, then they carry them right out to the party crew in the car. Its BS to me. Paying the jacked up convenience store prices to boot. If the taxpayers are buying the food, it should be something that is to go on the family table, to ward off hunger and malnutrition- not crap you can get at the mini-mart as a late night pick me up between clubs.

Think about it a minute. Soda pop? Really? If you can't afford to pay for it yourself, drink water. (the kind from the faucet) What a spoiled, fat country.

[OU_Sooners75]

I've been in convenience stores after midnight, and seen access cards used to buy chips, candy, fountain drinks (must have a lid and no straw), etc, then they carry them right out to the party crew in the car. Its BS to me. Paying the jacked up convenience store prices to boot. If the taxpayers are buying the food, it should be something that is to go on the family table, to ward off hunger and malnutrition- not crap you can get at the mini-mart as a late night pick me up between clubs.

Think about it a minute. Soda pop? Really? If you can't afford to pay for it yourself, drink water. (the kind from the faucet) What a spoiled, fat country.

So what. A lot of people on food stamps do work. They just don't make a great living.

The thing you are talking about could happen at your local wal-mart supercenter as well. Except the pop would be hot not ice cold.

Like I said, I have no issue with people buying a few snacks here and there with them, especially if the person is indeed working to pay his rent or mortgage.

My brother is buying his own house. His wife and him both workand both make quite a bit above minimum wage. They also have 3 kids. They are on food stamps. My brother works his *** off to provide for his family, so does his wife. They just struggle with all the bills and everything.

Why should people like them be restricted if they wish to have a little extra once in a damn while?

Maybe you should live a day in the life of those that struggle but make an honest living too?

[Turd_Ferguson]

My brother is buying his own house. His wife and him both workand both make quite a bit above minimum wage. They also have 3 kids. They are on food stamps. My brother works his *** off to provide for his family, so does his wife. They just struggle with all the bills and everything. Why would anybody be buying a house if they're on food stamps?

[yermom]

and how did they get a loan?

what happens when something breaks?

[cleller]

So what. A lot of people on food stamps do work. They just don't make a great living.

The thing you are talking about could happen at your local wal-mart supercenter as well. Except the pop would be hot not ice cold.

Like I said, I have no issue with people buying a few snacks here and there with them, especially if the person is indeed working to pay his rent or mortgage.

My brother is buying his own house. His wife and him both workand both make quite a bit above minimum wage. They also have 3 kids. They are on food stamps. My brother works his *** off to provide for his family, so does his wife. They just struggle with all the bills and everything.

Why should people like them be restricted if they wish to have a little extra once in a damn while?

Maybe you should live a day in the life of those that struggle but make an honest living too?

I'll bet your brother doesn't do the things I mentioned, though, right? People that work know the value of a dollar, and use it wisely. If they qualify for food stamps, I'd expect they use them wisely also. The example I provided does not sound wise to me.

I've lived that life, too. I've worked as a janitor, at Sonic, on an ice dock, painting houses, delivering furniture, and servicing fire extinguishers. If that ain't honest living, I can't imagine what is.

I'm not trying to quarrel, I just feel that people should control their expenses to extreme levels. Must be a result of depression era parents. The household I grew up in was very tight, money wise. No pop in the house, ever. Our first color TV was acquired when I was in high school and a great aunt died around 1976. Made for some severe culture shock when I got to OU, but kept me out of debt.

[OU_Sooners75]

Why would anybody be buying a house if they're on food stamps?

They got the loan before getting on food stamps. He ended up losing his job back in 2008 when the markets collapsed. Has since got another job, not like he has either. And he is still making sure his house and all his bills are paid for. What he gets in food stamps helps put a little more food on the table.

I don't nor shouldn't have to explain it...I know people cannot fathom bad things happening to people and people needing some assistance.

And my guess is a lot of people will label my brother something he is not.

I admire him for being able to keep his house while so many others have lost theirs because they didnt try!

[OU_Sooners75]

I'll bet your brother doesn't do the things I mentioned, though, right? People that work know the value of a dollar, and use it wisely. If they qualify for food stamps, I'd expect they use them wisely also. The example I provided does not sound wise to me.

I've lived that life, too. I've worked as a janitor, at Sonic, on an ice dock, painting houses, delivering furniture, and servicing fire extinguishers. If that ain't honest living, I can't imagine what is.

I'm not trying to quarrel, I just feel that people should control their expenses to extreme levels. Must be a result of depression era parents. The household I grew up in was very tight, money wise. No pop in the house, ever. Our first color TV was acquired when I was in high school and a great aunt died around 1976. Made for some severe culture shock when I got to OU, but kept me out of debt.

Sometimes my brother will go to the store and get a bag of chips or a candy bar and pop while using his food stamp card.

Like I said, big ****ing deal.

I will agree with you on one thing...I cannot stand those that do not work, or work the minimum and get all the assistance, even when they are capable of working.

In this economy right now, get a damn job....Fast food may be frowned upon by the elitists, but at least it is honest work. Someone will hire you if you are actively looking.

Those people that dont actually look for work, I cannot stand either....and I don't make a killing at my job and live pay check to paycheck...so no sympathy for the free loaders!

[yermom]

there are programs out there to help lower payments too then...

[OU_Sooners75]

there are programs out there to help lower payments too then...

There maybe, and he maybe trying to get it. But getting accepted in programs like that just do not happen overnight.

The point of my posts weren't to put my brother out on the log to get chopped up. It was to use him as an example of quite a few hard working honest families getting assistance...while so many others criticize them or label them something they are not. Or that act like those that are hard working people on assistance are not deserving of some leisure items once in awhile.

[Turd_Ferguson]

I wasn't trying to chop him up. You said he was buying a house, not owns a house. I was just asking why he would be buying if he's on food stamps. Meant no dis my brotha.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

That was its purpose

Apparently not today... You can't even require drug tests to get welfare...Shocking. I am sorry, the day you stop making money and expect some entity to GIVE you money, then you need to abide with their rules whether you like them or not. You have a choice, work or live by someone else's rules...