Food Stamp Fraud, Rare but Troubling

[liberal N proud]

IRWINTON, Ga. — In the back of Shinholster’s Grocery and Meat Market, they simmer pig skin and lard in an old black kettle. Hams from animals raised in the yard hang near an aging cash register.

As Republicans in Congress demand cuts to the $79.8 billion food stamp program, every aspect of it is being examined, including whether people should be allowed to buy candy bars and energy drinks with the aid, and who qualifies for help that averages out to about $133 a month for one person.

Allegations of fraud, including an informal economy in which food stamps are turned into cash or used to buy liquor, gasoline or other items besides food have been used to argue that the program is out of control. In fact, the black market accounts for just over 1 percent of the total food stamp program, which is far less than fraud in other government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Still, some abuse persists, even in unlikely corners. The little country store that Elbert Eugene Shinholster, 77, opened in the 1980s did not start out as a criminal enterprise. But slowly, as poverty in Wilkinson County worsened, Mr. Shinholster began swiping customers’ electronic benefits cards and handing over a mix of groceries and cash to help people get by.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/us/food-stamp-fraud-in-the-underground-economy.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131219&_r=0#h[]

Hey teabaggers, did you hear that just 1% amounts to fraud 1%

[Notafraidtoo]

1. They don't care

Teabaggers don't care that its 1% only, they think they are the only ones who deserve help and government subsides, like my boss who used section 8 housing to get wealthy by taking 20,000$ homes cleaning them up a bit for under 5,000$ and then getting 1,200 a month in section 8 housing rent which in this state for those areas is extremely high rent, privately he would only receive 400-500 tops for such places.

If he didn't do this he would still be in his union job that paid him very well and allowed him to invest in his section 8 projects and yet this moron hates both section 8 and unions and advocates for their end. He is not a very smart man and very racist and yet he is like many republicans that used government subsides to become wealthy all the while saying they did it all alone and they are the ones that " built that", Unless people stand up to this kind of cognitive dissonance it will be just one more nail in the coffin of the US economy.

Basically the old Republican mantra, I got mine fuck you, I a firm believer you deserve to live what you advocate for, in my world this man would not be allowed in a union or to receive government subsides.

[gollygee]

2. And an awful lot of that 1%

goes to "other items besides food" rather than liquor. Gas I can see too. People need soap, toilet paper, etc. and if they don't have cash for it fraudulently use food stamps to get it. It is fraud but I understand why it's happening.

So it's only 1% and that 1% is largely for stuff people are desperate for and truly need.

[Demo_Chris]

3. I don't care if it's 50%, it feeds at least some people...

And that makes it essential.

If someone wants to propose a solution that does the job better I will listen, but blanket attacks on the program are effectively blanket attacks on the program's users, and I have no time for nonsense like that.