Should we laugh?

[WileEcoyote]

Just yesterday I'm trying to use my new California EBT card. That's the word for "Food Stamp program" for those of you out of the loop. makes you look like an ordinary shopper instead of a stinking homeless person while waiting in line for cashier at Safeway (irony intended). Wiley is homeless though smells fresh and clean. See "ACME Shower". Or better yet I am "Vehicularly Housed" and proud of it.

Unfortunately my card, while new and freshly issued from San Franciisco General Services hasn't been activated yet. That means I can't use it except to pry open door handle locks...

What to do? I moved down from Sonoma recently and so there's still a little dough left on my former county EBT card though I have a concern about paying them BACK if i use the old card while living in S/F.

So I call the number on the back of the card. After five minutes of "Press 1 for English" and assorted B/S I get a live operator with a native tongue displaying an origin apparently somewhere slightly west of Sri Lanka. I try and be supportive and patient. Hard to understand his accent while he attempts to speak English.

Now don't that fit the bill?

A mild reactionary streak runs through my mind. Trouble maker that I am i ask if the man is a resident of the United States or even California.


"I'm sumbly sarry mistah Why Lee but I'm bubbly not allowable to answer such questions buff dis nature"...


Here's what i suspect is the deal:

Food Stamps or EBT while run by the County and State are funded from Federal monies later on. However the actual card is processed by a private server same as your ATM or credit card is. Perfect example of the "benefits" of Privitization.

So when you need a job, are near flat broke or even just want to pimp the system for a few free goodies (like Halliburton)?

Well even THAT job has been out sourced to India.

Should we laugh?

[Desertrose]

1. Only the crazy laugh of insanity. n/t

[madokie]

2. up in arms would be more like it