Food Stamp Reform

607 Words3 Pages
Argumentative Essay for Food Stamp Reform The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) is supposed to provide benefits to low-income households to help them purchase food. In 2011, the federal government spent seventy eight billion dollars on the program. SNAP benefits are now administered through a convenient debit card called an EBT card. According to the US Department of Labor more than 46.6 Million Americans participated in SNAP in June 2012. SNAP national participation in June 2012 rose to 46,670,373 people, an increase of 173,162 people from May 2012. The problem with this is that while there are some honest people out in the country, the majority of people I see abuse and fraud the system claiming that they need help as much as the next person. Food stamps aren’t around so people can have a field day at the grocery store any time they want. They are around for people who are having a hard time feeding their family! It is not those who like to cheat and take the easy way out of things. People are buying cookies, candy, chips, and soda. They also throw big parties for the 4th of July with steaks and shrimp and fill their cart to the brim. Why is the government allowing such absurdity! A couple from Long Island was caught buying more than $120 in caviar with food stamps at a supermarket and then reselling it at a profit! The New York Post quoted a USDA spokeswoman as saying that the caviar deal was not illegal, "but it certainly violates the spirit of the food stamp program." Why isn’t the government restricting food stamp purchases to healthier items? Critics say it probably wouldn't be effective and would stigmatize aid recipients. I believe that these days, stigma seems to be non-existent. There is no longer any stigma in receiving anything handed out by the government for free! In our society today there is no
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