SC's that put luxury ahead of priorities

[bainsidhe]

Florida has become very strict on how food stamps are used and abused. I've seen my share of arguments, like customers that try to buy sugary cereals, sugary soda pop, or candy, when they are supposed to use them for essential items. Glad I don't work at a grocery store any more.

Does Florida really limit foodstamps on things like sugary cereals, soda pop, etc? I'm in New York and as long as it is food (exception on deli food), then it's fair game.

I always say I try not to judge, but sometimes it really gets me how people use their foodstamps. And yes, I have been asked if foodstamps can be used towards beer. I guess it really doesn't matter to me how you spend on groceries, even if our taxes pay for it. Unless of course, the only thing you are buying is junk food crap or you clearly state (as if you are proud of it) that you're getting candy and gifts for your family. Grrr. Also, we'll occassionally get someone with the "cash back" feature who then turns around and buys cigs. Thank goodness, most people are normal and use that extra money to buy toilet paper or clothes for their kids.

[fattie20xl]

i used to do tell/data and home theater installs. back in 2005 i had the unfortunate experience of installing a home theater in a crack den.

it was this guy's apartment/horrible crack den. all the electrical outlets were falling out of the wall, there was cocaine residue everywhere, questionable stains on the carpet and the chair....

i burned my clothes that day.

i've even recounted it (with pictures and everything) on my personal site (http://greasypants.com/index/stories/crack-den/)

the thing is this was in the upper east side of manhattan (really expensive area) and the guy was a commercial real estate broker....

[blas]

Green, that story is awful. Hopefully that scumbag is rotting in a prison cell or got the needle and is 6 feet under, and those foodstamps are going to someone who actually will use them for what they are intended for.

[greensinestro]

I've had them in the store scrounging their coins together for a pack of cigarettes and then tell their kids they don't have enough to get them a treat.

People like this piss me off more than anything and flame away if you want but they're the reason I'm a conservative republican. I'm sick of working my arse off for what I need only to watch the government hand it over to someone who sit's on theirs all day and then come in and ask if we take food stamps for beer.

That gets me, too. I can't recall where it was in Florida, but several years back, there was an incident where a convenience store clerk was shot by a person trying to buy cigarettes with food stamps. The clerk explained over and over again that this person could not buy cigarettes with food stamps, and they are only good for specific items. An argument ensued, and the clerk was shot in the face for obeying the law.

So, this scumbag somehow obtained a gun, probably stolen since you can't buy one with food stamps, went to buy something that is not food, tried to buy this with food stamps, and got so upset that he killed an innocent employee in a convenience store.

Florida has become very strict on how food stamps are used and abused. I've seen my share of arguments, like customers that try to buy sugary cereals, sugary soda pop, or candy, when they are supposed to use them for essential items. Glad I don't work at a grocery store any more.

[tamezin]

Not fair -- Not fair

Yet, this lady had a Princess (AKA Trimline) phone of each and every color in her home!

When I was a kid (before the AT&T break-up, I know I am dating myself), I remember the princess phone...I wanted one soooo bad. For some reason my mother felt there were other more important things. I would have been more than happy to have given up a few necessities just to have that phone.

[protege]

He's seen a few of these cars in the low-income housing areas.

That's probably the local drug dealer then. I see *many* vehicles like that on the way to/from work. Nearly all of them are in the low income areas--it's a bit odd to see a Hummer or even a new Cadillac parked outside some of those places. Usually, there's something going on--most people who can afford those cars do not live in low-income housing!

Rural SW PA has *lots* of people like that. They live in places no better than shacks, yet have a brand-new truck in the driveway, multiple dishes on the roof, etc. They can't afford to take care of their house, yet have that crap?

I have *no* sympathy for them. I'm busting my ass to make car and house payments. I work 40-45 hour weeks, then go home and work on my *own* house. I don't get nice things, often, simply because I can't afford to. Yet, these people have that crap, are usually on welfare (and know how to abuse it)...while I have to work for it? Sorry, but I have a *serious* problem with that!

[hotelnpa]

I had an EX-friend of mine who had his priorities in the wrong place.

He had to have all of the premium channels, the best vodka, a carton of cigs, a nice car...but he only worked when he felt like it (or if he wasn't teriminated) and mooched off anyone he could, including me. For example, because of non-payment, his electric was shut off. Like a sucker, I loaned him the money to get his service restored and he promised to pay me back. He never did of course.

His car was nearly reprocessed, but his mother helped him out before that could happen. Keep in mind, this guy is in his 30's.

I may not be rich, but I am comfortable. I work full time and buy things I can afford. What a concept!

[greensinestro]

This could be a woman who is doing all the wrong things with Daddy's child support payments by the sound of it.

Like my brother's ex-girlfriend that he and her have a child with. They no longer are together, and at one time, he was paying her child support, up until the judge saw who should rightfully have custody. Before that though, it was apparent she was using his child support money for cigs and booze, and after she lost custody, even asked him "What am I going to do without that extra income?" Sorry, that's not an income, it's money to help feed, clothe, and house your child, not support yourself.

[BookstoreEscapee]

You need it.

Pink camo is in your future.

I was watching What Not to Wear last night and the girl owned a lot of camo. Nothing pink, though.

[blas]

Exactly.

Ex roomate's gf was rolling around in an Olds Alero with real nice modifications (how do I know? Thank you Facebook and Myspace!) but living in the slums of section 8, which is actually only about 2 miles away from where I live.

Her part time job at TGIFriday's sure couldn't afford that type of stuff.

[Hon'ya-chan]

This could be a woman who is doing all the wrong things with Daddy's child support payments by the sound of it.

He's seen a few of these cars in the low-income housing areas.

[Seshat]

and remember abuse often carries down the family, so yes these children may be ok, but what happens when they have children too?

Sample size: one family.
Half marry people like their abusive parent.
One quarter doesn't marry, becomes a single parent in an era when that's hideously taboo.
One quarter marries a good spouse, who themselves is child of abuse.

Thanks to the non-abusive parent's efforts, half of them (and the good spouse) make a conscious, determined effort to be good parents themselves. It isn't easy, and they have behaviour patterns clearly learned from their abusive parents, but they work hard at it.

The children of the spouses who married people like the abusive parent suffer abusive situations (surprise!), though between the efforts of the remaining adults around them and their own efforts, four fifths end up doing well as adults.
The child of the single parent turns out okay, but is raised in poverty.
The children of the good-spouse family show signs of trouble, and have behaviour patterns they need to train out of themselves, but are basically okay.

[CrazedClerk]

One of my friends works as a mechanic, and he's shocked at the services he's done to cars.

He's seen pimped out SUV's with the bling-bling rims, DVD players, amped up Stereo systems, and guess who's the owner of said cars?

Some woman that thinks she's Paris Hilton, yet her kids look like Joe Dirt.

This could be a woman who is doing all the wrong things with Daddy's child support payments by the sound of it.

[crazylegs]

Abuse always needs to be reported.

If your not reporting it and you know about it, maybe your the only one who does know about it, who will?

Abuse takes many forms, physical, mental, sexual, psycoligical, financial, deprivation, if there is a wall of silence these kids will not get the help they deserve, and remember abuse often carries down the family, so yes these children may be ok, but what happens when they have children too.

I normally put Stay Safe down here, but lets help others as well hey guys?

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

[Seshat]

I know for a fact that this sort of confused priority system has been going on at least since the second decade of the 20th century - because my grandfather did it to my grandmother and their children.