Politics

Most popular on social media: Are Food Stamps a government necessity or a government crutch?

With one in seven Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly Food Stamps, the government has been faced with making some hard choices.

  1. Above, In this Aug. 26, 2011 photo, a sign tells customers that Electronic Benefits Transfer cards (EBT), which replaced paper Food Stamps, can be used at the Papa Murphy's store in Sioux Falls, S.D. By Jay Pickthorn, AP
  2. We hosted a debate over the growing number of people on the SNAP drew plenty of reactions from readers and proved the 80-year-old program still incites plenty of opinions from our readers. Both our view (Food stamps expansion driven by politics) and an opposing view point (Don't cut food assistance) drew responses from readers.
  3. As someone who qualifies for my baby but chooses not to and try to do whatever possible to get by, i believe in having dat option in case someday i made need the help, they should maybe have people that visit a home and check see if they really need it. ( just a thought)
  4. They better start raising stock and veggies. Their lack of work is not our responsibility to feed them.
  5. And there was also plenty of chatter outside the USA TODAY Opinion section about this contentious issue:
  6. Gov't gives subsidies for sugar, funds anti-soda campaigns. Pays for anti-obesity campaigns, allows food stamps to buy junk. Madness.
  7. Children receive almost 50% of #SNAP benefits. Explain to me how cutting it, resulting in hungry kids, is good for America and not criminal?
  8. I support a reasonable food stamp program BUT 1 in 7 Americans on food stamps is a tragedy.Good Jobs, that's what people need
  9. USDA brags about how many people it is feeding on food stamps while US Dept. Interior warns not 2 feed bears as they will become dependent.
  10. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are not just words. They are the values for which America stands. And they do not mean government guaranteeing housing, health care, and food stamps.
  11. Reaching out... I grew up on food stamps, lunch cards, church handouts and government peanut butter! I have to be honest, there were times when I was hungry as a child and had to eat food that was...let's say, unique? Today, I am lucky enough to be able to afford good food (although I spend more at Whole Foods than I do on my mortgage!). In any case, every donation goes a long way, please help me reach the Miami Goal: $20,000. Run with me: run10feed10.com/home/ Donate: crowdrise.com/run10feed10miami
  12. Wrong 2 cut food stamps for Americans under econ pressure while Congress continues tax breaks 4 oil companies, billionaires
  13. House GOP squeezing poor people of food assistance with billions in cuts. To qualify for food stamps a family must be at/below 130% poverty.

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