Rentlar@lemmy.ca 5 months ago
Totally anecdotal but I find that if people only have enough money to last them to their next meal or drug withdrawal period they won’t think farther than that, and that’s really all anyone can hope for if they are out begging on the street.
If they can be provided the security of getting through a week or a month financially then they will do better to plan it out and generally won’t try to spend it all in one place.
BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world 5 months ago
It’s that strange need to see poor people suffering.
Give a person without a home or possessions a few bucks and they will have to buy hot food. Mostly fast food. Then houses people ask why the person in need is “wasting” the money on unhealthy fast food instead of cooking at home with pots they don’t have.
Give the person steady money, and they can then buy a pan, and maybe a hot plate, and then they can buy inexpensive uncooked food they can cook themselves. And that food is healthier and cheaper, meaning the money given to them steadily goes much further than a random few dollars.
Another example is that food stamps often only apply to the smallest container of food. The most price sensitive people are forced to buy the worst value food. The legislators specifically decided to waste taxpayer money on the worst values food to keep the poorest people from a better life.
i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 months ago
I agree with you on the rest of your points, but where do you see food stamps only apply to the smallest containers of food?
I’m in a red state, and years ago I was on food stamps. I could buy most groceries without a problem with them. I could buy larger containers of pantry staples, as long as I had the available funds.
Are you talking about WIC? It was far more restrictive and honestly nerve-wracking making sure I got the right items that were covered. It didn’t help when the cashier would get snarky with you and act like you were a moron if you chose wrong. (Selecting the cheese was the worst.)
BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Oh, you’re right about it being WIC. Because I see the logo on the price sticker.
I want my tax money to be spent wisely. Limiting what a person in need can buy hurts everyone for no upside.