Using It The Right Way

Before I even begin my rant and rave today I need to post a disclaimer. I AM NOT AGAINST THE USE OF FOOD STAMPS AT ALL. I THINK THEY ARE WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM AND USE THEM CORRECTLY.

With that being said, let the ranting begin!

Today my Dad picked me and Colby up to do some of his running. We went to the Cee Bee in Brownsville for him to pick up some meat. As we stood in the checkout line there was a family in front of us who had two small children and mom and dad out for a shopping adventure. The cart was mounded over in such a way that junk food lovers might dream about it. Cookies, cakes, chips, frozen meals, candy, cokes, ice cream, Red Bulls, the list goes on and on. The only healthy items in the cart included two packs of chicken and one pot roast. No milk. No juice. No fruits or veggies. Just junk.

The gracious cashier told the lovely family their total was $150 and the mother grinned and swiped a card and proclaimed, "I love food stamps!" Wow. The blood in my veins crept toward the temperature in which liquids boil as I struggled to keep my cool. I was very polite and just smiled and kept my mouth closed on the subject until we got in the truck and I unleashed my furry in a conversation with my Daddy.

Government aid for families can be a wonderful thing if they are using it to properly take care of their household, however if they are purchasing junk food and energy drinks I hardly think that they are using the aid in the correct manner! Are there no regulations on what the food stamps are used for? It infuriates me when I spend a large amount of time on trying to feed my family well, but cheaply out of my own pocket and some people spend government money on anything their hearts desire. Maybe I should totally quit working so we can get money for food each month from Uncle Sam too. Then I could get myself and my family all strung out on sugar and Red Bulls at the taxpayers expense, much like the lovely family I had the pleasure of meeting at the Cee Bee today!