Necessity Stamps instead of food stamps?

Question

We could save your tax money in the United States by allowing people to purchase preventive medicine items with 'necessity stamps'.

1. Tobacco cessation. The smoker's that I know want to quit. If they had nicotine patches and nicotine gum they could quit and save a lot of money, not having to buy smokes and lighters.

2. Razors. Razors can cost as little as ten cents each, but if people share them, then can transmit serious and costly diseases such as hepatitis and even aids which costs you in you medical bills and health care insurance and even increases the cost of things that you buy.

3. Tooth-brushes, tooth-paste, and dental floss. If people could get these items on the necessity stamps, it would save your tax money from going to Medicaid paying for dentistry.

4. Currently, you can buy diet-soda with food stamps. We need reform.

Do you agree with these ideas?

I'd like to make a motion to debate.

Answer 1

Well I agree that reform is needed. I see people on food stamps loading the check out table with soda, chips and other junk foods. Those items should not be allowed. Healthy foods and nessesary items like, say, toilet paper should be.

Answer 2

I do not understand what it is that you think needs to be done.



You want to pay for people to quit smoking--IF they can afford cigarettes, they are NOT poor. Those things go for several dollars a pack from what I see when addicts buy them in the grocery store or at the gas station. That's a sizeable chunk of change to lay out at one time and as all it is is burning money, they clearly have it to spare.



You can get razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss at the dollar store--or WalMart. There is no epidemic of razor borne illnesses out there and no indication people are losing teeth because they can't brush (the toothpaste isn't necessary for dental hygiene).



I don't know what it is you want to "reform." We do need to reduce these government entitlement programs that breed dependency. People who can work, need to work. If someone can't make it, that's what family, friends, community, and charity are for--it's hardly a legitimate government function. Right now we're removing the consequences from poor decision makers (drug users, drop outs, criminals) and thrusting it on the overburdened working poor--no wonder some folks don't grow up--the government enables infantilism.

For those with legitimate hardships, there are places to turn--as well as the fact that if people made better decisions they'd marry before having kids, have life insurance when they have dependents, etc. Too many people want it all before they can afford anything and that just burdens the RESPONSIBLE people who are by no means rich but pick up the tab for foolishness.

You note we send things to folks overseas--well we do for our own as well. I've never heard of a church that doesn't do food drives, school supplies, clothing for kids, and more. Some of us have regularly donated to the local food bank, crisis nursery, etc. I don't mean a bag of stuff at Thanksgiving. Though I make very little money and am very ill I make a minimum of a dozen trips to the food bank each year donating all kinds of things, including hygiene items. Programs exist and helping someone to get on his feet is a good thing to do--but keeping him on his behind when he needs to go work is wrong.

Answer 3

Why should we debate what to "GIVE" people? Shouldn't they have to earn their own money like the rest of us? Why should we encourage laziness in other people? President Johnson started these programs in his "War on Poverty" in 1964. After 44 years, let's admit we lost, and this is not the way we should fight the battle. There are more poor today, as a percentage of the population, than there was in 1964. Some of the early recipients have NEVER had to work, and are now drawing retirement benefits from Social Security, and they never paid into that either. If we were in Iraq for this long (44 years), and it was worse than when we started, EVERYONE would want to end it. Why should "The War on Poverty" be any different. Cut all the deadbeats loose !!!

Answer 4

No... if people want to quit smoking then stop smoking. I did just that, just that way. The money not spent on smokes could buy them necessities and start an IRA too. At some point people need to take responsibility for their lives or suffer the consequences if they CHOOSE otherwise.