Let us give you some money!

 

I wrote yesterday about the unlimited nature of food stamp dollars and how out of control the spending is. Here's what really takes the cake -- the government is out there trying to round up even more people to sign up for food stamps.

 

Dillie Nerios is one of the food stamp recruiters. It is her job to enroll at least 150 seniors in the food stamp program each month. She says she needs to be "liked," so she carries gift bags with pet toys, cookies, fruit, and croissants to hand out. Forgive me for being a bit cynical, but if someone can afford to feed a pet, shouldn't he be able to feed himself first? On one day, she set up at the Spanish Lakes retirement community in Florida. "She watched as a few golf carts and motorized scooters drove toward her . . . passing signs that read 'We Love Living Here!' and 'Great Lifestyle!'" Does it really sound like these folks can't afford to eat? Dillie's line usually goes something like this: "You deserve it." I am so sick of hearing that! No, they don't deserve it. "If any would not work, neither should he eat." And if they can afford a nice lifestyle, then surely they can afford some beans and potatoes.

 

I'll just bet you didn't know that it is your patriotic duty to sign up for food stamps. Alabama hands out fliers that read: "Be a patriot, Bring your food stamp money home." Other states have food stamp parties and bingo games. The theory is that every $5 in SNAP generates $9.20 for the local economy. But the fallacy there is that that $5 in SNAP money was taken from some other local economy where it would have generated the $9.20 or more. Remember, the federal government has no money other than what it takes from its citizens. It does not create wealth -- it only redistributes it. And since it's your money they're giving to someone else, they don't care how much it costs you to buy a few votes for themselves.

 

"Selling seniors on food stamps." The Dallas Morning News; May 19, 2013; p. 23A.