To Heck With the Food Stamps, I'm Mad about the Manicures!

Messed Up Priorities

Published on March 12, 2004 By JillUser In Blogging

There has been a lot of talk about the rules and regulations regarding food stamps. A lot of us seem to experience the same observation, these women tend to have beautiful nails! *Notice I didn't say they all have* I would love to have beautiful nails. I don't. You know why? I don't have the time because I am taking care of my home and family!

Before children, I would get acrylic nails because I have a hard time growing my own. It is expensive and very time intensive. You have to sit there for at least an hour every week to two weeks. You have to make it a priority. Once I had kids, it simply wasn't a priority anymore.

I am wondering A)How do these women afford it? and B)Why is it they have time to sit on their butts getting their nails done?

I am sure I will get the "They deserve to feel normal too" argument. Manicures are another luxury item. Not a necessity at all! Designer clothes and coiffed hair, more luxuries. Seem to see a lot of those accompanying food stamps too.

Even seeing an example of this once (which I have seen much more than that) is enough to make you feel a bit bitter about paying for these peoples' groceries. People who deserve the assistance can feel defensive about people citing these instances, but it is one of those frustrating flaws in the system. I have so much respect for the woman with the calculator and pile of coupons in tote as she shops. She plans out a list, estimates the cost and sticks to her plan. I can't say I have ever seen a food stamp user ever reference a list or use a coupon. That is just my experience though.

Another thing I can't figure out is the cell phones. How is it they have cell phones too? Example I saw yesterday, leather coat, designer glasses, manicured nails, talking on the cell while yelling at 3 kids to stay out of the candy. All 3 kids had new sneakers, designer clothes and new coats.

I'm all for helping the needy. I am all for seeing kids get the nourishment and clothing they need. I am not for paying for luxuries I don't even have for myself or my family. My family is buying sneakers from Pay-Less and they are wearing Nikes. That just isn't right.

I am not sure how we are going to get there, but I think somehow our society needs to return to the times when people were proud to make the best of what they could with what they had. They would do anything they could to avoid hand outs. Anyone who doesn't believe that government assistance is a handout is fooling themselves. It used to be people were fine working their way up. Now any job other than the top is beneath them. Why work for less than you can make getting assistance? I'll tell you why, you can start a work record and work toward better jobs. Gain experience. Learn new things. Do for yourself and see how rewarding it is. That is how I was raised and it has worked out pretty well so far.

Comments (Page 1)

messybuu

on Mar 12, 2004

I just wish we'd stop giving them aid period. Of course, then people would cry out "Somebody think about the children!" One could get anything if only they have children.
What's funny though is that it seems that "poor" people actually have more comfortable lives than those who work. In fact, one might think that people with strong work ethics are suckers.

dharmagrl

on Mar 12, 2004

Me too!
I'm also pissed off about people who have kids, are on welfare because they can't afford to support said kids..and who keep having more kids! Birth control is free, folks! Is there no incentive to be self supporting any more?! Doesn't anyone want to get off welfare?

Sherye Hanson

on Mar 12, 2004

These women are very visible. Less visible are the ones who do not have fancy nails, cars, etc. They are also getting public assistance. They go to church, they work as much as they can. Some of them are disabled or mentally ill. It is easy to target the abusers, but the majority of women do not abuse the system. They were abandoned by their husbands or left abusive relationships. They do not have families who can or will help them. Before you point fingers, find out who the women are, who get public assistance. You may be surprised. Most of them are white.

messybuu

on Mar 12, 2004

When did race come into play? Also, are they really just a vocal minority? My mother, who worked directly with those who received welfare, would say otherwise.

dharmagrl

on Mar 12, 2004

I can't speak for anyone else, but I was taking about nothing THAN white people, Sherye.

I understand that there are genuine cases, people who, due to circumstances beyond their control, are forced to accept a helping hand from the government. I have no issue with helping them, that's what the system was designed to do - help those who needed a boost to get back on their own feet.

I think that what Jill, Super and I were talking about tho are the people who abuse the system. Those who have no freakin' intention of getting off government assitance programs until someone makes them. Those who take handouts just because they qualify for them whether they need them or not. Those who's intention it is to ride the gravy train for as long as they possibly can, and get as much out of it as they can.

Those are the people that make it difficult for others with a real need to get any help at all. I think Wise Fawn mentioned in one of her recent blogs that she used to be afraid of the red tape she'd have to wade through to get any help ..well, that red tape was created in part by the abusers of the system. Am I right, Wise Fawn?

JillUser

on Mar 12, 2004

Sherye, I don't know how race or going to church has anything to do with what I said. As far as pointing fingers goes, I only stated what I saw. I never said they were all like that. To tell the truth, it doesn't matter. I am talking about the ones that abuse the assistance and make people bitter about it. I am certainly not the only one even on this site that has observed the same problems. Like I said, I don't mind helping those that truly need it. Maybe you should have really read what I wrote before pointing your finger at me.

JillUser

on Mar 12, 2004

dharmagrl, don't be surprised if WiseFawn doesn't come to my site. She isn't too happy with me lately. I was one of the authors of one of the "voices" quotes of that article where she said she was afraid of red tape.

Sherye Hanson

on Mar 12, 2004

I wasn't pointing fingers--i was just pointing out that the abusers are obvious. I hate paying for the inflated salaries of corporate executives also, but since they aren't government programs who can I complain to?

dharmagrl

on Mar 12, 2004

Well, I made a comment that pissed her off too..she used it in her blog 'critiqueing or getting personal' or whatever it was called.

messybuu

on Mar 12, 2004

How are you paying the salaries of CEOs? Also, the big difference between a CEO and a lazy poor person is that the salary the CEO receives isn't a handout by the government.

Draginol

on Mar 13, 2004

The problem I see is that so often people who are supposed to be "poor" demonstrate that they're poor because they don't work and they make poor decisions with what money they have.

This example is a good one because it nails (no pun intended) all those issues at once.

Draginol

on Mar 13, 2004

I hate paying for the inflated salaries of corporate executives also, but since they aren't government programs who can I complain to?

As a corporate CEO and the one who provides this site to you freely, I'd like to know how you are paying my salary.

JillUser

on Mar 13, 2004

Hey, the way I see it, if you are truly needy there is no reason to get defensive about this. You wouldn't be one of these people. If you are trying to say these people don't exist (as WiseFawn said the are getting their nails at the dollar store....right) then you are delusional.

Sherye, you are right. the people who abuse it in this way are obvious. This doesn't detract from my point. It makes paying my taxes a much more bitter pill when I see this happening. You can claim that most people are deserving of the assistance I am paying for but there is no conclusive evidence of this. I know there are deserving recipients but I don't know that there aren't just as many if not more undeserving.

Master wizard Henry

on Mar 13, 2004

If you run for office, I'll vote for you!

Draginol

on Mar 13, 2004

Studies have shown that low intelligence and poverty go hand in hand. Not as a total trend, of course, but as a general reality it's true.

It's pretty hard to argue that if you work hard (i.e. full time) and have common sense that you won't end up poor.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!