tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35315805.post8671677698331122442..comments2024-01-12T18:27:33.795-05:00Comments on Exercise in Futility: Measuring Generosity - Charity and Food StampsTommykeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14751182125861177379noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35315805.post-78140462032656139582012-01-10T07:25:45.425-05:002012-01-10T07:25:45.425-05:00Thanks for that info and your kind words, Robert!Thanks for that info and your kind words, Robert!Tommykeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751182125861177379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35315805.post-79428987595207666122012-01-10T03:08:59.299-05:002012-01-10T03:08:59.299-05:00I was a Welfare and Food Stamp Eligibility worker ...I was a Welfare and Food Stamp Eligibility worker in the State of Oregon for a number of years. I can tell you that a significant number of the "values voters" who Gingrich and Santorum are trying to appeal to are probably receiving Food Stamps.<br /><br />This program has always been a political football, but it stays reigned in mostly because of commercial self interest. Let me explain - unlike Welfare which is under Health and Human Services, SNAP is under the Dept. of Agriculture. It's beginnings was originally called the "Abundant Foods Program"; a way to subsidize the farm and food delivery systems and distribute surplus food that would normally drive down prices. <br /><br />Let me put it this way: if one were to try to eliminate SNAP, the loudest cries would come from Safeway, ADM, corporate farmers... you get the picture.<br /><br />Another fast fact for Mr. Gingrich is that an overwhelming majority of Food Stamp recipients WORK, as in they have jobs... that don't pay enough to keep them out of poverty.<br /><br />I used to process monthly earnings reports from clients which were used to calculate their allotment; far more had paychecks than zero income.<br /><br />Nicely written post, by the way!Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.com