After reading Briana Zak's well written article, "Food Stamps Getting the Boot", regarding government spending cuts to food stamp allocations, http://govsmalltalk.blogspot.com/, my forethought was, absolutely cut funding in this program, for several reasons. I am a firm believer that while the welfare system assists families with food and resources they need to raise a family, it additionally stunts growth, adds to our deficit, affects tax paying citizens, and impedes the need for people to get a job. I have seen different states handle the welfare system, so I know it doesn't entirely rely on the national government to be fool proof however, I definitely think that control over the system has been lacking, which could be the reason for upcoming bills to cut spending in this area. If there was a system in place that would monitor and authorize what each person uses their food stamps on, it could more sufficiently track copious amounts of wasted money. People who have not abused the system should be rewarded for following the program as it was designed to, but unfortunately some of those who use the system, abuse the system, and make it more difficult for others to reap good benefits. The government should be able to assess an individuals need, given their age, history of spending, case worker notes, etc. and more money should be given to those who show exceptionally higher needs or inability to care for themselves at all. They should immediately try to implement some source of spending habit tracking system, that would allow them to view trends in each person's spending, so that when they were evaluated at a later date, they could be compared to their spending history which would help negate the amount of funds that should or should not be reduced. Each person should be evaluated to assure the accurate amount of allocations reduced or increased. By stating funds could increase it would reduce the amount of upheaval that will happen when people find out about the government cuts in their welfare spending.
I have seen people have more children to receive more aid, without ever attempting to get a job. I have also seen people spend most of their welfare checks on alcohol and cigarettes. I have heard stories from past employers, of people who were caretakers of the elderly, children and disabled, spend their food stamps on themselves instead of using the food stamps to help the people they were issued to. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to the amount one person gets to the next. I have referred to several flaws in the system that I have seen first hand. Some of these practices hopefully no longer exist, and it's quite possible the government has become more aware of the funding that it allocates and where it is spent over the past few years, which may have lead to such budgetary cuts in spending.
Medicaid is important and I believe that some of the food stamp funding could be appropriately be spent in this area. Many physicians do not receive any money for services they provide to many people without insurance, which is one of the reasons for the current change in the health care reform, and Medicaid provides at least some relief for populations that need it, which is a growing number every day as our nation ages. More people seem to be stereotyped as disabled and incapable of providing payment for medical services now then ever before. I don't necessarily agree that some of the allocations should be going to teacher funding, although I do believe teachers are important. The 'No Child Left Behind Act' has proven to be an extremely expensive government program that has needed funding since 2001. With a poor economy, and more teachers then ever before, it makes sense that the government is looking at every possible angle where they can increase revenue for such programs. If they want to take money from people who don't have jobs, have kids, and no education, and give it to people who need medical assistance, and better benefits for educating our future America, in attempt to prevent us from being in the current situation we are in now, is it really wrong, or communicated inappropriately? I believe the government and the tax paying citizens of America, have spent enough money on welfare, I'd much rather help provide care for people who need it, and reward teachers for ensuring a better education system then give people money for their unnecessary spending habits. There are numerous amounts of community programs, non-profit organizations, and churches that support local and state poverty stricken areas. Additionally there are farmers who could also benefit from the change within the system and people could be taught how to volunteer at farms in exchange for free produce, or possibly get involved in gleaning programs; that allow you to pay a small price and pick as much produce as you can at the end of the season. WIC is a fantastic program, that should continue to thrive, and should become better with the change in government spending. The option could be given to some people if they wanted to donate money towards food programs annually in their taxes, similarly to what they do for election support, as a type of tax deductible donation.
Briana Zak states "Eventually the funding will run out and those jobs saved by the bill will be just another casualty of this recession, creating more need for food stamps. So when the cuts take effect in 2014, the poorest of poor will have to give up food for health care and education, what a life." I think this is an excellent point to her editorial, and strongly gets the reader to become more cognizant of what our future may become. I think her interest in this topic will make people become more engaged in the issue and people will put forth more of an effort to speak up regarding such topics that directly effect their pocket books.
I do believe that the government should designate a new program to those welfare recipients who will receive a cut in food stamps to teach them additional life learning skills including how to get a job, how to save money, meal saving tips, where to find additional resources for necessities, non-profit organizations who lend a hand, etc. For the programs that are already offered, they need reviewed, rewritten, and re-taught, with the challenges of today in mind. We can not keep giving people a chance to live off the servitude of others for nothing, it's not ok to just be given free money at the cost of someone else laboring endlessly to have enough to pay their own bills. It isn't fair to the people who work for minimum wage, although I agree that there are some exceptions to the rule; elderly, disabled, etc. If the government is taking a stand to move forward with this bill, they need to provide assistance to make up for the difference that $50 more or less a month will make; to some of us that's a tank of gas. For most of the people who work for a living, we want our money to be useful, and help people help themselves. The last place we want our money to go is towards frivolous spending or getting taken advantage of, from people who abuse the system. In any regard, there must be accountability for all programs, so that tax payers feel confident about where their money goes, once it's in the bank, beyond government reform.
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