Thread:
A persistent myth on the left is that poor people eat sugary foods because it's cheaper. SNAP is a program that is supposed to supplement people's food budgets.
Let's see what I can buy on the average weekly benefit for a family of four.
A persistent myth on the left is that poor people eat sugary foods because it's cheaper. SNAP is a program that is supposed to supplement people's food budgets.
Let's see what I can buy on the average weekly benefit for a family of four.
The average monthly benefit for a family of four is $726, which translates to ~$169 per week ($726/4.3=168.83).
So, I shopped at Target and here is what I was able to buy:
1) 5 gallons of milk;
2) 10 pounds of chicken breast;
3) 5 pounds of ground beef;
So, I shopped at Target and here is what I was able to buy:
1) 5 gallons of milk;
2) 10 pounds of chicken breast;
3) 5 pounds of ground beef;
4) 10 salad kits that provided 35 to 40 servings of salad per week and they don't even have to be made;
5) 2 pounds of tomatoes;
6) 5 pounds of oranges;
7) 3 boxes of cereal;
8) 2 loaves of bread;
9) 1 pound of cheese;
10) 2 pounds of bananas;
11) 2 pounds of apples;
5) 2 pounds of tomatoes;
6) 5 pounds of oranges;
7) 3 boxes of cereal;
8) 2 loaves of bread;
9) 1 pound of cheese;
10) 2 pounds of bananas;
11) 2 pounds of apples;
12) 2 weeks of toilet paper;
13) 2 weeks of soap;
14) 2 weeks of shampoo.
I exceeded the weekly budget by less than $9. But that's okay because I won't need to buy shampoo, soap, or toilet paper next week. Next week, I can buy other items like apple juice or snacks.
13) 2 weeks of soap;
14) 2 weeks of shampoo.
I exceeded the weekly budget by less than $9. But that's okay because I won't need to buy shampoo, soap, or toilet paper next week. Next week, I can buy other items like apple juice or snacks.
More importantly, SNAP is a SUPPLEMENTAL food program. It is not intended to pay for the entire food budget of a family. But as I have noted above, I can get a family of four through the week eating three meals a day and consuming 15 pounds of meat products and...
...still be within the scope of the average SNAP budget. If someone wants eggs, trim out some meat. If there is a celebration coming up, save a little money every week and pay for it.
The SNAP program is an incredibly generous program.
The SNAP program is an incredibly generous program.
The only reason people struggle within its limits is because many people on SNAP rarely value shop and lack the education to understand that buying those chips at ~$6 per bag means not buying 2 pounds of tomatoes and 2 pounds of bananas.
That's a terrible trade-off. Yet, many SNAP recipients make that trade-off. As a society, we should not be abetting that trade-off. If someone wants to suckle from the teat of society, there must be rules. Those rules include making proper healthy choices.
There is no reason to increase the amount of money in SNAP. That will only increase the amount of sugary, terrible foods. SNAP participants are more obese and less mentally healthy than eligible nonparticipants.
IOW, SNAP appears to make people worse off.
IOW, SNAP appears to make people worse off.
SNAP provides more than enough money to beneficiaries. The problem with SNAP is that there are no guardrails to prevent people from buying unhealthy food that makes them sicker and more expensive in other programs like Medicaid.
SNAP must be restricted to allowance of certain purchases. There is no human right to buying potato chips. If someone wants to buy potato chips, they can buy it on their own dime.
By the way, I was able to get free delivery to most locations in cities in the US.
By the way, I was able to get free delivery to most locations in cities in the US.
I should not have added the paper products. Those are not SNAP eligible. But people still get the point.
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