Some are saying that the government is under reporting the unemployment rate. These critics reason that the rate is actually closer to 20%, higher in some places.
Assuming that most of these are recently unemployed and drawing unemployment (a form of "welfare"), in most states, this is a fraction of what they were earning, and it is not scaled to dependant care, we should not be surprised that there is an increase in food stamp use...... some of whom may appear to be affluent.
I don't know if this is a practice in other areas of the country, but the stores I've seen ring up goods purchased with a EBT card, have computerized cash registers which ring up and separate as not allowed, cash pay products from those which are permitted to be bought on the card: I was recently surprised to see a purchase of cheese (same price per pound as another 'allowed') refused at the register...(and it wasn't an exotic flavor or brand!).
I've only used the card once...... post hurricane..... when funds were low and food spoilage was high due to power outage. I was grateful to have the 'help'.
Do I think it is constitutional? No, I do not! Do I resent the use of assistance by some who use them? No I don't. It has, unfortunately, become a part of the structure of our society..... and is socialistic.....just like social security, on which I am now dependant. I look back and realize, before I throw the blame to others, including the government, I must also accept my part in giving consent to the socialism we have come to accept, if through ignorance and/or apathy, by not doing anything..... but talk about it.
It used to be that farmers got subsidies price supports which encouraged them to produce certain products which were then government warehoused, stored, and distributed to needy populations. Hoop cheese, powdered milk, peanut butter, butter and some dry staples such as dried beans, rice or grain, were the foods of the hungry poor....... No money, No stamps. But some who found they had more than they could use would trade their commodities for farm grown meat, eggs, vegetables. The school lunch program also benefitted from these commodities as they also received some commodities which were incorporated into the menus to lessen the expense on the families and permit the poorest children to eat free. The small family farm benefitted from the price supports as well as the poor in communities across areas which participated in such programs. However, much has changed since the 40's, 50's, 60's...... and most of our food is produced by corporate farmers on corporate farms: Some of these got their start, no doubt, from the collective pooling of investments and taking advantage of price supports and subsidies until their economy and efficiency became overly competitive with the smaller farms and the smaller family farm could not compete well with the intensive labor, equipment, and chemicals needed, and regulations which increased, to produce a living wage.
As we have become government dependant, ......paying taxes and accepting, in return, promises that our government would provide an 'insurance' for the responsibilities and risks normal to life...... disabilities, poverty, retirement, too many of us have failed to realize...... or have been hindered by the direct and indirect removal and control of our wealth, from providing for ourselves and accepting our full responsibility.
In a sense, it is a godless society of providence: Instead of the freedom to work and earn and possess and choice to give and help others ..........and a dependance upon our Creator for our providence in all things ...........man has attempted to turn the risks of living and dependance upon God to the faithless trust and dependancy to that of corruptible flesh to take from us a portion of what God has provided and return to us, at some later date, a providence in our need. We have mortgaged our futures on the wings of easy credit in much the same way as our government has! While complaining about our own wages as being unfair, we have invested in the very industry which was a provider of our employment, and have welcomed the cheaper prices produced with the cheaper labor and coercsion of 'third world' societies.
As we might judge another, without knowing their circumstances...... do we have the honesty to see and judge ourselves ........and see that in some way or another, most of us are also a product of the same condition .......and some dependancy on government.
Moreover, while we may not be in a position to change it, is it sufficient upon our conscience to see our own failings and to repent and ask God to help us...... and to restore our faith and dependancy on him and to show us how, bit by bit, we can repair those principals which we have neglected which have brought us to this state of condition?
