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Last November, during the Veterans Day holiday, I visited the local supermarket to purchase the normal things that one would buy for an outdoor barbecue. As I made my way to the checkout counter, two individuals were waiting in front of me for their turn at the checkout counter. While waiting my turn for the cashier, I was somewhat interested as each of these two individuals had two shopping carts apiece. What caught my eye was the arrangement of items in each shopping cart. One was full of food items. Just the normal stuff for an outdoor cookout. The other cart was full of enough adult beverages and tobacco products to make any party lively. But what really got my attention was what happened next. Let me play out the sequence of events for you.
The shopping cart full of food items was checked-out first. Next, that darn red, white and blue food stamp card would hit the swipe-out machine. After this transaction was completed, it was now time for the second shopping cart. One hundred dollars worth of booze and tobacco products, a wad of money pulled from this poor, disadvantage customer's pocket, and the transaction was completed. Now play out the same scene with the next customer. Taxpayer's money pays for the food items, cash money pays for the booze and tobacco products.
After paying for my groceries with my hard-earned money, I made my way to the store manager. I wanted to know if what I had just witnessed was just an isolated occurrence. The manager's reply, "It's a daily thing."
I waited several months after witnessing this event before writing this article. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I made it a point to visit the supermarket often and observe this event being replayed time and time again.
First, many of the individuals holding this government food card look very capable of working. I could see no visible disabilities that would keep many of them from obtaining gainful employment. One problem I did noticed was that most of them were a little overweight. Guess one can eat fairly well off that darn card.
"But Scotty, they could have some hidden disability that you failed to recognize." Well maybe, but what about all the booze and tobacco products that most of these government sponsored individuals purchased?
This leads to the next question. How do they obtain the money to purchase booze and tobacco products but can't afford to feed themselves? I think most of us know the answer to this one.
Now that we've identified there is in fact a problem, is there a solution? Radical problems sometimes need radical solutions. Those who know me well know I'm just the person to offer such radical solutions.
Radical solution number one: Implement a government weight management program. Like I mentioned earlier, most of the people holding this darn card appear to be eating too good at taxpayers expense. Have them weigh-in monthly. If they exceed the weight standards, as set forth by the government, cut back on their food entitlements.
Radical solution number two: Alcohol and nicotine testing. Use alcohol or nicotine, lose your food entitlements. If they got the money to purchase such items, they can well afford to purchase their own food. It's a matter of setting ones priorities.
Radical solution number three: If you have expensive jewelry hanging around your neck and have a food stamp card, you must surrender the jewelry to the government to help pay off the national debt.
Before I offer the final solution, I've been asked by the editor to provide the following warning: "Those in the liberal establishment, non-working, that are capable of working, and tote a food stamp card may lose consciousness with the following solution.
Final recommended solution: Get A Job! I know this solution is more radical than all those suggested above. However, those of us who are paying for your little red, white and blue card have proven on a daily basis, that work is not harmful to your health. Well maybe not all lines of work. If you work at a supermarket checkout counter, you face the risk of flash burns from constant use of this card.
Well folks, that's my soap box for today. The next time you visit your local supermarket, here's hoping you dont encounter that "darn" food stamp card. But dont count on it!
Scotty Phillips is an independent columnist. He is the author of the book "JUSTICE RENDERED 2000." He can be reached at Scotty@ JusticeRendered.com or www.justicerendered.com.
Copyright, Scotty Phillips, 2002
Published by permission.
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