On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:31:17 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:10:57 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Mon 15 Sep 2008 06:02:22a, kilikini told us...
>>
>>> Orlando Enrique Fiol wrote:
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> Food stamps buy food
>>>>
>>>> Not always. They're often illegally exchanged for cash to buy tobacco,
>>>> alcohol, drugs and junk food. Also, given the high surpluses most
>>>> farms endure, why is produce so expensive and why do few food banks
>>>> offer plentiful produce to people whose diets so desperately need it?
>>>>
>>>> Orlando
>>>
>>> The actual paper food stamps have been long gone for years, as I recall,
>>> and now there's a credit card called an EBT card (I don't know what EBT
>>> means). AFAIK, you're asked for an I.D. when you use the card to ensure
>>> that the person buying the food is the person the card has been issued
>>> to.
>>>
>>> kili
>>
>> They have the cards here in AZ, but I've never seen them ask for an ID.
>
>possibly not, but they most certainly won't allow you to by non-food stamp
>items.
>
>your pal,
>blake


There is a certain kind of fraud that can be perpetrated using the
EBTs (and likely could have been with the old paper versions as well).

Small markets, bodegas, some independent, non-chain stores are allowed
to participate in the program if they carry a minimum number of
acceptable/eligible foods stamp items. These stores are allowed in
(under certain conditions) as some of those on food stamps do not live
in areas well-served by larger markets and groceries and it provides a
means of getting groceries.

These markets, that do not have the computerized records that make
checking food stamp sales easy, take the EBT transfer and allow some
percentage of it to be used for tobacco, alcohol or other non-eligible
items.

Even with that, the benefits to those who must honestly depend on such
markets, can be provided.

No matter what the program, be it taxes, food stamps, medical or auto
insurance, or even vacuum sales or roofing, there will always be those
who try to scam the system. The idea is to try to keep it to a minimum
and hunt down through laws and punishment, those who cheat.

Boron