On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:58:39 -0400, Boron Elgar wrote:

> 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.
>

but such fraud requires the cooperation of the vendor.

> 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

yes. there *will* be cheats in any system. the question is, do you allow
that to make you batshit crazy and throw everyone to the wolves?

it still amounts to chicken feed compared with other frauds perpetrated on
the government and the citizens.

your pal,
blake