I don't think you're interpreting the article correctly. It's conservatives who are advancing this particular argument, not the "everything America does is wrong" crowd.
Joe Marier | 01.30.03 - 1:12 pm | #

At least Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UK, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Denmark agree with us.
Heather Price | 01.30.03 - 1:15 pm | #

As Jo says, and I happen to agree, the food aid programs need to be revamped. Perhaps such as limiting the types of processed foods that can be purchased with them (although probably cost prohibitive from an implementation viewpoint) - removing sales tax of fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat - etc. If they take issue with having a healthy diet dictated to them, it sort of comes down to beggars can't be choosers, no?
andy | Homepage | 01.30.03 - 1:33 pm | #

From someone who was briefly (5-6 mos) on the WIC program I say bullcrap on this guy! We received some milk, cheese, juice, cereal and formula for the baby. That hasn't made anyone in my family fat!

Now, I can't speak to the other programs, just the WIC one in this case. The items we received from WIC were of an erormus help in getting through some very difficult times. The allowed us to actually use some amt. of our grociery money for the fruits and vegatables.

Pax Christi

Dale Cebula | 01.30.03 - 1:38 pm | #

Dale worked at a grocery store for a number of years and learned varying degrees of understanding/contempt for different assistance programs and their recipients. The WIC program, with their strict approved-foods lists and guidelines for those receiving, he had no problem with.
He would just get a little tense when folks would come in with their food stamps and buy steak, when their neighbors who were no better off but not getting food stamps were struggling to get hamburger. I remember shopping for my sister when she was briefly on WIC and having to get certain brands of peanut butter and cereal because things like Froot Loops weren't on the list.

And Dale C, I'm glad things are better for you in that you're not on WIC anymore.
God bless,
Heather Price | 01.30.03 - 2:50 pm | #

Heather,

thank you for your kind words! I supposse that in a sense I was the lucky one, because the program was in my wife's name. She had an instance where she went to the store and bot her wic stuff. The cashier was very, very nasty to her making snide remarks about it. Nikki (my wife) said that she didn't exactly enjoy being on the program and the cashier said, 'well you must because otherwise you would not be on it!' I could not believe it! Then, Nikki was also buying our 'regular' food, you know things that aren't on the wic list. I think she actually was buying some wine for us to celebrate the fact that we weren't going to be on it anymore and the cashier had a quip about that too! She was humilated at the experience. Fortunitely, the store manager was very sorry when she called to talk about her experience.

What bothered me and her (nikki) about this so much is that we are both college educated people. Nikki is a school teacher, but we have two babies (20 mos and 8mos) and a 6 year old at home. I think it is better to have a parent at home rather then daycare. Anyway, sorry to rant about this. It has changed my perspective from being a cold sceptic to someone who is more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt.

For us, the good news is that Nikki was able to get a job with an online school, so she is now able to teach from home and not have to resort to daycare.

Pax Christi

Dale Cebula | 01.30.03 - 3:10 pm | #

I thought things like fruits, vegetables and meats were not taxed. Maybe its a state by state thing.
C. Matt | 01.30.03 - 6:46 pm | #