Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
That depends on how far you expect to get. Desperate times call for desperate, legal measures. That woman not only has a big flat screen TV, she also has what looks like a video game system and another technology item in that photo. She's "free" to own those items but she's also "free" to try to sell them if she needs help.
"Fraud" is an unnecessary label because it implies illegality. It is only illegal if you use the food stamps to purchase the items--stores are not supposed to allow people to do that. "Dumb" or "inappropriate" are more appropriate labels depending on the context. Many people who live paycheck to paycheck would be more well off if they put $50 in their savings accounts and lessened the frequency at which they consume alcohol and tobacco products. Many of these people aren't just consuming alcohol and/or tobacco products on the weekends or special occasions, they are doing so everyday. Corner marts and liquor stores are elated and many of these are located in lower income areas of cities for a reason.
Of course they are no different. Not saving money sets the stage for not having a cushion during hard times (unemployment, underemployment, emergencies, etc).
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Exactly. Fraud is an ugly word. I think every person who criticizes could probably look at their own finances and find items they waste their own money on and could stand to save more. Fraud, as you said, implies that they are breaking the law or are unethical at the least. As for her TV, etc., she could sell it, but who knows what someone would pay for it and how long that money would last to pay her bills, rent, etc. An xbox isn't likely to fetch much on the used market. The truth of the matter is that the government doesn't want us to save money. The economy NEEDS us to spend, spend, spend to grow the economy which leads to a large number of people left vulnerable to this situation.