WIC/Food stamps to stockpile food supply

[mikefraz]

I had an interesting conversation with a like-minded friend today about using WIC/Food stamps to build up a food supply. The thought being that (from experience of seeing family members getting more than they usually use and having extra food in the pantry) one would buy canned goods and other slow-perishing foods with the WIC/Foodstamp vouchers and create a multiple month supply over a long period. I realized just recently that my wife and I would most definitely meet the criteria to get WIC, but we have always just lived within our means and have never thought about getting government assistance. My question for you guys is, is it immoral/wrong to apply for WIC/Food stamps when we can get by without it, just for the sole purpose of "kickstarting" our food supply? Has anyone thought of or done anything like this?

Edit: Note: Not trying to play the system. Just trying to stimulate some discussion.
Read post #7 before posting.

 

[bulletsmith]

 

[BogWalker]

I wouldn't feel right about it, but if you see it as absolutely necessary in order to protect your family I suppose I could understand your viewpoint/justification.

 

[Libertarian01]

I find many programs that the government offers as repugnant to it's true purpose, which should be far more limited in my mind.

That said, IF a program exists and you qualify for it, USE IT. We are horribly in debt to the tune of $19 trillion. We have massive unfunded liabilities, close to $130 trillion. Your use or failure to use such a program isn't going to cripple nor save our economy. Besides, the sooner we collapse the sooner we can start rebuilding from scratch and make it better.

Would you refuse to drive on certain streets because you find the DOT wasteful? I believe you would drive down new streets without giving it a single thought and take advantage of the "program" that built that street/road/highway.

Don't misunderstand me - I am against most of these programs existence, but if you qualify then I see no moral or ethical problem in using said program, until we become fiscally conservative and make it go away or tighten it up.

Regards,

Doug

 

[SSGSAD]

If you have never used WIC, you get 3 coupons, a month, and it is only good for Milk, bread, Pb, eggs, cereal and a few other things

I can't think of, right now ..... The only things, you can "stock up" on, is Pb, & cereal .....

Food stamps, that is different .....

 

[17 squirrel]

How about both of you increase your marketability in the job market with learning new jobs skills through education.. Hit up Career Connect in the county you live in.. Maybe you can get free education with a grant.. Better skills, better income.
The thought of able bodied people getting a snap card.... I'm keeping my opinion to myself..

 

[mikefraz]

Also, before this gets out of hand. I don't intend on "cashing in" on WIC/Food stamps. I was just curious on people's thoughts on the strategy. I don't feel right about it either. But the argument from my friend was something along the lines of, "If you don't do it, there's 6 people in line behind you that will". I can see it both ways. I'm just interested in how everybody answers the question.


With that being said...carry on

 

[mikefraz]

How about both of you increase your marketability in the job market with learning new jobs skills through education.. Hit up Career Connect in the county you live in.. Maybe you can get free education with a grant.. Better skills, better income.
The thought of able bodied people getting a snap card.... I'm keeping my opinion to myself..

I'll be graduating in May with my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. I have a job offer already for the national average salary for an Engineer upon graduation. I'm doing pretty good in the "marketable skills" department. That's not the problem.

 

[SSGSAD]

I'll be graduating in May with my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. I have a job offer already for the national average salary for an Engineer upon graduation. I'm doing pretty good in the "marketable skills" department. That's not the problem.

JMHO, after May, you won't have to worry about it .....

 

[jd4320t]

If you need help use the help. If you don't then I don't think you should.

 

[17 squirrel]

Ok,, so your marketable skills are going to be good, so with that,, in 4 months your income will rise.. What does you spouse do for a living ??

 

[voidsherpa]

Ok,, so your marketable skills are going to be good, so with that,, in 4 months your income will rise.. What does you spouse do for a living ??

Apparently having children since it's WIC.

 

[Trigger Time]

If you need help use the help. If you don't then I don't think you should.

This sums up what I think. It's not for stockpiling food. If your using it for that then I think it's abuse of the system.

 

[IndyDave1776]

This question is like peeling an onion. I am going to start at the middle and put the layers back on because it makes more sense that way. Qualifying for assistance is what it is. There is no official standard for the moral implications of whether or not you can get by without it, just a basic means-tested threshold for qualifying, and for how much. I have seen people live in surplus with it and I have seen old women with no or little income who couldn't get enough between than and any other little pittance to eat regularly without their friends helping them. This puts you on the horns of a moral dilemma if you have any scruples, but I have a very difficult time considering it a black and white thing.

At the next layer, it can be argued that if you receive aid that you can make do without, you are robbing your neighbor. At the same time, I would also suggest that when you look at what you pay in taxes that goes to paying for assistance to others, if you had the money for your own pantry that is being put in someone else's, you wouldn't have a prepping challenge.

Moving farther out, the basic problem you get here is much like any other government program. One of socialism's most insidious characteristics is that you eventually reach a point where you have so much taken from you that you cannot afford to stand alone in addition to absorbing the loss of what is taken for redistribution and you cannot survive without receiving assistance yourself, therefore making you dependent on the state on its terms, in turn making you highly controllable. When you follow most any domestic activity of government, it can be traced back to making people dependent first on the system in general, and second and terminally, on the state. The last thing the establishment of either party wants is for you to be able to go home, shut the gate behind you, tell them to f**k off, and live satisfactorily without them and their nonsense--and this trend works its way through a complex web of issues including but not limited to redistribution, property taxes (i.e., you cannot go home and sit on what you own without cash income, and can be subjected to prohibitively expensive taxes to drive you out), and assorted regulations all of which are designed to keep you on the plantation. In the end, I will not disparage anyone for taking what the plantation offers while the plantation is taking from them at its discretion.

 

[17 squirrel]

Apparently having children since it's WIC.

I would suggest you reread the post again..

 

[voidsherpa]

I would suggest you reread the post again..

I did, what am I missing?

 

[BogWalker]

I did, what am I missing?

That the wife is gainfully deployed contrary to your suggestion. EDIT: I thought that was mentioned in OP, but I'm not seeing it now.

Oh, and hello to a fellow Purdue student mikefraz.

 

[17 squirrel]

I did, what am I missing?

He's just using wic statement inaccurately. He also states foodstamps and that would be a Snap card. With a snap card he can buy all the foods he needs for long term storage.. That's his task at hand. Long term storage.
There's not alot of long term storage need for infant formula and diapers that comes along with wic. When someone is using a wic voucher, ebt card they are severely limited on what food products can be purchased..
Snap card, not alot of food restrictions... You want Tbones, get Tbones..

 

[IndyDave1776]

He's just using wic statement inaccurately. He also states foodstamps and that would be a Snap card. With a snap card he can buy all the foods he needs for long term storage.. That's his task at hand. Long term storage.
There's not alot of long term storage need for infant formula and diapers that comes along with wic. When someone is missing a wic voucher, ebt card that are severely limited on what food products can be purchased..
Snap card, not alot of food restrictions... You want Tbones, get Tbones..

I can accept a bit of imprecise usage relative to specific programs. It isn't like he has actually done any of this at any point.

 

[voidsherpa]

He's just using wic statement inaccurately.

Maybe, but.. EDIT: I see what your saying now. Way to decipher HA

I realized just recently that my wife and I would most definitely meet the criteria to get WIC