Hello Bob,

BK>
 BK> Read the entire story at:

 BK> http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2013/07/22/
 BK> Taxpayers-subsidizing-low-paid-employees.html

 BK> The battle over food stamps is clearly a smoke screen for the
 BK> Republicans just trying to extort more from the administration.
 BK> Without food stamps many employees of this country's largest
 BK> employer will go hungry.

I really do not know what gives you the bizarre idea that any
employer will go hungry, much less real people.  Just look at the
facts -

There are some 47 million recipients of food stamps in America.
The expenditures for last year alone was $78 billion.  A very small
price to pay, considering how much this country pays for national
defense (what we spend on food stamps is less than the cost of
five fighter aircraft).

Republicans want to cut SNAP (the official name of the food stamp
program) by $4 billion annually.  That is an average of $36 less per
month for a family of four.

What that means is that roughly 5 million people would be eliminated
from the program.  Not that any of those people are truly dependent
on food stamps.  In fact, very few people are truly dependent on food
stamps.  By very few, I mean only a handful - those folks who are too
lazy to find their own food.

Republicans have always encouraged folks to be self-sufficient, and
never to depend on government for anything.  Republicans know that such
dependence on government is akin to slaves being dependent on their
master for survival.  You know the old adage - "Give a man a fish and
he'll have food for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he'll have food
for a lifetime."

Now some folks claim that Republicans have no alternative plan to
replace food stamps.  That is simply not true.  Republicans do in fact
have a plan.  It is called Dumpster Diving.  For those who are not
familiar with Dumpster Diving, here is how it works -

Groups of people get together (never solo as getting stuck in a
dumpster can be dangerous) and scour the neighborhood for lucky sites.
Usually found behind local grocery stores, but also behind fast food
joints.  This is usually done at night so as not to get caught by
the manager or the cops.  There is also much more stuff available at
night rather than during the day.  Sometimes great stuff.

Sounds insane, doesn't it?  Liberals claim this Republican plan can
never work.  However, instead of simply accepting that claim at face
value, I decided to try it out to see for myself -

One night, I found a dozen ears of corn.  Another time, 30 packs of
chicken.  Also melons, cherries, grapes, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes,
and all sorts of other really good stuff.  Not sure what others found,
but there was plenty enough to go around.

When I got home, I made sure to thoroughly boil the chicken before
eating it so as not to get sick.  I also washed the fruit, making sure
to get rid of all the bugs, pouring boiling water over it just to make
sure.  Sure, the fruit does lose a bit of color by doing this, but it
still tastes sweet.  I also cook the vegetables, as it is rather hot
and humid here which can spoil food (especially vegetables) rather
quickly.

It is much easier to find food at fast food joints, especially just
after closing time.  The food is still warm, and wrapped.  Except for
the french fries, which I don't care for anyway.  Just pick out the
burgers and whatever other sandwiches happen to be in the dumpster,
always keeping an eye out for the manager (and the cops) so as not
to get caught.  Then find a nice spot in the bushes where you can
relax to enjoy your meal.

The only problem with this Republican plan I can find is there is
a stigma.  People give me dirty looks, sometimes cringing at the same
time.  Even though I am very careful not to be seen, and try not to
make a mess, people do not want me anywhere around digging for food
or eating in the bushes.  I leave everything spotless and they still
complain.  The store manager hates me.  And if my mother ever finds
out about this, she'll kill me first and ask questions later.  Go
figure.

Why is this practice so despised?  Republicans approve it.  And
Republicans are the party of family values.  Or so they claim.  So
what is the big deal?  Why should I have to pay all that money for
food that nobody else wants?  Especially when I can get it for
nothing?  This makes no sense.  No sense at all ...

--Lee

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