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You know the aid program that does only work on very specific, allegedly healthy, budget-conscious items? WIC.
Because grocery stores tend to split sharply along income lines, I think people who shop at Whole Foods or whatever never see how that plays out. https://twitter.com/KekePalmer/status/1325786443776729089
Because grocery stores tend to split sharply along income lines, I think people who shop at Whole Foods or whatever never see how that plays out. https://twitter.com/KekePalmer/status/1325786443776729089
New WIC users spend a really long time trying to figure out exactly what they're allowed to spend their check on, and then they get to the checkout and find out stuff like, "oh, yeah, this is juice, and it's 100% juice, but it is BLEND of different juices. You can't have that."
Or, "yeah, you can only get store-brand cheese. The fact that Kraft is on sale for LESS than the store-brand, and also we're out of store-brand mozzarella, doesn't matter. You can't have that."
This process frequently means people don't get some of what they need. It also holds up the line for everyone else. I've never used a WIC check but I've seen a lot of young mothers looking at the people waiting, wondering if we all hate them for keeping us from checking out.
SOLELY ON THE GROUNDS OF SELF-INTEREST, anyone who's ever been in line behind a new WIC user should know that pushing for food stamps to be similarly fiddly and micromanage-y is going to be a pain in YOUR ass at some point.
It also guarantees that people will not get some of the food they need. Whatever standard you write -- whether you focus on sugar or fat or processed ingredients -- is going to result in some mom not being able to buy the one brand of peanut butter her kids will eat, or
some person with serious chronic health problems being able to buy the food that's what they can keep down on their really bad days, or working people being unable to buy the cheap, simple foods that get dinner on the table after they've been on their feet for 12 hours.
The bottom line is, everyone is an expert on their own personal needs, maybe just respect that and let them figure it out themselves and if "poor people should be eating healthier" is a concern for you, work on food deserts, and getting fresh food to food shelves.
Addendum on WIC checks: I'd heard this too but am not an expert on how it works. Also, this is COMPLETELY FUCKING INSANE. We have EBT cards instead of "food stamps" now, why don't we have WIC cards that let you spend some at one store, some at another? https://twitter.com/lgbookworm/status/1325861094842277888
OK, clarification: this varies by state, and Minnesota DOES have EBT-type cards for WIC users. https://twitter.com/zawistov/status/1325863736301805568
Another WIC check fun fact. This really is the aid program you get when you design it from the starting assumption that anyone in need of help is stupid, morally bad, or both. https://twitter.com/kujakupoet/status/1325868246143217665
Finally, since I failed to point this out in the thread:
The most effective way to help people is to just give them money and let them spend it however they want. Not even food stamps: JUST CASH.
The less control you impose, the better. People know their own needs.
The most effective way to help people is to just give them money and let them spend it however they want. Not even food stamps: JUST CASH.
The less control you impose, the better. People know their own needs.
A note on the dates and "no WIC for you" thing: this may also vary by state. https://twitter.com/maver42/status/1325876102519250944
