>>>>I have traveled for years through the United States and I am unable to tell who is on welfare and how they spend his/her money.
>
>
>>Oh? You've never seen folks purchase stuff at supermarkets with food stamps?
>I have, and frequently. What amazes me is the number of folk who purchase items that are above my budget, and stuff I'd never purchase - cigarettes, candy, pop, etc... The rules must be pretty laxed, because I've seen folks purchase one or two items under a buck and take the rest as cash.
>Open your eyes.
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>Jerry;
>
>It seems you have changed the subject of my quoted statement from welfare to food stamps. A person does not have to be on welfare to obtain food stamps. So I will ask you what is your solution to the existance of food stamps, as you perceive it? Is it relevant that you have never purchased "cigarettes, candy, pop, etc..."? Does that make you a better person? Have you ever been in need? Have you ever helped anyone in need or do you care? What do you think about people in need?
>
>It is easy to be a critic and condemn a whole group because of misconceptions and ignorance. Attempting to understand a system or individual takes time and caring. It is all too easy to put something into a box and give it a label so you do not have to face reality or put any great effort into the subject at hand. Behind your observation of food stamp abuse could there be a much larger picture as to why such a system exists? Yes there are abuses everywhere in life but not everyone is guilty because of association.
>
>You do not have to answer any of these questions but I assure you that my eyes are open!
>
>Tom

It amazes me how you can be so discerning between welfare and food stamps, but so blindly relate 'make work' govenment programs to professionals employed by government. Nice double standard you have there.
And, how you evoke 'discernment and caring' to characterize your positon and 'misconceptions and ignorance' to characterize positions of those who disagree with you. Very arrogant, but typical of leftists in general. It's always 'for the children.' The facts concerning poverty and literacy rates, the results of the 'Great Society' spending, etc... , you counter with Ad Homen attacks. If 'self righteousness' is your standard your views may be more religious than you realize.