A whole bunch of people are getting their knickers in a knot about this little development, whereby Pore Folks who qualify for food assistance (SNAP) will in future not be allowed to buy candy and such with these handouts — and are suing the Fed to be allowed to do so.
Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday, challenging its food restriction waivers that reduce the types of foods that can be purchased with benefits.
Represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ), a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, five SNAP recipients from Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia sued the USDA for implementing its waiver restriction pilot projects.
The restriction waivers bar SNAP recipients from using their benefits on junk foods, sodas, energy drinks or other “non-nutritious items.” The USDA has approved 22 restriction waivers so far, with the types of barred foods varying across states.
I have two competing thoughts about this. On a point of principle, if money is being given to you (note: given) then the donor has every right to determine how you spend it.
On the other hand, however, is the thought that the fucking government has no business telling people what and what not to eat and drink, regardless of donor status.
“Oooooh but they’re spending money on unhealthy foods!”
So fucking what? They’re adults, and should be treated as such, not as children guided in their food choices by Mother Government.
Just remember, however, that every SNAP dollar spent on Red Bull eventually ends up here:
Not that I care, one way or the other.