I know this isn’t the issue, and I am fully in favor of expanding social safety nets including food stamps, not reducing them…
That said, I find no conceptual issue with limiting the kinds of items food stamps can be used for to actual food. No one needs soda or candy bars or whatever other processed, practically poisonous crap we eat. We’d all be better off if we didn’t. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to limit tax-dollar funded food assistance programs to actual food items.
I disagree because I think it’s morally wrong to limit someone’s choices based on your own ideals simply because they’re poor. You also never know what someone is going through and comfort foods can be really beneficial to mental health. If the problem is you don’t want people to spend money on things that are unhealthy then that battle should be fought for everyone through education reform and easier access to healthy foods, not by further restricting what little autonomy poor people have
Where does the limit sit? It’s not so simple, especially in the US, to define what has too much sugar or is too processed as to limit what people are allowed to buy on food stamps.
Furthermore its reducing agency of people, basically trying to make people think their lack of a job is their own fault and because of that they must eat what the government thinks they deserve. I just think that could start to have negative psychological impacts on some peoples self worth.
I know this isn’t the issue, and I am fully in favor of expanding social safety nets including food stamps, not reducing them…
That said, I find no conceptual issue with limiting the kinds of items food stamps can be used for to actual food. No one needs soda or candy bars or whatever other processed, practically poisonous crap we eat. We’d all be better off if we didn’t. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to limit tax-dollar funded food assistance programs to actual food items.
If you disagree, tell me why.
I disagree because I think it’s morally wrong to limit someone’s choices based on your own ideals simply because they’re poor. You also never know what someone is going through and comfort foods can be really beneficial to mental health. If the problem is you don’t want people to spend money on things that are unhealthy then that battle should be fought for everyone through education reform and easier access to healthy foods, not by further restricting what little autonomy poor people have
Where does the limit sit? It’s not so simple, especially in the US, to define what has too much sugar or is too processed as to limit what people are allowed to buy on food stamps.
Furthermore its reducing agency of people, basically trying to make people think their lack of a job is their own fault and because of that they must eat what the government thinks they deserve. I just think that could start to have negative psychological impacts on some peoples self worth.