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This ‘Food Stamp Nation’ Chart Is Deeply Depressing

Oct. 24, 2012 8:31pm Becket Adams

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (i.e. food stamps) and EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card abuse are two things TheBlaze regularly keeps up with.

We’ve talked about the record number of people enrolled in the government assistance program. We’ve talked about representatives from the USDA meeting with Mexican government officials to encourage food stamp participation in Latino communities. We’ve talked about multiple cases of people abusing their EBT benefits. We’ve talked about cashiers refusing business to EBT card holders and we’ve talked about EBT fraud.

But you know what we’ve never really done? We’ve never tried to visualize the enormity of the fed’s “nutrition” program.

This comprehensive chart from Demonocracy, a group that specializes in visualizing “usually boring economic data stacked in €100 Euro and $100 Dollar bills,” will tell you everything you need to know about the size and scope of SNAP.

And the details are awful:

Click for better resolution

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(H/T: ZH)

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Comments (65)

Terry1242
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:02am
Today I was reading our local paper here in central Maine, the Kennebec Journal and it mentioned that a local woman Pamela Boivin was running for the legislature as a Dem. Also noted that she was working on her PhD in Victimology:

Also found it sad that a once great but dying seminary (I believe Joshua Chamberlain went there) is now focusing on criminal psych and victimology.

“Boivin is a 2002 graduate of the University of Maine and get her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. She’s working on a Ph.D. from the Bangor Theological Seminary, where she’s studying criminal psychology and victimology.”
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4dogsandagun
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:13am
Just a thought…has anyone done a count of what states have the most people on food stamps?Think about the electoral college votes in each state.If California,Ohio,Florida,etc have the most people on the dole then of course they will vote for the guy that is going to keep giving them more handouts.

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- Man-On-A-Mission
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:28am
  You are a conservative idiot…..don’t you know there are more white people on food stamps and welfare than any other race. Yes….there may be a bigger percentage of the African American and Hispanics on food stamps, but whites by numbers are bigger.
  
  So go somewhere with your thinking that Minorities is the ill of our nation. It’s greedy white politicians making back room deals with BIG CORPORATIONS!!!!!! BIG OIL!!!!!!! and ENERGY!!!!
  
  Keeping Middle class in a bottle…..and so will Mitt Romney!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- rolla020980
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:46am
  @ Mission:
  
  Please explain to me why gun’s comment was racist.
  
  Why is it that these libs come on here spouting this whole “you don’t like Obama then you’re a racist” crap? Its because they have nothing else to stand on.
  
  Report this comment
- 338_LM
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:49am
  And Man-on-a-LIBERAL-mission, you are CLEARLY the idiot. There was nothing about race in the comment you replied to. MOST of us care not about color of skin. We are against making people of any color comfortable in their poverty, because that comfort ensures that they remain in it.
  
  Report this comment
- dominigan
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:56am
  Just ignore MAN-ON-A-MISSION, he is a racist. You said nothing about race, and yet he assumed that was the entire point of your comment. I blame our education system for his illiteracy. Maybe if he was able to read, he would not have posted such drivel. Why is it that the level of melanin in skin cells is so important to liberals? But then that would explain why so many liberals are drawn to the party of slavery, segregation and racism… instead of the party that was formed to abolish slavery and promote freedom.
  
  Report this comment
- King David
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:57am
  Man on a mission, I have read it over and over and over and I cannot see a single place that 4dogsandagun ever talked about race. So I don’t understand your comment. I really think that the people calling other people racist ARE the racist. I mean I have read 4dogsandagun comment like 15 times and I just dont see where he talks about race at all. Can some please tell me where it is because I just dont see it. So then what is ManOnAMission talking about? I just don’t understand.
  
  Report this comment
- HYPNOTOAD
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:59am
  Because RACIST-ON-A-MISSION cares only about skin color, not truth.
  
  Report this comment
- Dingus2
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:59am
  Man-on-a-mission,
  Did someone bring up race with regards to food stamps? You are correct 41% white, 38% black, 19% hispanic were the breakdown I saw. But whats the point? Every race has their share of hard workers, people that need help, and leaches to the system. It seems that liberals always want to take the argument down to racial fights instead of trying to fix the system. We live in the best country in the world and opportunity is everywhere if you are willing to take a risk. Why not improve the system, teach the people needing help how to move forward and create a future for themselves. Dependency on others to take care of your family is disgraceful, but the lefties out there tell them that its OK and keep them down. Helping others is great, but helping others realize their personal potential and guiding them through life to achieve greatness is the TRUE meaning of being an American.
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:01pm
  Mna on a mission,
  You’re racist whose see everything as being about race…..Reguardless of color a vote bought and paid for through entitlements is a brided vote reguardless of the skin tone of the person recieving the entitlements. Get out of 1960′s and wake the he77 up NO FORM OF DEMOCRACY EVEN IF IT’S A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC LIKE OURS CAN SURVIVE ONCE THE PEOPLE(BLACK WHITE BROWN YELLOW GREEN PURPLE ORANGE WHATEVER COLOR THEY ARE) REALIZE THEY CAN KEEP VOTING MORE TAX ENTITLEMENTS FOR THEMSELVES…….What is happening now is the total collapse of our society (look up cloward and pivens) as those two liberal ******* mimic what happened to all great democracy to formulate a theory on how to collapse our society,
  OR WALLOW IN YOUR RACISM UNTIL YOU ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
  
  Report this comment
- drphil69
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:19pm
  @ Man… THANKS FOR SHOWING YOUR RACISM. ONLY A RACIST WOULD RESPOND TO THE ABOVE INNOCOUS POST THE WAY YOU DID.
  
  WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK TO YOUR KKK BROTHERS AND KILL YOURSELF, YOU RACIST, BIGOTED HOMOPHOBE.
  
  Report this comment
- betterthantv
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 2:58pm
  @MANN I fail to see how this comment was racist. Please help me out here? I think he makes a perfectly logical point.
  
  Report this comment
leasecommander
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:11am
Simple answer….change the requirements for getting SNAP funds, some of the welchers are going to be upset about it, but this program was to be FOR TEMPORARY assistance……NOT PERMANENT.

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- johnjamison
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:07pm
  Bring back the days of government cheese,peanut butter,powdered milk,and food stamps that could only be used for the basic essentials. The whole EBT crap was to spare people the embarrassment of using food stamps…forget that make the food stamps twice the size of the old ones and limit the items they can purchase. Time to bring SHAME back from extinction
  
  Report this comment
- Cray-Z-Conservative
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:13pm
  You’re exactly right Lease. This was all supposed to be temporary and used to be something to be ashamed of, but that was the point! You weren’t supposed to get comfortable! Instead of money to spend it should be run like WIC where you get checks every month for certain items only such as milk, bread, eggs, ect. That way they can get the help they need temporarily while receiving the bare ESSENTIALS only. If you want steak for dinner, get a job. People rely on the government way too quickly these days! First look to yourself, then to family, then to friends, then to your church, then to the community, and lastly should be government! There is a reason that you don’t feed wild animals, they will become dependant on the food and won’t fend for themselves. Humans are no different.
  
  Report this comment
captbrogers
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:10am
I admit that at one time in my life I was on food stamps, medicaid, and subsidized housing for a year. I was in college, married, two children, and was only making $8/hour at a job that only could give me 15 hours a week maximum (that was all they had a budget for). So I needed it, and I needed it badly. Around Christmas I got an email from a friend who was working at a large and successful company half way across the state, he said they needed skilled programmers and they were willing to interview me to see if I could fit the position. The job would not only allow me to support my family, but it would give me the money I needed to begin to get myself out of debt. I made every effort to stay in touch with that company, drove 4 hours for an interview, and I got the job. The minute I was able to get off all state help, I was off it. I was thankful to be off it.

It is nice for those who need it, as was my case. But I was working to get off it and the moment an opportunity came for me to do just that, I did not stop until I was successful. Today, I own a nice house, no debt (aside from the mortgage), building my savings, and I look forward to teaching my children the value of hard work and perseverance. Food stamps (and other programs) are not bad. They become crutches, and it is then when they are bad.

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- oneshiner
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:49pm
  And……….you’ve just explained how it Should be used. It’s a crutch to help you get back on your own two feet, not a right to sit back and use it the rest of your life. Thank you for your story.
  
  Report this comment
phander88
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 9:48am
My mom had to jump through hoops to get my severely mentally and physically disabled sister SSI benefits and Medicaid. My sister can have no assets (including a life insurance policy and bonds that were given to her in the first couple years of her life) and everything my parents “give” her (housing and food) is considered an asset so my mom has to charge her room and board so her benefits won’t be cut. How do these people get benefits in the first place? I just don’t understand this system. If my parents were independently wealthy, they would not take the benefits, but they are afraid that they wouldn’t be able to afford medical care for her if she really needed something big.

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DrunkGOP_Hack
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 9:20am
I am 50 today.
I am back in school starting my 3 career.
I don’t have a job. I am married, with 2 kids.
I work out 5/6 days a week and I am in perfect physical condition.
Im not rich, but we take care of ourselves as well as you lazy libs.

So suck it!

FOR ALL THE LEACHES, BUMS, LAZY, FAT, DO NOTHINGS…
…KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING.
WHAT COMES AROUND, GOES AROUND. GO BACK TO YOUR HONEY BOO BOO AND DONUTS.

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universalphilos
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:18am
A prophecy, February 18, 1977: “And we should say unto thee the parable of those who should dream dreams, yet put no effort into their dreams.
In the days of Pharaoh, he did dream the same dreams over and over. And he did search far and wide for an interpretation of his dreams. A young lad came forth, and he did interpret the dream. There would be seven good years of bountiful harvest, and seven lean years. And he did prepare for such.
Across the land there were other dreamers and other men who interpreted the dreams. But none of the other nations did make ready, nor did they prepare for this time. As a result, all turned to Egypt for food. And Egypt did feed the lands and the people. But many sold themselves into slavery to obtain food. [See Genesis, chapters 40-50.]
Now we say unto you, once again you were told of the coming of the famine, the lean years. And you did have bountiful years before this. And none could heed the words. And much as in the time of Egyptan, there were many who should take and make a profit, and enslave those who did not heed these words….In this land, where great harvests could be obtained, the time that land should have been plowed and seed put forward, those who thought otherwise did not do so.
There have been many who should say unto us, “When is this time of famine?” And we say unto you, it is upon you….” http://www.angelfire.com/in4/aup_messiah/1977February18.audio.html

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- MittensKittens
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 5:39am
  U could make it easy and say, PEOPLE, PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR A$$ CAUSE THERE’S A TRAIN WRECK COMING!
  
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- Hiswill
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:18am
  MittensKittens: LOL
  
  Report this comment
CatherineAnn
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:26am
I think that because of so much food stamp use the stores keep prices higher then they would without government money. That means it costs those who do not receive food stamps more at the grocery store as well as in taxes. Asked my Kroger store’s manager about how many use them and he told me about 80% of his customers and he agreed with me about prices. So we get it twice over. Romney must win!

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- Rman3
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 9:03am
  A friend of mine at a local Aldi’s told me several months ago that food stamp use at her store had “skyrocketed” since Obama took office.
  
  Report this comment
- betterthantv
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:05pm
  I work in the food industry and my business has almost doubled under Obama due to the rise in food stamp recipients. During EBT weeks it’s almost impossible to keep the shelves stocked. The state of Georgia just recently spread out distribution to help slow things down.
  
  While I admit it’s great for business, I would much rather have people EARN the money they spend on our product.
  
  Report this comment
resme
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:10am
Food stamps = Bread lines.

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mygunsweetness
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 11:46pm
This is all a part of they’re plan,the top 1% and our so called gov.wants us to be just like a third world country,where they can make the new world order look like the answer to the problem,dictate wages,our houses,how many kids you can have and we don’t like it they send in UN troops.Where the elite still live in castles and luxury.I think they call it socialism.The only way they can do this is make the USA go broke and we will not know where to turn,they’ll start a WPA program or something like it and when finally come out of the depression,we will be totally a socialist country.Under UN control and under one world gov.The big banks are setting it up all over the world.You can call me crazy now,you will see the truth in the future,if we do not stop it pretty quick our grandkids will be nothing better than slaves.

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kathystone
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 11:25pm
My neighbor’s wife skipped school from third grade on. She cannot read. Therefore she is DISABLED and gets not only food stamps and welfare for their 4 kids but also medicade and medicare. She was a druggy and ahs no teeth. She got fitted for new dentures this week. She had their house insulated and some code violations corrected on our dollar them they moved to a new home WHICH THEY OWN and got the new place fixed up real nice with a new furnace for winter and will probably get a new airconditioning system this coming summer. It is all on our nickel. And what does he do for a “living”? He sits home and drinks beer which trhey also buy with their ebt card.

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- mastice
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 11:54pm
  I am not defending your neighbor, they sound like they are playing the system somehow. But the SSA (social security administration) does not allow one to collect disability payments based on illiteracy alone. There must be some other reason this woman receives government assistance.
  
  As a side point, SNAP (food stamps) is not handed out or controlled by the SSA. The US Department of Agriculture (usda) oversees and hands out the funding (mostly to the related state agencies) related to SNAP.
  
  If you suspect disability fraud of some kind, you really should contact the SSA to conduct a review/investigation of the possible fraud. (you can start with this link: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/48/~/reporting-social-security-fraud )
  
  I don’t have a problem with venting frustration online – but if you really think your neighbors are abusing the system then don’t gripe online about it… do something about it! It’s YOUR tax money they are taking!
  
  Report this comment
Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:31pm
This is what you get when a generation of democrats raises a generation of self centered spoiled brats.

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- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:57pm
  This may also represent the number of rioters in the streets if the economy collapses under the weight of $16T ($20T by 2016 if BHO gets his next term) of debt and the countries of the world stop buying our debt (think Greece).
  
  Report this comment
kindling
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:24pm
I can remember when it was shameful to get food stamps and you would do your best to get off ASAP. Now they give you a card that not only buys more than what you used to be able to get which was surplus food but it looks like any other credit card. To me it is like what has become of the vote in this country. There is no accountability. It is wide open to fraud and if you try to keep it honest you are called a racist.

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- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 11:11pm
  Agree 100%. Back in the late 40s/ early 50s when “Charge Plates” (the original name for credit cards) came out, they couldn’t give them away because being in debt was considered very bad. Oh how far we have fallen. I myself fell into the debt hole two decades ago & got pretty far into that hole. Then I woke up, cut up the cards, & spent years paying them off. Now I have no credit card debt & just paid off the car. I don’t have all the fancy stuff that the card swipers may have, but what I have is mine free and clear. It is a wonderful feeling not beholding to someone or something (like a bank). The people of this nation (especially the “leaders” in Washington) should try it out. There is no amount of debt that feels better than no debt at all. Just in case you are wondering, I am not rich, don’t own a house (I rent), and drive a 21-year old car that I keep in good working order (far cheaper than new-car payments). I don’t envy the rich or feel that I am owed something. Well, correction to that, I feel the government owes me peace & quiet, low taxes, and less bureaucracy.
  
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Geezlouise
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 9:36pm
He only wants to break the nations back . He does not respect America he sees Americans as weak needy peasants. Well a lot of them are ,but there are far more that are not . If we can out vote all the the corruption maybe well have a little more time to get our crap together. Lord help us.

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- SgtB
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:50pm
  Voting will not magically save us. This federal bureaucracy will not change unless the voting public actually held the principles of Liberty and justice in high regard. They do not and so they leave us that see Liberty as an eternal birthright only one choice. As hard as it is for me to say this, they have put our backs against the wall and are holding a metaphorical gun to our heads. It is time for us to figure out how to escape this corrupt and violent system. Even if our only option is to use violence against violence. Personally, I’d rather die trying to make this world a better place for my unborn child than to sit idly by and watch as our future is destroyed by the mindless hordes that have come to be.
  
  Report this comment
horsefeathers99
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 9:25pm
With any other president this would have been stopped, along with welfare and some of the phony disability claims.
But, BO is unstoppable, that is, until we vote in an honest president in the white house who cares about people.

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rickc34
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:58pm
Obama’s goal has always been to take the United States down …he has called it arrogant..Michelle stated she hates America…do you think she has changed… his new slogan forward? Forward into a deeper hole. Romney/Ryan 2012

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The-Monk
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:55pm
Off topic but get this….

C-SPAN was down all day on my TV until the live Obama Iowa speech came on.

I could watch it C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 and C-SPAN 3 all day via the Internet.

Go figure……

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EqualJustice
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:38pm
I get very upset when I see these people selling their cards or stamps, whatever, out in front of the grocery stores on weekends for half their value! I am skimping and saving and it’s frustrating! What can WE do to stop them? who do we call or report this to? Is anyone paying attention? I think not. Just like with illegals..look the other way.

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- piper60
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 9:32pm
  They don’t care. They like the body count mentality.
  
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EqualJustice
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:35pm
You think THIS is bad.. check out the NATIONAL DEBT visual. NOT PRETTY. TIMES 16 and climbing..http://www.globalresearch.ca/what-does-one-trillion-dollars-look-like/12754

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Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:32pm
Glen Beck recently said “There is no freedom when everything is free.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

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coyote1hell
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:23pm
Buh’rack needs “dependent schlubs” for votes, he said each one could vote, 11 trillion times…

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crusaderx9
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:22pm
obama is not just bankrupting America – he is bankrupting Americans as well as the culture of America (as a country of self-reliant freedom loving productive citizens).

dependency on government is a blight upon the soul – it pushes to turn a citizen into a ‘ward of the state’ to be subjugated to the over-reaching government.

obama = unmitigated disaster

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nighttrainno9
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:13pm
Wait until these sponges don’t get their cards refilled because
Americas broke. What then, riots in the streets ,looting ,murders, rape?
It doesn’t help to make freeloaders out of these people, they will
never become selfsuficient, the opposite is true, they will
teach their children and grandchildren to be moochs as well.
“I got my obama phone and he’s gonna do more” End all
welfare, NO WORK, NO EAT.

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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:28pm
  nighttrinno9,
  
  you said: “they will teach their children and grandchildren to be moochs as well”
  
  Too late… we now are on about the 5th generation of “poor” on welfare and food stamps. We can’t continue to help the “poor” at the present rate or we will all be broke. (Oh yea, I think that is the idea, communism for all.)
  
  Report this comment
ADNIL
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:12pm
I am all for helping those who truely need it during hard times but I think we make it too easy and too anonymous for those getting the hand out and too difficult to get off the program. I would like to see a return to distribution of staple food items like back in the 70s. Don’t like it? Plant a garden, get a job, do something about it. Then, when the stamps came out, they weren’t free. You still had to have some money to purchase them. And, they did not cover things like soap, toothpast, or toilet paper. It has been made too easy. What was it Ben Frankin said about that? He was right. I know.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:56pm
That chart depicts the death of our republic and not just four years of spending these unconstitutional programs have been around for many years.This house of cards is falling folks no doubt about it and Barry is just accelerating the process,sounds like a plan eh?

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- HKS
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:17pm
  It is his plan.
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 11:10pm
  You know it. Cloward-Piven.
  And they all know the game is about to end. Lock & Load.
  
  Report this comment
- STEAMY_MAN_LOVE
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 2:43pm
  There is no “plan” to destroy America on the part of any politician, current, retired, or running for office.
  
  The deal with the increased number of food stamps is that due to the recession and the increase of people in need, Obama expanded the program to cover more people who were in need. Jesus said “feed the hungry, care for the sick”, and Obama did just that. By expanding food stamps and Medicaid in the recession, he was helping people. Over the next 4 years, economists are projecting that the economy will create 12 million new jobs, just as part of the recovery (regardless of who is president). With more jobs created, the number of people on food stamps will go down.
  
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- Hatchimon
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 12:49am
  @ Steamy
  Could you cite the verse where Jesus said that it was the government’s job to feed the hungry and care for the sick? I must have missed that. At the food pantry where I have volunteered for the past two years we don’t take a penny of cash or a can of beans from Uncle Sam. 100% voluntary donations, no coercion involved.
  
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