Food Stamps Essay Example

signs outside of their stores stating “We accept LINK,” which means they allow SNAP beneficiaries to use their stamps there to purchase food. On the contrary, not all stores have to accept it. It is their choice.

Along with many benefits, there are many contradictions to this program. Although the incentive of the program was to raise the nutrition intake, it is not regulated. ("Food Stamps.") That means people can basically buy, for example, $200 worth of pure junk food. Items like chips, candy, chocolate, soda are not healthy. That is not what the program was intended for. It is contributing to the high rate of obesity. Also, one can only but unprepared food with the benefits. So any already cooked food cannot be bought, which is a con because cooked food can be a great source for nutrition.

Food stamp benefits do not have a great social standing. “Because of previous abuse of the system such as selling food stamps to buy cigarettes, there is a social stigma with receiving funds.” (Marie Thibodeaux, Wanda.) People feel that persons on food stamps are lazy and don’t want to work. They take advantage of the free money that is given to them and just rely on that. Some people use food stamps as a marketing scheme on the streets. Selling the benefits to other people for cash is illegal. A lot of people are doing it to trade for other things.

Another con is that not every low income family can receive the benefits. When applying, credentials are needed; proof of income and other documentation is needed. It is not a sure thing that every application is approved even

if one is considered low income.

In conclusion, the government has programs that use the states funds to support it. It provides help for people in need of certain resources. There are going to be positive and negative aspects of it but it is still a consistent program and it has been for years. It’s working on any accommodations it can make but it’s not going to be perfect.