President Donald Trump

[dslaw]

MAGA!

"President Donald Trump's businesses don’t seem too concerned about “America First."

Wait till his budget is approved and he gets to buy Dulles & National airports. Then he can do the same there.

[Hornsby]

Looks like the "adult in the room" isn't so adult after all. He gets called out by the head of the FBI today for directly lying...to someone, about the Porter security clearance. Kelly said they never got one from the FBI, they say a completed report was done in July. I know where my money is in this pissing contest.

And year, to revo's point, who gives a crap about a deficit when we can add another Trillion and a Half dollars to it over the next 10 years? Oh yeah, cut Medicare and replace some people's food stamp benefits with a "Food Box". No fresh food and Veggies for you people though...

[revo]

Looks like the "adult in the room" isn't so adult after all. He gets called out by the head of the FBI today for directly lying...to someone, about the Porter security clearance. Kelly said they never got one from the FBI, they say a completed report was done in July. I know where my money is in this pissing contest.

And year, to revo's point, who gives a crap about a deficit when we can add another Trillion and a Half dollars to it over the next 10 years? Oh yeah, cut Medicare and replace some people's food stamp benefits with a "Food Box". No fresh food and Veggies for you people though...

Had a whole day-long argument with my college buddies over this cockamamie nonsense about food stamps. My GOP friends think it's a good idea (of course they do).

[B-Fly]

And year, to revo's point, who gives a crap about a deficit when we can add another Trillion and a Half dollars to it over the next 10 years? Oh yeah, cut Medicare and replace some people's food stamp benefits with a "Food Box". No fresh food and Veggies for you people though...

Unreal. Takes away all of the positive free market aspects of the program, most notably that every dollar spent on SNAP by necessity has to funnel back into the economy and the tax base through food retailers. The idea that Republicans are supporting "government cheese" - an economy-sucking, autonomy-sucking government run food delivery service - is pretty unbelievable. And from a human and nutrition perspective, the lack of fresh fruit and veggies and the predominance of the most common food allergens is just dumb and dangerous.

[In the Corn]

Unreal. Takes away all of the positive free market aspects of the program, most notably that every dollar spent on SNAP by necessity has to funnel back into the economy and the tax base through food retailers. The idea that Republicans are supporting "government cheese" - an economy-sucking, autonomy-sucking government run food delivery service - is pretty unbelievable. And from a human and nutrition perspective, the lack of fresh fruit and veggies and the predominance of the most common food allergens is just dumb and dangerous.

I have thought long and hard about SNAP. As someone who works in the field of providing food resources for low income individuals (mainly seniors), this idea of the food box is absolutely ridiculous. Why would the Republicans want to control what a person eats...adding more regulations and people to work in this system. So much for small government.

Could there be some reform in SNAP? Absolutely, let me offer my suggestion:

The government should work with the local Grocer's Association to find out what the percentage of a customers' grocery bill goes to "junk". We should look at that number and provide a little wiggle room, and expect those on SNAP to be below that percentage. If not, they can pay cash for the balance or they can put items back. IMO, that would be an easy, simple fix and help people on assistance do their best to eat as healthy as possible. Heck, I'd even give them a 10% discount on fresh produce.

Alas, I don't make the laws.

[B-Fly]

I have thought long and hard about SNAP. As someone who works in the field of providing food resources for low income individuals (mainly seniors), this idea of the food box is absolutely ridiculous. Why would the Republicans want to control what a person eats...adding more regulations and people to work in this system. So much for small government.

Could there be some reform in SNAP? Absolutely, let me offer my suggestion:

The government should work with the local Grocer's Association to find out what the percentage of a customers' grocery bill goes to "junk". We should look at that number and provide a little wiggle room, and expect those on SNAP to be below that percentage. If not, they can pay cash for the balance or they can put items back. IMO, that would be an easy, simple fix and help people on assistance do their best to eat as healthy as possible. Heck, I'd even give them a 10% discount on fresh produce.

Alas, I don't make the laws.

How universal are barcode or similar data-based inventory and sales systems around the country nowadays? I know almost every place I buy food in NJ uses. That should make it feasible to set health-related guidelines or thresholds for government nutrition programs, which are also now electronic-card based rather than actual old school food stamps. If it's practical from a technology standpoint, we're then free to discuss what's best from a policy perspective with respect to banning SNAP use on certain products (obviously tobacco and booze, but more questionably, Twinkies and Doritos and soda and fruit punch), limits on the amount of such items, or incentives for the healthier options like discounts or rewards for fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. I just don't know if it's practical unless the technology is ubiquitous and we're okay with government regulation and monitoring of the use of such technology to drive or nudge healthy choices.

[In the Corn]

How universal are barcode or similar data-based inventory and sales systems around the country nowadays? I know almost every place I buy food in NJ uses. That should make it feasible to set health-related guidelines or thresholds for government nutrition programs, which are also now electronic-card based rather than actual old school food stamps. If it's practical from a technology standpoint, we're then free to discuss what's best from a policy perspective with respect to banning SNAP use on certain products (obviously tobacco and booze, but more questionably, Twinkies and Doritos and soda and fruit punch), limits on the amount of such items, or incentives for the healthier options like discounts or rewards for fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. I just don't know if it's practical unless the technology is ubiquitous and we're okay with government regulation and monitoring of the use of such technology to drive or nudge healthy choices.

In full disclosure, my thoughts on this come from standing in line at the local convenience store one Sunday morning. I'm standing there ready to pay for my gas and Diet Coke and the guy in front of me is purchasing: 4 Slim Jims, Doritos, Ho-Ho's and 2-1 liter bottles of Lemonade. My first thought was, "That solid gaming food for the day." When I saw the EBT card my second thought was, "What a waste." Then I had a nagging thought about why shouldn't this guy be able to use some of his assistance on crap. I do that. We all do that. Every kid needs to have a freakin' Twinkie every once in awhile, and a parent shouldn't feel bad about paying for it.

If we could figure out the technology of this, I think it would be a great concept. Yes, no tobacco or booze, but hey a percentage to Doritos, Ding-Dong's and Oreo's, I'm okay with. As long as it is in some close reflection of the standard grocery bill. While I'm not an advocate of big government, as we creep closer to single-payer (it will happen), it's incumbent that the government help people make health food choices, hence my idea of discount on fresh produce.

Trump wouldn't imagine this kind of help.

[revo]

Trump now considering a 25 cent per gallon gas tax to pay for infrastructure, the first such raise since 1993.

[In the Corn]

Trump now considering a 25 cent per gallon gas tax to pay for infrastructure, the first such raise since 1993.

Thank God I drive an electric car!

The gas tax is the absolute most regressive tax possible. It punishes the poor.

My goodness, you'd think from my posting today that I'm a flaming liberal.

[gcstomp]

regarding SNAP, am I crazy, or arent essential basic food items marked as SNAP already in supermarket? I seem to recall milk, eggs, bread with the SNAP logo on them, and I thought foods were already marked that way to allow EBT card users to only allow access to actual food. I do not like the idea of taking all choice away and sending prepackaged boxes to receivers as people have allergies, and should have choice on what they eat. But the program is about not having poor people starve in the street, especially the working poor who might be working multiple part time jobs totaling well over 50, 60, 70 hours a week. Such people will have rent, prescriptions, and transportation eat maybe all their budget.

If this is not the case, no way do I think people on food stamps should be able to use that on slim jims and soda pop. There must be a way to have supermarkets code real food as SNAP allowable, with a wide wide range of food choice, but not allowing zero nutrition foodstuff like twinkies. Or am I missing something.

[Redbirds Fan]

regarding SNAP, am I crazy, or arent essential basic food items marked as SNAP already in supermarket? I seem to recall milk, eggs, bread with the SNAP logo on them, and I thought foods were already marked that way to allow EBT card users to only allow access to actual food. I do not like the idea of taking all choice away and sending prepackaged boxes to receivers as people have allergies, and should have choice on what they eat. But the program is about not having poor people starve in the street, especially the working poor who might be working multiple part time jobs totaling well over 50, 60, 70 hours a week. Such people will have rent, prescriptions, and transportation eat maybe all their budget.

If this is not the case, no way do I think people on food stamps should be able to use that on slim jims and soda pop. There must be a way to have supermarkets code real food as SNAP allowable, with a wide wide range of food choice, but not allowing zero nutrition foodstuff like twinkies. Or am I missing something.

Damn straight.

And those old ladies on social security shouldn't be spending it on hairdressers or bingo. And people on unemployment shouldn't have cable. And nobody on disability should have a truck newer than me. These people are just taking advantage.

[gcstomp]

That's odd red, I disagree with everything you just said. We view SNAP different, but I am ok being mocked

[Redbirds Fan]

That's odd red, I disagree with everything you just said. We view SNAP different, but I am ok being mocked

I keed, I keed. But I read your posts because you have interesting things to say, and they are not predictable.

But the question is: How do you distinguish between your point and my admittedly over-the-top examples? If we tell a food stamp recipient they cannot buy a Diet Coke, why shouldn't we tell a Social Security disability recipient what they can spend their money on?

[madducks]

Looks like the storm clouds are gathering above Trump's head:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/polit...hen/index.html
"A manager for the porn star who was reportedly paid $130,000 by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer claims the agreement between the two is no longer valid.
Gina Rodriguez, a manager for Stephanie Clifford, who is also known as Stormy Daniels, said Wednesday that Clifford believes Michael Cohen voided the non-disclosure agreement with her by admitting he paid Clifford $130,000.
Rodriguez added: "Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story."

[B-Fly]

Looks like the storm clouds are gathering above Trump's head:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/polit...hen/index.html
"A manager for the porn star who was reportedly paid $130,000 by President Donald Trump's personal lawyer claims the agreement between the two is no longer valid.
Gina Rodriguez, a manager for Stephanie Clifford, who is also known as Stormy Daniels, said Wednesday that Clifford believes Michael Cohen voided the non-disclosure agreement with her by admitting he paid Clifford $130,000.
Rodriguez added: "Everything is off now, and Stormy is going to tell her story."

For anyone who wasn't bothered by or quickly got over the Access Hollywood tapes and the sexual harassment accusers, I doubt Ms. Daniels has anything to tell that will move the needle much on Trump support.