Smoking Bans and Food Stamps

Those of you who read Pheistyblog on a regular basis recall the story of my friend who works for a big box discount retailer.  To get the rest of you up to speed, she often checks out food stamp recipients, who then spend their ‘real’ money on useless plastic crap, video games, and hair dye.

Well, she’s also told me countless stories about food stamp recipients who use their subsidies to purchase Mountain Dew, candy, and various other kinds of junk food.  Invariably, most of these folks (and their children) are overweight and not getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy.  If they’re on food stamps, chances are they’re also on State-funded healthcare.  So not only are the taxpayers paying for their junk food, we’re also paying for these people’s unhealthy eating habits through Badgercare.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the now Democratic-controlled Wisconsin legislature and Governor Doyle are already peeing their pants with glee over the possibility of a statewide smoking ban.  There have been countless articles chronicling their uncontainable excitement.  They claim it will “save Wisconsin taxpayers millions of dollars in healthcare costs”. 

I think you see where I’m going with this.

First things first, I say.  Since Wisconsin taxpayers are not only paying for healthcare, but are also paying for food stamp recipients to purchase crappy food that makes them fat and their health poor, we should instead concentrate on only allowing certain kinds of food to be purchased with food stamps.  For example, Mountain Dew and other kinds of soda should not be subsidized by Wisconsin taxpayers.  Neither should candy. 

Allowing food stamp recipients to purchase these sorts of things with their food stamp allocations is akin to low-income smokers getting a monthly allowance of cigarette money from the State of Wisconsin.  Think about it. 

It’s incredibly short-sighted and–dare I say–stupid to insinuate that banning smoking in private establishments will somehow save Wisconsin taxpayers money in healthcare costs while food stamp and Badgercare recipients are purchasing cases of soda and other unhealthy items on our dime.

I don’t have a problem with food stamps.  My friend has told me stories of people purchasing bags of green beans and other fresh produce while also purchasing  jars to can them in.  Many of them buy lentils, healthy whole-grain cereals, and flour so that they can make bread and other baked goods for their families. 

What I do have a problem with is a state legislature who claims to be so concerned about Wisconsin’s health and taxpayer funds that they would ban a legal act on privately-owned property, yet turn a blind eye to state subsidies going to make people overweight and unhealthy.

Let’s get some significant food stamp reforms passed, and then we can argue over smoking bans.

Cross-posted at Pheistyblog