Tory MPs just overflow with the milk of human kindness!

[LeftishBrit]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9779000/9779292.stm

A Conservative MP has proposed creating a welfare cash card to ensure that benefits are spent on "essential" items only.

Alec Shelbrooke said the card could be provided to out-of-work people on benefits to pay for travel, food, clothing, energy and housing.

Recipients would be prohibited from spending the money on "luxury" goods such as Sky TV, cigarettes and alcohol - items which "hard-working families" have to cut back on when money is tight.

...We need to stop the "socially destructive state-funded way of living", he argued, adding that welfare benefits were designed to be a temporary safety net in times of need, "a hand up, not simply a hand out".



OK, Mr. Shelbrooke, why don't we start with Tory MPs? The taxpayers are paying your salaries, and I'm sure lots of you are spending significant amounts on alcohol, luxury foods, and other 'unnecessary' items.

And I hope the voters give them all a hand OUT at the next election!

[tama]

1. "socially destructive state-funded way of living" - agreed we need to stop it

Go work the fields, Alec Shelbrooke, from your socially destructive state-funded way of living. And take all the banksters and rest of the welfare queens with you.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Asking because I don't know

What can food stamps be spent on in the USA ?

[enlightenment]

5. It's call SNAP now

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Here's a brief:

What you can Buy
When you receive SNAP benefits, there will be a dollar amount put onto an EBT card. While it is free to use as you choose, there are only certain items that you will be allowed to use it for. If you attempt to purchase something not allowed, the transaction will be denied and you will need to use other means of paying for said items. However, you are free to use the benefits for bread, cereal, milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, all meats including fish and poultry, and additional dairy products like yogurt and butter. You may also purchase fruit, vegetable or herb seeds to plant produce for your family.

What you cannot Buy
There are also items you are not eligible for purchasing with the EBT card. This is mainly because the food stamps SNAP program is intended to feel your family healthy and nutritious foods. They aren't meant to purchase these items. Items you can't use SNAP benefits for are cigarettes or tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, vitamins, medications, hot foods, and non-food items like toiletries, cosmetics, diapers, household supplies, cleaning products, pet food and treats, and similar items.

http://www.foodstamps.org/articles/what-do-you-get-with-food-stamps
-----

I've never had to apply for this program (knock on wood), but I have seen people in shops being told that they could only buy cheaper brands of allowable foods. That's not something they mention, but I was appalled one day to see a young couple almost dying of embarrassment as they discovered that the card was disallowing the package of "Kraft" cheese and the bottle of "Meadowgold" milk. The clerk told them they had to get the store-brand/generic versions instead. Same thing with the bread, etc.

[oldironside]

3. Now, where have I heard that before?

Ah, yes.

[oldironside]

4. Hang on, I've just watched the thread.

That fat bastard has got a lot of nerve. He should go far in the Tory party.

[fedsron2us]

6. "Socially destructive state-funded way of living" would basically describe most Tory MPs

so lets start with them.

BTW a word of advice to most Conservative politicians attacking Sky TVs user base will not please Mr Murdoch and may not be a smart idea in a run up to a General election

[mwooldri]

7. sky news is on freeview... just need an antenna.

Sky News is nothing like Fake News Channel, their news is actually reasonably fair and balanced, though with a slight right wrung lean in their reporting. Besides many people get their TV by antenna, not satellite or cable. Cable doesn't have that kind of penetration that the USA enjoys.

However, I believe anyone who receives government assistance should have some form of discretionary money for them.

[T_i_B]

8. Has anyone stopped to consider....

...the chances of such a scheme producing a black market, and also the cost of administering such a hare-brained scheme?

The chances are that there would be no financial gain for the government, which leaves spite as the only real motivation for this idea. Mind you, spite towards anyone with less money then them seems to be a guiding principle of Tories these days.

[Ken Burch]

9. Interesting tidbit on this proposal from Shelbrooke's Wikipedia entry:

It has been suggested that the impetus for the proposal originated from the Mastercard corporation, who had lobbied for the proposal at each of the main party conferences in 2012.[7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_Shelbrooke