Although, I don’t think that I agree that cashiers at supermarkets should be handed the responsibility of “nutrition-cop”. Perhaps only certain SKU numbers of items should be valid for WIC purchases… the store could color the on-shelf price tags differently so WIC folks could see what was appropriate or not… and then the cash register would only allow WIC to purchase the correct items.

But that still wouldn’t stop this lady, with her fancy nails and cellphone, from pulling out a wad of cash to buy cigarettes and a Nat’l Enquirer.

If anyone’s wondering, the supermarket from this post was either Hannaford or Price Chopper in Latham, NY. (we go to both so I forget which it was)

Having said that, the part of your story that I found interesting is that you said she was buying chips, snack foods, and sugar drinks. Since I just went to that first WIC appointment, the one where you learn “the rules”, I know for a fact that it is impossible to buy chips, snack foods, or sugar drinks. The vouchers clearly state exactly what the recipient is allowed to purchase. The list includes 2 gallons of white milk, 1 18-oz jar of peanut butter, 1 dozen of eggs, 1 lb. of cheese (block, shredded, or string only), 2 46-oz. containers of 100% fruit juice (Juicy Juice, Welch’s Grape Juice), and 36 oz. of unsweetened cereal like Rice Crispies, Kix, Cheerios, Life, Grape Nuts or Corn Flakes.

I suppose the store that you were shopping in could have been relaxed in how they handle the WIC checkouts, but the cashiers are supposed to make sure the purchases are allowable by WIC. In fact, a manager is supposed to review and approve all WIC purchases before the cashier is allowed to accept the check as tender. But who knows what was going on at that particular store? If those items were in fact what she was purchasing, that is exactly the reason I refuse to be lumped in with the rest of the WIC-using [abusing] women.

The unfortunate thing about all of this is that my husband and I both work and actually earn a decent income, it’s just not quite as much as it used to be since the cost of living has gone up so drastically over the past coule of years and we could really use the assistance WIC provides in buying formula for our baby.

The food she was buying wasn’t the “worst” but it was still junk to me… sugar drinks (the kind with no nutritional value), chips, and assorted snack foods (I don’t remember exactly now because it’s been a while).

And she had a wad of cash to pay for cigarettes… and she had her nails done and a fancy cellphone, which means that she has extra money to blow… which means that in her case WIC is merely enabling her to spend cash on extras. It’s ridiculous for taxes to go for Asian nail salons and top-of-the-line electronics in the name of “nutritional risk”.

I wouldn’t pull the WIC program entirely… but I would establish accountability. It’s lacking. Same for medicaid.

She was probably using food stamps, which i do agree needs to be reformed. Currently people on food stamps do not participate in nutrition counseling and are allowed to purchase whatever they would like.

Wic is a good program and has been proven to save the taxpayer money while improving the health of low income women and children. For every $1 spent on WIC, it equates to $2-$4 in savings for medicaid on the treatment of premature births, anemia, and other nutritional problems.

I definitely agree that this isn’t right and these people should be held accountable for what they use these coupons on…

And doesn’t that figure? Those who don’t need to do… and those who need to don’t.

Hey… she also loves this site: http://www.mommysavers.com/

Yeah, it sucks seeing the system abused. My mother was a social worker in the 70’s (pre-WIC) and she developed her own cooking classes to teach low-income women how to prepare healthy meals with the rations they received from the government (welfare recipients would get rations of staples like cheese, flour, eggs, etc.). It would be interesting to go back to that kind of system. It is by far cheaper to cook from scratch than to buy junk food and convenience food like boxed meals (Hamburger Helper, Mac and Cheese), frozen meals, cereal, etc.

Some of us moms @ Terra Nova have read a book called “Miserly Moms” which gives a lot of good ideas on how to live on one income. Part of being frugal, according to the author, is cooking inexpensively. See http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes1.htm for what she’s talking about. This book should be required reading for those on WIC!

I remember once when a deaf beggar was handing out those little cards that say “Hello, I’m deaf. [Give me money]” and have the alphabet in sign on the back. Well, the deaf guy gave it to everyone in hte subway car, including a deaf businesswoman on her way to work… who proceeded to blast the bum him up one side and down the other… IN SIGN!

In Baltimore some guy at the harbor handed me one (with the $1 crossed off to say $2) and when I said no his smile turned to a fit of rage and he snatched it away from me and gave me the slit-throat hand motion as he walked away. Ha… that just affirmed I was right not to give him anything.

Actually, giving cash to bums is about the worst thing you could do for them… really. There’s no love in it… it’s false compassion that hurts them more than anything.

Hey Steve:
Glad to see you around with a wit that always gets me going!!! I feel you totally! In the town where I live, we have only a 78% high school graduation rate and a 14% college graduation rate (includes AA degrees). Hence, there are many people who either work three low wage jobs or work one job or no jobs and take public assistance. I always trip out when the people are wearing designer clothes, have their hair done in over $150.00 styles and so forth. Well this takes the cake:
The other day I was in San Francisco and this bum asked me if I would walk him to the hot dog stand. I asked him why he couldn’t go himself. His response was that he didn’t have enough money, although I saw at least $2.50 in his hand. He told me that the hot dogs cost $5.00, then corrected and said $4.25. I said five dollars or so for a hot dog? That is ridiculous! I am sorry, but I cannot support you. Oh, here is a quarter I hope it helps. He told me that it wouldn’t help him and harassed me for more money. I blew up in the middle of Market Street and Fourth and said: “What?!!! I don’t owe you anything! Get out of my face and leave me alone!!!”

Funny that, I bailed as quickly as possible, but was pissed at his audacity! This is the problem with the entitlement mentality.

I will cite your post for my Monday one. I have taken a blogging break, but am slowly returning. I hope you have a great rest of weekend and take care:)