ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 8:00:55 GMT -5
I for one would love to see this man tortured. www.freep.com/article/20110517/NEWS06/110517023/Michigan-man-still-food-stamps-despite-winning-2M?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s"A man who won $2 million on a Michigan lottery show has told a TV station that he still uses food stamps. Leroy Fick of Bay County admitted he still swipes the electronic card at stores, nearly a year after winning a jackpot on "Make Me Rich!" He told WNEM-TV in Saginaw that more than half the prize went to taxes. Fick says the Department of Human Services told him he could continue to use the card, which is paid with tax dollars. He told WNEM: "If you're going to ... try to make me feel bad, you aren't going to do it." The TV station says people have seen Fick driving a new Audi convertible. Messages seeking comment were left with his attorney and the state today."
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on May 18, 2011 8:52:38 GMT -5
I guess that's what happens when you make benefits eligibility income based rather than asset based. www.wnem.com/news/27926220/detail.htmlIt makes no sense on a certain level, but then neither does the fact that your credit score can be 300 even if you have millions in the bank.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 8:55:31 GMT -5
Tortured for using food stamps? Seems a little extreme.
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Urban Chicago
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Post by Urban Chicago on May 18, 2011 8:57:32 GMT -5
I bet I could make him feel bad.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:03:33 GMT -5
Tortured for using food stamps? Seems a little extreme. How about tortured for stealing! Or do you support what he's doing. If you don't find what he's doing absolutely disgusting....................I really don't know what to say. Other than you must be a Socialist.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 9:04:31 GMT -5
Tortured for using food stamps? Seems a little extreme. How about tortured for stealing! Or do you support what he's doing. Tortured for stealing? Seems a little extreme.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:05:08 GMT -5
How about tortured for stealing! Or do you support what he's doing. Tortured for stealing? Seems a little extreme. Not at all. Cut off his hands. The only suitable punishment for any thief.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 9:05:41 GMT -5
Tortured for stealing? Seems a little extreme. Not at all. Cut off his hands. The only suitable punishment for any thief. Seems a little extreme.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on May 18, 2011 9:06:08 GMT -5
How about tortured for stealing!
Except stealing is illegal, but this is apparently completely legal (not that I support what he is doing).
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 18, 2011 9:07:58 GMT -5
Well, that guy is just dumber than a stick. The good part is that the publicity may well result in the laws being changed so that assets in addition to income would be considered for eligibility.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:08:34 GMT -5
How about tortured for stealing!Except stealing is illegal, but this is apparently completely legal (not that I support what he is doing). It's all how you interpret it. Taxes are stealing and taxes pay for welfare. Therefore welfare is stealing. Some of it is tolerated however when it's truly needed. This POS obviously doesn't need it and is not only stealing from me, but everyone else especially the people who actually do need welfare.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:09:52 GMT -5
I can tell you when you apply for almost anything else, assets are taking into consideration. Not sure why food stamps do not follow this.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 18, 2011 9:10:42 GMT -5
Taxes are stealing
Um, no - taxes aren't "stealing". Taxes are legal. Stealing is illegal....
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:12:09 GMT -5
Taxes are stealingUm, no - taxes aren't "stealing". Taxes are legal. Stealing is illegal.... Apparently you are low income and don't pay much for taxes.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on May 18, 2011 9:13:20 GMT -5
It's all how you interpret it. Taxes are stealing and taxes pay for welfare. Therefore welfare is stealing. Some of it is tolerated however when it's truly needed. Interesting POV. Do you also believe that Social Security benefits should be denied to those who have significant assets, since they obviously don't need it (even if they have paid into the system)?
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on May 18, 2011 9:16:56 GMT -5
Interesting POV. Do you also believe that Social Security benefits should be denied to those who have significant assets, since they obviously don't need it (even if they have paid into the system)?
SS is an old age public retirement system paid into during one's working years via contributions with held from your paycheck. Food stamps and other similar entitlement programs do not require any contributions. Saying the food stamp program is stealing is a bit of a stretch though.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:18:37 GMT -5
It's all how you interpret it. Taxes are stealing and taxes pay for welfare. Therefore welfare is stealing. Some of it is tolerated however when it's truly needed. Interesting POV. Do you also believe that Social Security benefits should be denied to those who have significant assets, since they obviously don't need it (even if they have paid into the system)? Not at all because they paid those benefits over their working years. the Gov't owes working citizens those SS benefits IF they paid them. My grandparents are a prime example. They have more than enough money and just bank the SS money. Same with my dad who uses his SS as fun money cause he doesn't need it. They paid in with the expectation to get back. In our family we don't give anything away for free. Well put SF
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 9:24:06 GMT -5
Sounds like what this guy is doing is legal. It is immoral as all get out, but it is legal. So, technically, he isn't stealing and should probably be allowed to keep his hands.
I do like the idea of publishing his photo on the front page of the newspaper and telling the whole world what he up to though. A public shaming is definitely warranted.
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on May 18, 2011 9:26:45 GMT -5
Actually, there is no legal and enforceable claim to SS benefits, per the Supreme Court. Don't have a link to support this at my fingertips at the moment. So Congress can means test and/or pass any law/reg they want to limit or eliminate benefits and there is nothing one can do.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on May 18, 2011 9:28:39 GMT -5
I can tell you when you apply for almost anything else, assets are taking into consideration. Not sure why food stamps do not follow this. Could be totally wrong, but I think Food Stamp program guide lines are different state to state.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on May 18, 2011 9:29:49 GMT -5
Not at all because they paid those benefits over their working years. the Gov't owes working citizens those SS benefits IF they paid them.That's true, but how it's paid out isn't exactly fair either. You don't always get back what you put in, especially if you divorce for example (e.g., your ex can collect still benefits if you were married for at least 10 years: www.ssa.gov/retire2/yourdivspouse.htm ). Back on topic, there are a lot of entitlement programs that aren't fair, and people always seem find ways to take advantage of loopholes, the OP is just one extreme example. This case just generates more outrage because of the publicity. I wonder how many other millionaires are secretly living on food stamps but are living a low key enough lifestyle not to be noticed?
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 18, 2011 9:38:24 GMT -5
I kind of feel ho-hum on this. He won 2 million of which more than 1/2 went to taxes. So he is getting back a couple hundred a month in food stamps? At least he paid taxes, most welfare recipients will never pay enough in taxes to cover even a portion of what they receive.
I also am questioning if the card he is swiping has $$ left over from prior to when he won the lottery? Are food stamps use it or lose it on a monthly basis, or does the unused portion carry forward?
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dividend
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Post by dividend on May 18, 2011 9:38:42 GMT -5
I'm not sure how this is possible. When I lost my job last summer, I checked to see whether I was eligible for food stamps at that point. Apparently, my car was worth too much, and I had too much money in my savings/checking account. Maybe Kansas has stricter laws then elsewhere?
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:39:17 GMT -5
I kind of feel ho-hum on this. He won 2 million of which more than 1/2 went to taxes. So he is getting back a couple hundred a month in food stamps? At least he paid taxes, most welfare recipients will never pay enough in taxes to cover even a portion of what they receive. I also am questioning if the card he is swiping has $$ left over from prior to when he won the lottery? Are food stamps use it or lose it on a monthly basis, or does the unused portion carry forward? Now both of those are excellent points.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 18, 2011 9:46:50 GMT -5
Taxes are stealingUm, no - taxes aren't "stealing". Taxes are legal. Stealing is illegal.... Apparently you are low income and don't pay much for taxes. I'm in the 25% bracket. Apparently you don't understand that taxes are created by laws and are therefore legal. You may DISLIKE taxes but that doesn't make it "stealing".
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:52:47 GMT -5
I'm in the 25% bracket. Apparently you don't understand that taxes are created by laws and are therefore legal. You may DISLIKE taxes but that doesn't make it "stealing". You can make as low as 34k and still be in the 25% bracket. That doesn't mean much. Are you sure about your comment? We don't have a choice. We are held at a hypothetical gun point every pay period and must hand over the cash. If not, we can expect a negative response. Seems an awful lot like mugging to me. Just because some clowns in Washington make it a law, doesn't mean it's right. Legal and right are two different things. I know when I look at my pay check I feel the same as when I found my truck was broken into. Giving 25% of your check away to the feds should be a unhappy experience for you. I don't understand how it isn't.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on May 18, 2011 9:53:58 GMT -5
I can tell you when you apply for almost anything else, assets are taking into consideration. Not sure why food stamps do not follow this. Could be totally wrong, but I think Food Stamp program guide lines are different state to state. They are different from state to state. I read somewhere that in NY senior citizens are exempt from having assets used in the calculations to determining eligibility for food stamps. You can have a million dollar house, a huge retirement fund and as long as you don't make too much taxable income each year you qualify for food stamps if you are a senior. These rules for programs like food stamps aren't meant to make sense they are meant to get votes.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 18, 2011 9:55:20 GMT -5
These rules for programs like food stamps aren't meant to make sense they are meant to get votes. What's more concerning is some American out there voted that clown into office so they could make that law.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 18, 2011 10:00:07 GMT -5
These rules for programs like food stamps aren't meant to make sense they are meant to get votes. What's more concerning is some American out there voted that clown into office so they could make that law. Which clown? Each state has different food stamp eligiblity requirements.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 18, 2011 10:00:51 GMT -5
I'm in the 25% bracket. Apparently you don't understand that taxes are created by laws and are therefore legal. You may DISLIKE taxes but that doesn't make it "stealing". You can make as low as 34k and still be in the 25% bracket. That doesn't mean much. Are you sure about your comment? We don't have a choice. We are held at a hypothetical gun point every pay period and must hand over the cash. If not, we can expect a negative response. Seems an awful lot like mugging to me. Just because some clowns in Washington make it a law, doesn't mean it's right. Legal and right are two different things. I know when I look at my pay check I feel the same as when I found my truck was broken into. Giving 25% of your check away to the feds should be a unhappy experience for you. I don't understand how it isn't. Writing a check to the IRS is not a joyful event for me, but I realize that if I want certain services they need to be paid for. I like schools, roads, libraries, a military, FDA food inspections, and more. I don't expect to enjoy the things our country has to offer and not contribute to them. (fwiw, a married couple is in the 25% bracket at about 60something and it goes to about 120 something. We are smack in the middle)
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