Hello Bob,   
      
   BK>   
    BK> Read the entire story at:   
      
    BK> http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2013/07/22/   
    BK> Taxpayers-subsidizing-low-paid-employees.html   
      
    BK> The battle over food stamps is clearly a smoke screen for the   
    BK> Republicans just trying to extort more from the administration.   
    BK> Without food stamps many employees of this country's largest   
    BK> employer will go hungry.   
      
   I really do not know what gives you the bizarre idea that any   
   employer will go hungry, much less real people.  Just look at the   
   facts -   
      
   There are some 47 million recipients of food stamps in America.   
   The expenditures for last year alone was $78 billion.  A very small   
   price to pay, considering how much this country pays for national   
   defense (what we spend on food stamps is less than the cost of   
   five fighter aircraft).   
      
   Republicans want to cut SNAP (the official name of the food stamp   
   program) by $4 billion annually.  That is an average of $36 less per   
   month for a family of four.   
      
   What that means is that roughly 5 million people would be eliminated   
   from the program.  Not that any of those people are truly dependent   
   on food stamps.  In fact, very few people are truly dependent on food   
   stamps.  By very few, I mean only a handful - those folks who are too   
   lazy to find their own food.   
      
   Republicans have always encouraged folks to be self-sufficient, and   
   never to depend on government for anything.  Republicans know that such   
   dependence on government is akin to slaves being dependent on their   
   master for survival.  You know the old adage - "Give a man a fish and   
   he'll have food for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he'll have food   
   for a lifetime."   
      
   Now some folks claim that Republicans have no alternative plan to   
   replace food stamps.  That is simply not true.  Republicans do in fact   
   have a plan.  It is called Dumpster Diving.  For those who are not   
   familiar with Dumpster Diving, here is how it works -   
      
   Groups of people get together (never solo as getting stuck in a   
   dumpster can be dangerous) and scour the neighborhood for lucky sites.   
   Usually found behind local grocery stores, but also behind fast food   
   joints.  This is usually done at night so as not to get caught by   
   the manager or the cops.  There is also much more stuff available at   
   night rather than during the day.  Sometimes great stuff.   
      
   Sounds insane, doesn't it?  Liberals claim this Republican plan can   
   never work.  However, instead of simply accepting that claim at face   
   value, I decided to try it out to see for myself -   
      
   One night, I found a dozen ears of corn.  Another time, 30 packs of   
   chicken.  Also melons, cherries, grapes, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes,   
   and all sorts of other really good stuff.  Not sure what others found,   
   but there was plenty enough to go around.   
      
   When I got home, I made sure to thoroughly boil the chicken before   
   eating it so as not to get sick.  I also washed the fruit, making sure   
   to get rid of all the bugs, pouring boiling water over it just to make   
   sure.  Sure, the fruit does lose a bit of color by doing this, but it   
   still tastes sweet.  I also cook the vegetables, as it is rather hot   
   and humid here which can spoil food (especially vegetables) rather   
   quickly.   
      
   It is much easier to find food at fast food joints, especially just   
   after closing time.  The food is still warm, and wrapped.  Except for   
   the french fries, which I don't care for anyway.  Just pick out the   
   burgers and whatever other sandwiches happen to be in the dumpster,   
   always keeping an eye out for the manager (and the cops) so as not   
   to get caught.  Then find a nice spot in the bushes where you can   
   relax to enjoy your meal.   
      
   The only problem with this Republican plan I can find is there is   
   a stigma.  People give me dirty looks, sometimes cringing at the same   
   time.  Even though I am very careful not to be seen, and try not to   
   make a mess, people do not want me anywhere around digging for food   
   or eating in the bushes.  I leave everything spotless and they still   
   complain.  The store manager hates me.  And if my mother ever finds   
   out about this, she'll kill me first and ask questions later.  Go   
   figure.   
      
   Why is this practice so despised?  Republicans approve it.  And   
   Republicans are the party of family values.  Or so they claim.  So   
   what is the big deal?  Why should I have to pay all that money for   
   food that nobody else wants?  Especially when I can get it for   
   nothing?  This makes no sense.  No sense at all ...   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)