Trump administration must release billions in SNAP funds, judge says

[Tropical Wilds]

Yes. Do you? Do you know the difference between a Supreme Court judge and a federal judge? Next, are you going to tell me that Judge Judy has more power than Congress?

I do know the difference. Are you aware that a federal judge’s ruling represents the application of law, and that legal actions begin in lower courts and may ultimately end at the Supreme Court, not start there? When a federal judge presiding over a case issues a judgment, that ruling is binding unless and until a higher court overturns or modifies it, even if Trump or his followers don’t like it. That is basic knowledge in any 10th grade government class.

The fact that you can’t tell the difference between Judge Judy and a federal judge is pretty telling, actually.

Wait… do you actually think the checks and balances of a three-branch democracy mean that when the judicial branch issues a ruling, the other two branches can just say, “Nah, we’re going to do our own thing because we don’t like the court’s decision”?

That’s super cute.

You are not.

Yes, yes, “I know what you are but what am I?” I’ve heard it all before, it’s boring, but it gives me a heads up that you have nothing else to lean on to defend your position, so at least it’s helpful in figuring out how seriously to take you.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Unfortunately, this position will never be able to be defended in the Kingdom of God.
I pray one day they know His will.
Blessings

Yeah, show me where Jesus forced people to feed people experiencing poverty behind the barrel of a gun. Which is essentially what happens when you expect the American taxpayer to flip the bill. Why? Because if we refuse to pay, eventually there will be a guy with a gun knocking on my door and dragging me to a courtroom where I either have the choice of paying the tax or going to jail. It may shock you to find out that conservatives, especially Christians, are generally more generous towards the poor and donate more money to help the needy. It is liberals who refuse to spend a dime of their own money only to demand that others pay the cost. There are over 40 million people receiving food stamps. Many of whom do not need it and have been trained by their mothers and their mother's mother to suck as much out of the welfare system as possible. I personally have numerous cousins and a couple of sisters who have multiple baby daddies, and they truly believe that getting a job is for suckers, while simultaneously bragging about all the steak, lobster, and junk food they can receive.. This is why the United States is the only country in the world where the poorest of the poor suffer from obesity. So please do not try to play the game in which you lable others as being sub-christian because we refuse to supplement entitlement.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Once. And then every year.

How many?

Definitely. And most churches have food pantries to feed the needy. My church runs one that is opened 7 days a week.

I find it jarring that you don’t question the obvious abuse. As I stared, I have no problems helping the needy but I have a problem helping those that are gaming the system.

So because you see Teslas and “relatively new cars” in line at the food bank, your first thought is “well they are gaming the system”?

My car is 12 years old, so does that mean I must be poor and need food stamps…?

It doesn’t dawn on you that people might have Teslas and relatively new cars in line at the food bank because they were hit with a recent setback that wasn’t a factor when they got the cars? Or that maybe they don’t have cars and they’re borrowing them? Or somebody is transporting them? Zip Cars are free in our town right now for qualified people to go wait in food lines… You gnashing your teeth over those nice cars waiting in line? Or maybe their “relatively new cars” are so they can qualify as ride share drivers to make money? Or that they’re paid off and it’s cheaper to keep it than dump it? Or maybe it’s underwater and still cheaper to keep it than dump it? Or are cars they need to manage a physical need or barrier? I have a family member who drives Teslas because of the self-driving feature due to a barrier. Is he too rich for food stamps?

Have you had to get food stamps lately? Do you know how easy or hard it is? Or are you just using your random benchmark of “nice car, you’re clearly rich” to determine eligibility? Because, I have to tell you, we HAD to go through the food stamp application process when we got full custody of our kids… So I know exactly what goes into it, how often it’s checked, and what the maintenance of it is. Prepare to be shocked, but they use way more than “what do you drive?” to arrive at eligibility.

I saw a thing on Facebook about how this is really highlighting the character of people, revealing there are some people who’d rather feed 100 people and risk 20 people are “gaming the system,” and there are some people who would rather starve 100 people than risk 1 getting a meal they “gamed the system” for. Super, super proud to be the former, not the latter.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Yeah, show me where Jesus forced people to feed people experiencing poverty behind the barrel of a gun. Which is essentially what happens when you expect the American taxpayer to flip the bill. Why? Because if we refuse to pay, eventually there will be a guy with a gun knocking on my door and dragging me to a courtroom where I either have the choice of paying the tax or going to jail. It may shock you to find out that conservatives, especially Christians, are generally more generous towards the poor and donate more money to help the needy. It is liberals who refuse to spend a dime of their own money only to demand that others pay the cost. There are over 40 million people receiving food stamps. Many of whom do not need it and have been trained by their mothers and their mother's mother to suck as much out of the welfare system as possible. I personally have numerous cousins and a couple of sisters who have multiple baby daddies, and they truly believe that getting a job is for suckers, while simultaneously bragging about all the steak, lobster, and junk food they can receive.. This is why the United States is the only country in the world where the poorest of the poor suffer from obesity. So please do not try to play the game in which you lable others as being sub-christian because we refuse to supplement entitlement.

A parable from Jesus Christ of Nazareth:

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Kinda sounds like the judge wants Trump to act as king and push the senate and congress aside to perform a sovereign act.

Nope - as pointed out already, Congress has already appropriated these funds - their involvement with them is complete. It's on the executive branch, which administers SNAP, to utilize the funds that Congress has appropriated.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Yeah, show me where Jesus forced people to feed people experiencing poverty behind the barrel of a gun. Which is essentially what happens when you expect the American taxpayer to flip the bill. Why? Because if we refuse to pay, eventually there will be a guy with a gun knocking on my door and dragging me to a courtroom where I either have the choice of paying the tax or going to jail. It may shock you to find out that conservatives, especially Christians, are generally more generous towards the poor and donate more money to help the needy. It is liberals who refuse to spend a dime of their own money only to demand that others pay the cost. There are over 40 million people receiving food stamps. Many of whom do not need it and have been trained by their mothers and their mother's mother to suck as much out of the welfare system as possible. I personally have numerous cousins and a couple of sisters who have multiple baby daddies, and they truly believe that getting a job is for suckers, while simultaneously bragging about all the steak, lobster, and junk food they can receive.. This is why the United States is the only country in the world where the poorest of the poor suffer from obesity. So please do not try to play the game in which you lable others as being sub-christian because we refuse to supplement entitlement.

Right now in the little free library in front of my house, I have 10 loaves of oatmeal molasses bread that I made, five bags of cheddar crackers I made, a dozen individually-wrapped sourdough chocolate chip cookies that I made, 9 boxed mixes, a notice I’m making pizza in my front yard on Tuesday that’s open to all who what it, and I just used Instacart to buy $200 of groceries for a food bank that will be delivered tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’m going to have 24 cinnamon rolls, 30 replacement nutrient cookies, all made by me, two cases of water, and maybe more bread for the library. This is on top of the meals I donate to the children’s hospital care house for family and the homeless shelter that opened up today through spring that I’ve donated to for the last 3 years.

So, how much food have you made and put in your little free library? How many homeless shelters, children’s hospital homes, and food pantry employees know you by name because you are there donating? How many people in need see your car turn in the parking lot and know that breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks are taken care of for today with actual food, not canned stuff from the back of a closet? How many free pizzas have you made this year? How big was your Instacart food run donation today?

Or are you just sitting here begrudgingly complaining about having to pay taxes… The same taxes (or less) that I pay while still doing all the above? Complaining about your money going to feed people who you demand prove their hardship to you so you can thumbs up or down if they deserve food or not, while turning a blind eye to the behavior of millionaires, billionaires, and golf-playing people in authority who get more, and bigger, handouts than the person who’s spending it on food?

I am a happy, safe, secure woman in a happy, safe, secure home who likely won’t ever have to worry about my next meal, and I want to do my part in helping others feel the same. What’s the excuse for not doing the same? From where I sit, it seems like for most it’s either apathy (at best) and at worst a belief that because they’re unsatisfied with how hard they have to work, they want to know others are just as or more miserable as they are, and resentment that anybody they feel isn’t as worthy as them has any part of their life “easy.”

Oh, and as for where does Jesus say we need to feed people? Matthew 25:35–40 which includes ““Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”” Or Luke 14:13–14 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Or Mark 10:21 “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”” Or Luke 12:33-34. Or Luke 11:39-41. Or Matthew 6:1-4.

Notice none of those passages talk about going out and ranking the hardships of the poor or verifying they’re “actually” poor or “actually” need food or find out if they live in poverty that seems abject enough… He says go do it. Why? Because what you do to help is your virtue, your relationship with God and faith, your spiritual test. How other people use it is their virtue, relationship with God and faith, and their spiritual test, and exactly none of your business.

 

[Lost Witness]

Yeah, show me where Jesus forced people to feed people experiencing poverty behind the barrel of a gun

Judas had a purse he carried that they used to feed the hungry with that judas often took money from.
The Lord also says, "give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God"
That includes taxes and other funds taken from the masses within the nation etc.
Be they for feeding the hungry or so the wealthy can live even wealthier lifestyles.
In the End who does everything really belong to. Its all God's.
"For nobody can receive anything unless it's given from above"
God blesses so we can bless others.
Being taxed so other might eat is a blessing imo

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I do know the difference. Are you aware that a federal judge’s ruling represents the application of law, and that legal actions typically begin in lower courts and may ultimately end at the Supreme Court, rather than starting there? When a federal judge presiding over a case issues a judgment, that ruling is binding unless and until a higher court overturns or modifies it, even if Trump or his followers don’t like it. That is basic knowledge in any 10th-grade government class.

The fact that you can’t tell the difference between Judge Judy and a federal judge is pretty telling, actually.

Wait… do you actually think the checks and balances of a three-branch democracy mean that when the judicial branch issues a ruling, the other two branches can say, “Nah, we’re going to do our own thing because we don’t like the court’s decision”?

That’s super cute.

Yes, yes, “I know what you are, but what am I?” I’ve heard it all before; it’s boring, but it gives me a heads up that you have nothing else to lean on to defend your position, so at least it helps figure out how seriously to take you.

Civics 101: Federal judges fall under the Department of Justice, which, as of my last check, is part of the Executive branch of the government. You evoked "checks and balances" and wrongfully attributed a federal judge to being a part of that. The Supreme Court Justices are part of the third branch, which is separated from the Executive branch, acting as a "check and balance" for the Executive and Legislative branches of government.

Here is a lesson for you.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Civics 101: Federal judges fall under the Department of Justice,

What are you smoking? Can I have some?

While the President appoints federal judges (including Supreme Court justices), they're all under the Judicial Branch. See Article 3 of the Constitution.

 

[linux.poet]

*drives up in 22-year-old Toyota Echo*

Hi everyone, as someone who is currently on SNAP, I’m grateful that a federal judge is thoughtful enough to try and preserve my ability to eat for the next couple of months. I’m currently working at a grocery store and my monthly income is less than the $1690 maximum for full SNAP benefits.

In my considerable opinion, I think the buying a Tesla is not gaming the system, but rather being victimized and taken advantage of by the system through debt and luxury. Someone who buys said vehicle has delusions of economic security in a volatile and unpredictable job market.

People who are really “gaming the system”:
1. Go to homeless service organizations to get food, clothing, and car registrations paid for for free, and some also get rental assistance.
2. Use OfferUp to get free items.
3. Buy old cars and repair and maintain them themselves. Frankly, real gamers are masters at cleaning and repairing things, knowing that’s how you beat all the item depreciation wars.
4. Save cups in their car from every restaurant to always get free refills and never pay for drinks.
5. Put recycling bags in their car trunk so they can pick up recycling from public garbage cans (or their own) for extra money.
6. Go around to all the local churches and give them sob stories to get them to pay for their gas.
7. Get free donated boxes (and more free items) from the local U-haul.
8. Buy land at bankruptcy court and local land auctions.
9. Go off-grid with their utilities by putting up a home solar system and collecting rainwater for their garden.
10. Buys theology books from the local library bookstore for $2 instead of paying $200+ for them.
11. Delay their college education until the age of 24 in order to get the government to pay for it instead of taking on debt.

And now that I’ve educated you on how to be a real economic villain who doesn’t contribute to the System and is a menace to honest hard labor by honest hardworking Americans, I’ll see myself out.

*drives away with appropriate evil villain laugh*

 

[bèlla]

And now that I’ve educated you on how to be a real economic villain who doesn’t contribute to the System and is a menace to honest hard labor by honest hardworking Americans, I’ll see myself out.

Why are you educating people who are supposed to follow Jesus?

And the government isn’t funding college anymore. There’s a $7,500 yearly loan cap in the pipeline that allows colleges to decide the max. Not to mention the erosion of loans for parents and independent students and the elimination of lower interest rates too. They’ll be tiered to the market. It’s pay to play now. Better find a patron.

~bella

 

[Oompa Loompa]

What are you smoking? Can I have some?

While the President appoints federal judges (including Supreme Court justices), they're all under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Branch. See Article 3 of the Constitution.

That is actually very informative. Thank you.

 

[linux.poet]

Why are you educating people who are supposed to follow Jesus?

It’s a joke/satire.

The point is display the ignorance of the argument of thinking Tesla buyers on food stamps are system gamers. Tesla buyers on food stamps are victims who have made poor economic choices. There’s a difference between stupidity and spite, and system gamers are just running on spite. I had plenty of spite for a long time. My abusive dad wanted me to work, and I was a rebel. I learned their playbook, and I used many of their tricks. It becomes more apparent when you consider that these people will literally spend weeks on a mobile game just to earn $60 out of it on Swagbucks or repair their 20-plus year-old car just to avoid buying a new one. They are terrified of being “found out” and will put a lot of effort into maintaining their disguise.

The fact that I was one of them just proves the point. People who try to fit me in one box or another usually end up surprised. And it’s not Biblical, go get out the end of 2 Thessalonians to rebuke my dark past.

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.

System gamers are just soft core (legal) thieves. Blaming the fact that we live in a fallen world on the government isn’t productive. We’re supposed to work so we are the givers.

But most people aren’t system gamers, as I don’t think being filled with violent economic passive aggression is a social norm. Most people on SNAP are boring people who work at the grocery store and who just happen to have an income below a certain amount.

Meanwhile, there are serious flaws with SNAP, like the fact that you can be qualified to buy food from McDonald’s on your EBT card if you’re homeless, but you can’t buy a hot rotisserie chicken from a grocery store with it no matter what unless there is a state disaster. The chicken is obviously healthier, and a $5 chicken from Costco will feed me for a week, but nope. It’s these things that should be fixed, as that would save the government a lot of money. Cutting it off is just returning spite to largely imagined spite. They are punishing the many for the deeds of a few, and it will just come back to bite them later on. The judge is making the right decision here, but whether it will help remains to be seen.

 

[Bradskii]

But the president is not doing "the wrong" because only congress has the power of the purse to fund.

Ah, like USAid. I get it.

 

[7thKeeper]

But the president is not doing "the wrong" because only congress has the power of the purse to fund.

Yes, and they've funded it already. The emergency funds had been set previously already. The money is there.

 

[Hentenza]

So because you see Teslas and “relatively new cars” in line at the food bank, your first thought is “well they are gaming the system”?

Really? That is what you are going with?

My car is 12 years old, so does that mean I must be poor and need food stamps…?

Maybe the Tesla people should sell the Tesla and buy themselves a 12 year old car. Now they match you and are living within their means.

It doesn’t dawned on you that people might have Teslas and relatively new cars in line at the food bank because they were hit with a recent setback that wasn’t a factor when they got the cars?

Dawn on me? Maybe it should dawn on you that more people than you think are in fact gaming the system. There are two sides to the argument but you just want to dress me down to support ONLY your side.

Or that maybe they don’t have cars and they’re borrowing them?

Lol or maybe they are gaming the system?

Or somebody is transporting them?

Sure, you can believe that.

Zip Cars are free in our town right now for qualified people to go wait in food lines…

There are no zip cars in Houston.

You gnashing your teeth over those nice cars waiting in line?

Gnashing my teeth? Drama much?

Or maybe their “relatively new cars” are so they can qualify as ride share drivers to make money?

You can believe that. Or maybe they own them by selling their benefits? Or maybe they are drug dealers using the car as a crack rental? Or maybe the car is stolen?

Or that they’re paid off and it’s cheaper to keep it than dump it?

Glad they can pay off their cars. That’s nice. Or maybe they are gaming the system?

Or maybe it’s underwater and still cheaper to keep it than dump it?

Doubt that. When you have no money to eat you have to make it work. Been there done that. There is always public transportation which is much cheaper and there are programs to help the poor pay for it.

Or are cars they need to manage a physical need or barrier?

You can believe that.

I have a family member who drives Teslas because of the self-driving feature due to a barrier. Is he too rich for food stamps?

And? Can they afford it? Can they eat while owning it? What did they do before the Teslas came out?

Have you had to get food stamps lately?

Nope.

Do you know how easy or hard it is?

I have an idea.

Or are you just using your random benchmark of “nice car, you’re clearly rich” to determine eligibility?

Are you using your random left leaning pro social behavior belief to justify that every one just needs a handout regardless of actual need? There are a plethora of programs to teach people skills that will allow them to earn a living. Like the saying goes, feed them a meal and you feed them once, teach them how to fish and they will feed themselves forever.

Because, I have to tell you, we HAD to go through the food stamp application process when we got full custody of our kids… So I know exactly what goes into it, how often it’s checked, and what the maintenance of it is. Prepare to be shocked, but they use way more than “what do you drive?” to arrive at eligibility.

Great to hear.

I saw a thing on Facebook about how this is really highlighting the character of people, revealing there are some people who’d rather feed 100 people and risk 20 people are “gaming the system,” and there are some people who would rather starve 100 people than risk 1 getting a meal they “gamed the system” for. Super, super proud to be the former, not the latter.

Facebook is someone’s opinion who is just as wrong as you. You decided to attack me because I think differently as you but you missed the fact that I stated in my earlier post that I have NO problems feeding the needy. I have NO problems funding programs that help the needy. I am in favor of the government using the emergency money to continue the food stamps program. I stated the efforts of my church, where I’m a deacon and very much involved, of keeping a food pantry opened seven days a week. But instead you assume that I am a heartless person that you can speak down to.

Well, you might want to look at yourself in the mirror before judging others. When is the last time you worked at a food bank or food kitchen? When is the last time you volunteered to take care of the homeless? When is the last time you made a donation to a charity?

 

[NxNW]

 

[essentialsaltes]

And the government isn’t funding college anymore.

There's still the GI Bill.

 

[Hentenza]

There's still the GI Bill.

And the Pell Grant.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

A parable from Jesus Christ of Nazareth:

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

Great! Now go feed the poor and stop demanding that other people do it for you.