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So, what does everybody think?

I'm a sort of "middle ground" kind of guy. Obviously there is a need for taxation to pay for things like defense, roads etc. which could not be funded otherwise (regardless of what the anarcho-capitalists say!) but I don't have time for needless bureaucracy like the legacy of New Labour!!

From what I saw on BBC this morning, your leader is thinking a no nonsense way of government. Will it work, well I think people have to get away from the government helping them out with welfare first. But as we all know, it is a trap, not only for the people, but for the nation as a whole. One in eight Americans now are receiving food stamps.

Yes I agree completely John, you are spot on. Welfare can indeed be a trap.

Can you explain what food stamps are? I have heard of them but I don't really know anything about them. Who can get them? Where can they be used?

Food stamps are coupons for, well, food. (It used to be paper coupons, but now they are usually debit cards.) They can be used at any grocery store like cash, but only for food. States administer them, though the federal government supplies much of the money. Qualification is based on income, which needs to be at or below poverty level. Children can qualify even when their guardians cannot, depending on circumstances. The average food stamp allotment is $133.12 per person per month, which is not a big food budget in the US.

axis wrote:Food stamps are coupons for, well, food. (It used to be paper coupons, but now they are usually debit cards.) They can be used at any grocery store like cash, but only for food. States administer them, though the federal government supplies much of the money. Qualification is based on income, which needs to be at or below poverty level. Children can qualify even when their guardians cannot, depending on circumstances. The average food stamp allotment is $133.12 per person per month, which is not a big food budget in the US.

Thanks, you explained better than I could

I just saw on TV that in New York city you might not be able to buy soda with food stamps. I think it makes sense. Since one should buy fruit juice or milk.

We have "milk tokens" over here, which are exactly what they sound like but some shops will accept them for other things, which is completely illegal. I've heard of people saving them up and using them to buy cigarettes, which obviously goes completely against the principle. But people will be people!