view if the world around them. hard to take these mental cripples seriously.

I worked as a checker at multiple Hy-Vee's through my teens and college (7 years). I fully support food stamp/EBT programs and do not support more rules on how people can spend their money.

That said, I personally observed that more than half of my customers paying for their food with EBT/food stamps were then doing a separate cash transaction for a $40 carton of cigarettes or a case of beer. This isn't hyperbole but an observed fact from a good many years standing at a cash register. This did make me sad because I wondered how the average customer can save enough to get off of EBT if they always spend their cash.

I did not, however, observe the "EBT junk food" epidemic that the freepers mention, though I'm sure I've seen it from time to time, particularly at the gas station.

Welcome to DU, hope you enjoy your stay!

I saw a few of the people you described but I saw many who worked very hard but just couldn't make ends meet.

My grocery store requires that I announce I'm paying with an ACCESS (food stamp) card before I can swipe it. Of course, anyone close by can hear this. I've never heard any snark about anything I bought, but I'm always aware of that possibility. The bottom line for me is that I am poor enough to qualify for food stamps, I'm given a certain amount per month with which to buy food, and what I buy with my allotment should be my own business. Anyone who is envious of a person poor enough to qualify for food stamps needs some serious introspection. There are bigger fish to fry.

that imo is wrong Don't their screens show how you are paying?

...the cashier said I have to tell her first before I use the card. She enters something into the register, then tells me I can swipe the card. This has happened at both grocery stores I go to (Weis Markets and Foodland in PA). I know, it is weird.

food stamp items from non-food-stamp items. If we just send the whole transaction to the machine for an EBT Food transaction it will fail.

I guess each chain is different