opinion.....................

Jessica Garcia
English 101
You asked for it!
My opinion:
The controversy question: Should soda be excluded from foods food -stamp users can buy? In the article we were given their arguments were that it causes obesity and diabetes. Are you really thinking that if you take soda off of the list of to buy stuff that the people aren’t going to buy it still? That the rates of obesity will go down and people won’t be diabetic any more. You know that Food Stamps can’t buy McDonalds and the people using food stamps or cash aid still go there. Taking away soda isn’t going to make that big of an impact unless you take every junk food/fast food/ sugar juice away from not only the food stamp population but the entire population. Obesity and Diabetes hits anyone not just because their on food stamps. If you are going to take soda, it won’t stop, the “man” will continue to take foods away until the food stamp recipients are on Uncle Sam’s’ diet. The con article had a good point that food stamps should be able to be used at farmers markets, at cheaper rates so the food stamp population can afford to eat healthy. If obesity and diabetes are a high concern they should set up an awareness group that helps to inform people of healthy alternatives. Instead of placing the blame on the food stamp population they need to find another way. Soda is a high cost, maybe that can be reduced, or special prices for food stamp participants. I know that if you are on food stamps I’m sure you recycle, so the money you get back from cans is a vital part of your lifestyle. Maybe it’s that last bit of gas that gets you to your job, or your child to school. Instead of fighting what people are on food stamps eat, or drink we should find a way to help them either get off food stamps or get what they need while on it. Resources help too much when you are in a state that needs help. Food stamps were meant to assist, not depend on. However there are many families in this economy that depend on them. If they didn’t have food stamps they wouldn’t eat. Food boxes, food stamps, cash aid, and assisted child care is depended on by more people than you would think. Single moms, Grandma’s with young children, homeless, the sick, and many more depend on the assistance from the state. With budget cuts, and threats that these services will be the first to go we shouldn’t be looking at the petty “what people are eating” and looking at how to save these services that are depended on by many. I personally am a recipient of all the above. I’m a single mother of a 3 year old, and a high school dropout. I am the only one who can do anything for my son, and since I am in school there isn’t much I can do. If I didn’t have paid child care, I wouldn’t be able to afford child care, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. Except take care of my child.