I just read on another thread about the new food stamp rules that will be going into effect. Very interesting and a lot of opinions to read. Well, I was thinking ...and I am sure this is going to open a can of worms too!..
Everyone needs assistance somewhere in life. We try not to take it but it is nice to know that it is there. .. whatever the assistance may be.
Well, what if when a person is on Food Stamps for so long. Longer than need be because it starts to look like someone may be soaking the system. What about if the Gov. posted those names on a monthly basis. That way people may have more of a want to get off thier butts and make some money. A little humility may humble them!

It's not that people don't think others need help nor is it that we have not needed help personally. It's that we object to and resent people who take advantage of programs; people who don't try to help themselves; and ridiculous govt programs that allow people on assistance to have a better living situation and material possessions than people who struggle to get by.

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You can't humiliate people to the public like that just because they are on assistance. Not everyone that recieves assistance abuses the system. I do receive benefits of food not cash, because of our financial sistuation at the moment, but we are trying like hell to make money other ways so i can stop receiving them. I am not happy to be on them, but i do need them at the moment, I know some people work the system and know how to work it to fraud the program, but that is up to snap to decide that. I am not the type of person who could live with myself if i ever did something like that. I was very honest when i went for the benefits and i will not rely on them for long.

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What happens to the people who been hurt on the job and can't work but yet needs food stamps ? do you think it's right for their name to be listed ?.You can't single out the people if you place 1 name you have to place them all. Should they be "shamed" in public for getitng hurt or lamed to teh point they can't work again and now have to accept food stamps ?.Then you have to take the mentally ill that also will get food stamps because they can't work they too have to eat and SSI only covers so much of living expenses. Should they also be placed on this public list ?.In both these cases the person would receive food stamps for a long time possibly all their life.

My SO is disabled so you want to put his name out to the public so you can feel better about humilitaing him? Think before you ask or propose such humilation. He will never be able to work again due to his disabilities does that make you feel better. Oh and that is the only welfare he gets no medical, no cash just $6 food stamps. Yes there are people that abuse the system but not everyone does.

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$6 ???? Is that only six dollars? What can he do with that? Anyway, I never agree with public humiliation.

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Not exactly on topic, but, here goes anyway...... a couple weeks ago,I think, Michelle Obama went to an Army base and met with some of the families there. She spoke of service members on Food Stamps. I can not understand how a person in the military can be on food stamps. Your housing is paid for if you live in gov't quarters, which would also include your utilities. So, um, where is the money going???

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Groovygirl, if you think thats bad, My mother went to apply 2 weeks ago and they told her she would get 8.00 !!. She has to take a senior bus to the appointments and that cost 5.00 !. 2.50 each way. She told them no thanks.
BTW she's 74 years old and has to get around with the aid of a walker.

Housing is not always provided on base. It's limited housing. When I married my now x we couldn't get a house on base so we moved 40 miles away. That was the only place we found to rent since we lived in a military town , but since it was outside the limit of 25 miles off base we didn't get any housing funds. The rent came out of X's check. we got nothing from the army to help pay for rent or utilities.Things may have changed since them it's been 29 years ago, but that was the way it was then.

I don't think this is a very good idea, alex01...nor do I think that it's legal or ethical to post this information publically, for all the reasons that the others have posted.

As for the $6 or $8 in foodstamps, what is up with that? It's not only not worth the bus trip, but it isn't worth the cost of processing the paperwork. I've heard of people getting huge amounts - several hundred dollars - what makes for the difference - bunches of kids?

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

That is awful!! I mean, there are people that really need the assistance. Why are they not getting it?

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Um, beer and tobacco, tattoos and hot cars? That's what I've seen alot of on the bases I've visited. (not as many as you have, I'm sure...but still)

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Cj I really don't know, my mom is single my stepfather passed away 2 years ago next month . She gets what ever that check is when you turn 67 not for sure what its called. She gets 655.00 I believe is the amount. she pays for rent, cell phone and cable ( the senior apts don't have any way to offer local stations other than cable crazy if you ask me )Plus she can't drive. she has multi health issues, so she has to take the senior bus even to buy food @ 2.50 each way or in her case 5.00 round trip. I like to have fell over when she told me 8.00 in food stamps. I asked her if she told them it cost her 5.00 just to get there for the apt and then it would cost her 5.00 to get to a store to use the 8.00 so she's really only getting 3.00 worth of food. It's crazy ! and to be honest shameful seniors are being treated this way.

You wrote in another about your mother. I had asked how she worked 45 years and couldn't support herself now-the thread reached 50 and was closed. You had said something like how she paid her dues......now with your last line about how seniors are being treated, I bring it up again......

This is a sense of entitlement. It's not the taxpayer's fault that people didn't save a little or a lot or anything and now expect the gov. to take care of things. I just don't see it the same way that you do.

dl

Wow! Really? You can't be serious.

First off, who would decide how long is too long?

Second, there are a lot of people that are on food stamps for a long time because they can't work, would they be excluded from "the list", and who's going to decide who deserves to be listed.

And lastly, They ones that this would really be aimed at (those that don't even try to better their situation) aren't going to care one way or another if people know.

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Because she did.If you can't figure out how life can sometimes wipe out a persons savings then I'm not about to try to educate you on it.She worked, She paid taxes . end of story.

So...sunsetbeach you are saying that anyone who works, pays taxes, doesn't have to be responsible in thinking ahead? They can just let someone else take care of them?

My, my it would seem there are a lot of people whose savings was wiped out? I still don't buy that as a blanket situation......

I don't need an education, I am just trying to figure out how there is a sense of entitlement, and yet when people are called on it, they now have excuses, errr reasons.

dl

Your idea won't work. Humility is nonexistent. Teen pregnant? Not to worry, the school has daycare set up for free. Drugs? Not to worry, everyone's doing it. Kids need money? Not to worry, parents have them on the dole. It's all ok, you can get help for just about anything from the government because you are now ENTITLED to it.....in a way, we've conditioned people to expect the government to take care of everything from birth to death. Can't afford a funeral? Not to worry, let the government pay.

Your idea won't work. Somehow we've had a shift from personal resposiibility, doing without when necessary, working hard or harder, etc to having not only one hand out to be filled, but both hands.

dl

Yep, it wouldn't be right to publish peoples names. There does need to be an overhaul of the system though so that people who need it get it and people who abuse it, etc... don't.

allinaugust, you stated that the housing is paid for if you live in gov't quarters. Yes, it is paid for by the loss of the housing allowance that the soldiers receive if they live off of post. Yes, the utilities are covered as well up to a certain point.

Paying for Utilities in Military Housing

Instead of asking where the money is going, why not ask WHY any of our servicemembers are being paid so little that they qualify for food stamps in the first place?? An E-2(Private) with 2 years of service basic pay is $1,568/month.

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/mili...yPayTables.doc


Oh, and the base she visited was Ft. Bragg, NC which is the area that I live around so I know all too well the prices on things around the area.


Debbie


PS: To bring my post back on to the main topic, I cannot believe that anyone would homestly suggest such a humiliating way to treat those that need help. Unless we have lived in their shoes, how do we know what they go through on a daily basis??

Humiliation is not the way to get people to want to be off welfare. I can't imagine that it would be an effective tool. Education is the answer. Jobs is the answer. Not going to solve all the problems or eliminate the reason for the traveling but I think most people who are using the programs want to be off but can't because they don't make enough money or they can't get a job that pays well enough they don't need food stamp money. If they can't now, with a bit of education, perhaps they can get that job. Provided there are jobs.

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So, an E-2 earns approximately $1600 per month ($400 per week), then you add in the BAH (housing allowance) which, BTW, is not taxed.....
"ZIP CODE: 28307
MILITARY HOUSING AREA:
NC182 - FORT BRAGG/POPE AFB, NC
MONTHLY ALLOWANCE:
E-2 with DEPENDENTS: $1018
E-2 without DEPENDENTS: $772

So, now you are up to $2300 per month or close to $2600 per month. For a non college educated person, I don't think that's too bad.

As for the BAH being taken away if they live on base, it's a wash. They take it away, but, that also takes away their rent, utilities, water payments.

I still don't see a need for (responsible) military personnel to be on food stamps. Oh, and your health care is basically paid for, or extremely minimal in output cost. I think the reason these people are qualifying is because they are having too many dependents too early in life, before they are financially ready. Also, I am not so sure they include any of the BAH or other non taxed monies, in the calculation to see if a person qualifies.

I'm tending to agree with CJS.

It just really irritates when I hear people griping about how our service members are having to rely on food stamps. IMO, there is no good reason for it. If a "civilian" 21 year old goes out and has 3 or 4 kids, we'd be all over that. I think people (politicians in particular) like to use the military to advance their point, much like using children....."oh, how can we cut the FREE lunch program?? It would hurt the children!!" etc.

BTW, isn't 2 years in a long time to still be an E-2??

Personal Responsibility.

I know, a bit off topic, but, I missed the original food stamp thread, so I'm adding my 2 cents here.

Now, to keep it on topic, I don't see what good posting people's names would do. Some people truly can't help it (aged, disabled, etc). We need to retool the system.

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I think this is an excellent idea (albeit old, started in 2006.....)

"Apr 24 2005
Currently, military members who live in "privatized" military housing do not have to pay for utilities. As a result, many military families are not motivated to conserve. This is about to change."

It is my understanding that your "alloted" usage is dependent on the size of your family/house. According to the article, those who use under their alloted amount, will see a "credit" on future bills. Those who go over, will pay out of pocket. Makes perfect sense to me. Can't tell you how many times I have seen people in housing with their porch lights on at 10am, 2pm, etc. Not to mention, keeping their quarters so cold in the Summer you could hang meat in there. I'm glad to see this program.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

My first thought of the inten of the OP was to expose the people who know the system and abuse it. Unfortunately, the people who are disabled and truly need the assistence would be the ones who would be humiliated by the list. The system abusers know no shame and would be be phased by publishing the list. And it gets into the privacy issues others have mentioned.

allinaugust, yes, I know that the BAH is not taxed. However, the basic pay is taxed so it may look like the soldier is "making" $2600/month BUT that is not what he is bringing home each month. I am not even going to make a comment about the non college educated part because I found that comment very distasteful. Also, you quoted how much BAH is paid for the Ft. Bragg area BUT did you research to see how much housing costs around the area? And I mean decent housing and not living in the seediest neighborhoods around the area.

"You" may not see the need for a responsible soldier to be on food stamps BUT have you walked in their boots and know everything that they are dealing with financially? Do you know anything about the quality of health care that you state is paid for or extremely minimal out of pocket? Do you know how many things that are NOT covered by that health care?? As I am living that life, I know all too well about the quality of care as well as what things are not covered by it which must be paid for out of pocket.

You state that the reason they qualify is due to their having too many dependents early in life. Again, I will state if they were being paid enough in the first place that they would not need to worry about qualifying for food stamps.

I found CJS's comment distasteful and kind of surprising coming from her as she does a lot to support our soldiers BUT we each have our own opinions about things.

It irritates you to hear people griping about the military needing to be on food stamps. Well, it irritates me that they do not get paid enough so that they do not have to rely on the program. It irritates me that people pass judgement on our service members without having walked in their boots.

Personal Responsibility is something that we can agree on because the country as a whole needs to start living those words.


Debbie

We need to assure a living wage. Lots of people in this country live paycheck to paycheck. Let's face it, we've moved most of our manufacturing offshore.

I don't know. . .maybe it's just the teacher in me. I could care less about food stamps and even if some people are abusing that system. I DO care that people have enough to eat and enough to feed their children. The amount of money that we are talking about is pittance compared to the corporate welfare that goes on. . .serioulsy! It's a scapegoat thing to me. . . .get people all riled up because somebody might be getting $350 month for groceries that maybe they could be paying themselves. . .meanwhile we're bailing out the millionares on Wall Street. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. . .I am the great and powerful Oz."

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I have to disagree with this, since the BAH (and other allowances) are not taxed, so, what the soldier is "making" and bringing home are skewed. For example......a military person is serving in a hostile region. That pay, ALL OF IT, is not taxed at all. So, at the end of the year, their W-2 may show their "income" as $20,000, when they brought home $40,000. Numbers are just thrown out there, not taken from an actual LES.


It wasn't meant to be distasteful, just a fact. The E stands for "enlisted", as opposed to "O" for officer. The majority of enlisted personnel do not have a college degree upon entering the military, hence they are in the enlisted ranks. The officer community consists of mostly people with college degrees. One example would be your doctors. You won't find an enlisted doctor.

Not sure why you'd find this distasteful, but, whatever.


Have you read any of my posts? I'll assume not, as you clearly are unaware of what I know about military life/finances.

Um, yes, as a matter of fact, I do. We've received very good care, and have also been referred to civilian providers when the military providers were not able to handle our needs. So far, the only things not covered have been cosmetic procedures and eye glasses. Tri Care Prime Active Duty pays no copays nor monthly fees. I think that's pretty minimal. Dental, you pay a little for. I'm curious to know what you are not getting covered, we've really had very little problems, other than the PCM being changed on us.

Again, I stand by my original statement. I have plenty of first hand knowledge, so I know exactly what I'm speaking of.

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Just to toss my 2 cents in on the military housing issue....

1) some base housing is "condemned", yet being lived in!
I have seen the new places that replaced the horrible old housing at Camp Lejeune, and it is great looking now...but give it 50 years of people moving in and out/hanging pictures, etc, the old housing was older than that and it was nasty!!! Roach infested and disgusting! They would spray and the roaches would move along to the next house that hadn't been sprayed recently, and on and on...so nasty! We wouldn't live on base when we were there after seeing the conditions. (10+ years ago)
2) the local rental markets know very well what the military member gets in BAH and they price accordingly, as in at the max, so now the utilities are on top of the allowance that is "supposed to" cover most of it.
3) what the military expects people to live in (housing size, etc) is much smaller than reality dictates. I think the last time I looked, you don't rate a seperate house until you are E7 or above. Not every family can live in a 2 bedroom apartment just because the govt thinks that is all you need with 2 kids ( unless they are opposite sexes and then you would rate 3 bedrooms allowance after a certain age).

Yes, some military members get ahead of themselves family wise. It would be great if they all waited until they were older to have kids, etc but when you are off to war at 18 you feel pretty grown up and ready to get on with life.

I'm sorry that you find my comment distasteful; it reflects my observations. I call it as I've seen it. I have a very vivid memory of standing on the outdoors walkway of the barracks...cider block walled rooms with shared bathroom, no kitchen....looking down on a veritable car, truck, and motrocycle "show" in the parking lot....and lots of coolers of beer everywhere.....and cigarettes and chew, too. That doesn't mean I have any less respect for the job and sacrifices of the deployed troops.

Furthermore, I do not support the war in Iraq, but I support the war fighters...they are just doing what they are commanded to do....It seems conflicting, but it really isn't....kind of a form of hate the sin, love the sinner.

but I've gone even further off topic.



cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I think the food stamp and welfare program should be run more like how the WIC program is.

By that I mean that it should be mandated just what people can get and in what amounts. For example the food stamp benefit would be $X for meat, $X for dairy products, $x for fruit/veg, etc with only a very small portion being available for junk food.
Welfare would work the same way, $X for rent, $X for utilities, $X for essentilas like tp and soap, etc and only a small portion for what the heck ever.

I bet if the system worked like this that a lot fewer people would take advantage and the people that really do need the help would be able to get what they needed.

But let's face it, the system will never be perfect.

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This would still bring up the problem if said person doesn't eat dairy, or veggies. They may not even eat meat. or the amount of the products are small but yet are allowed x amount of money for them.What becomes of the amount given for these foods ?. Would they lose the amount or applied to stuff they will eat ?.

I don't think you can buy paper products, soap or washing powered with food stamps...
Oh never mind I see you said welfare. What kind of welfare pays for this stuff anyway ?.

Doesn't the program ( sec 8 ) already only pay xx amount for rent , it doesn't pay for all the rent I don't believe. They have in some states a program that will balance the utilities for the month but you have to pay that same amount each month on top of that they pay.So I do believe this already have a control on them.

Sunsetbeach, in my idea the amounts alloted to each catagory could be changed according to individual needs but the amount available to spend on junk food such as chips and pop would be kept to a bare minimum. People who are veggie would get more veggie $ and less meat $, people with dairy allergies would get less dairy $ and so on.

To the best of my knowledge, here in PA you can spend the cash part of welfare benefits on just about anything you want as long as the store you're shopping at takes the ACCESS card. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I've seen many people using ACCESS cards to buy things that aren't neccesities.

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Yep, the food program card allows one to buy a large store baked and decorated birthday cake...for young or old, all the ice cream and chips and soda that may be consumed at that party..but not the paper goods.
Not saying that those in need should not have birthday parties...but that $30 cake takes a good chunk of money out of the monthly food budget...stamps or earned cash.

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Your Idea sounds reasonable to me. They could fill out a sheet listing what their family would normally eat and the food stamps place can adjust the alloted amount based on this. Might even a better idea as families would eat more healthier. I have never heard of a program that gives cash as a form of welfare, that doesn't sound cost wise to me. So they get cash instead of food stamps ? They can buy what ever they want with the money ? wonder how PA knows they are not using the money to buy beer or alcohol ? Is that program called access or is that just a name for the card ?. How much cash does PA give to the family ? or is it based on income ?.
This program is news to me never heard of such .Either way doesn't sound like a good program IMO. maybe I'm just not understanding it.

Now I will have to agree with this one. I'm normally not the type that says the gov should apply limits on people receiving foodstamps and what they can buy. But I will have to agree that spending 30.00 on a cake is not a good idea to use your foodstamps on. A dozen eggs, cake mix, icing will cost under 5.00 that gives you 25.00 MORE to buy food with. Yep I can say I do agree with that.

Well some people definetly abuse the system maybe they should make stricter laws about what you can buy & etc & only let people who are just on welfare recieve them for a certain amount of time I mean those on disabilty maybe have them forever but if you are just not working for the heck of it put a dang time limit on it!!! And maybe if we didnt pay we taxpayers didnt pay so much in taxes we would each individually have more money for our families & not someone elses because the other family chooses not to work & I know too many like that!!!

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See it was always my understanding that people had to work to get food stamps. Maybe this is not true in every state tho. I looked it up a long time ago and our food stamp program said that even 16 yo children living in the house but not attending school must have a job or the family wouldn't get food stamps. 16 is the legal age you can quit school in my state. Maybe this has changed since I last looked that up. Think I'll go check it out again.

So are you saying that just because people recieve food benefits they never should have chips in their house? You don't buy chips? cake? coffee? and only have a house full of veggies and fruits? That doesn't seem like the typical house to me. Yes i buy those things with my benefits, but i also do not let my children sit and just eat those things they do eat a balanced diet of meat, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit. I am very frugal with what i buy and buy things on sale only. I don't load my cart up with crap. I do try to plan ahead and buy a bunch of meat and freeze it. I buy fresh vegetables and try to keep a portion of fruit in the fridge for them to snack on. I do understand that some just buy a lot of junk food, but not everyone does that.

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Food stamps in PA are just for food. There are rules about what types of food such as no alcohol.
As I understand it, there is a cash benefit part of welfare that can be used as the recipient wants with a few exceptions such as no alcohol or cigarettes. I would have this part allotted too, with $X for household supplies, $X for clothing, $X for hba and a small amount for whatever the people want. The parts could roll over so they could save for something larger such as gifts for christmas or whatever.

I think doing it that way would help cut back on the amount of cheaters and would also help make sure that kids get enough to eat, have soap to wash with, etc. instead of having all the money blown on things they do not need.

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wow I'm just blown away about the cash part of this program. I don't know if my state has this or not but ,to me, this doesn't sound like such a good program or maybe it is and I just don't know what it details. I just don't understand if they get food stamps why they need cash also . I understand needing soap, washing powder and TP, but that should comes from your INCOME since you are not having to buy all your food with the money.
Target how does your state afford such programs ? ( Bet the taxes has to be HIGH to be able to give cash ) do you know what the purpose of such a program .? Seems so odd to me.

I did find the requirements in my state on food stamps. I was wrong its age 18 not 16 sorry.

Aryia, you are using your benefits the RIGHT way! I don't think people have a problem with people needing Food Stamps the using them in a good way. People have problems with those that abuse the system. My oldest DD is a Food Stamp Worker so she knows exacly how much food stamp benefits her relative is receiving. An example of not using your Food Stamps right would be this: DD's relative receives $530 a month in Food Stamps, single mom, 2 kids, got fired from her job from Walmart. Gets free rent from section 8 and $75 a month aplied towards utilites. On the 20th of last month, she didn't call, but had one of the boys, 13 year old call my DD and ask for $20 because they had no food, only one pack of chicken left, this was on the 20th of the month. Now $530 a month and you can only make it to the 20th of the month, come on. We don't spend nearly that amount on food and have 2 adults and a teenager. DD did not end up giving them money, but when she picked the boy up for church she stopped and fed him and took some fast food over to the other son, then asked their pastor (only one boy attends church, the one my DD brings) if he would check out their situation. She never heard anything more from her.

Yes, here in Oklahoma, you can also buy bakery cakes and bakery goods and certain deli items with food stamps.

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If the question is for me No I didn't say they should never be able to buy junk foods. Target said limit the amount I do agree with it. Just as people abuse the program you have those that will spend a good amount of junk food as well. but sure even people getitng food stamps should be able to have chips, drinks and ice cream, but I don't agree nor do I think they should spend most of the benefits on this. And No I'm not saying you do this, but somewhere out there, there are many that do.

6. Work Requirements. Unless otherwise exempt, each household member must be registered for work. Failure to cooperate with the work requirements may result in an individual being disqualified from participation in the Food Assistance Program.
An individual may be disqualified from participation in the program if s/he voluntarily quits a job or reduces the number of hours s/he works without good cause.
Unless exempt, certain food assistance recipients (between the ages of 18-50) who are able bodied and have no dependents are eligible to receive food assistance for only 3 months in a 36 month period if s/he is not working or participating in a work and training program for at least 20 hours a week. Individuals are exempt from this provision during the time they are medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment, or pregnant; parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent child in the home under the age of 18 or physically or mentally disabled; participating and complying with work registration requirements of JOBS or UCB; caring for an incapacitated person; a student at least half-time in a recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education; participating in an alcohol/drug treatment program.


I pulled this from the above post. These requirements will go away after June1st, according to the new guidelines in Obama's stimulus package. There will be no work requirements or no time frames for people to be on Food Stamps. In addition to the not counting of any assets, they will no longer check peoples bank accounts, how many homes they own, what type vehicles they have, if they have savings bonds or any type of other assest.

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I saw that on another post here. I totally think this will FAIL and cause states to be in MORE debt than it is already. Someone posted a lady had 80,000 in the bank and got 500.00 in food stamps UNREAL ! . To me thats abusing the program and taking from people who really needs the help. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I received 500.00 in food stamps and had 80,000 in the bank. I just couldn't for the life in me do it. the guilt would eat me alive.

I personally don't see how this is helping our country at all. It seems this "new" reform will cause people to apply just for the sake of getting it.

I know for a fact that there is a cash part of welfare because my cousin was trying to get it and was totally lying to the workers about where her baby's father lives. She was trying to tell them that he only stays with her a few days of the month when in fact he lives with her all the time. The workers told her that since he didn't live with her the only way she'd get money was to take him to court to get child support so she'd have that money and thus would get less from the state. Funny thing she never went back to office after that one visit. And no, she doesn't get welfare, just food stamps.

And for the record I DO NOT think that people who get food stamps shouldn't have any junk food. I just think the amount of junk food they can buy should be limited to a percentage of the total $ amount they receive.

Aryia, I think you need to be teaching other people who get food stamps how to use them to their best advantage. Sounds like you're doing an excellent job. I'll send my cousin to you and you can teach her, the amount of crap she buys would curl your hair.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

well I'll be damn knock me over with a feather ! Our state has 2 PROGRAMS that give cash.

One is called AFDC and TANF We have had these programs since 1996 .
I never knew this. Good lord they get help with cash if there's not a "mama" or "Daddy" plus they can get food stamps too.

The AFDC gives 164.00 for a mother with 2 kids

The Tanf gives 215.00 for a family of 3

I never knew this.

Well in IA cash assistance for a family of 4 is about $425 a month

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mom of 3 greats girls

No hot or prepared food for the recipient. No imported food. Potato salad is not considered prepared food and coffee is not imported? Contridictory rules if you ask me.

Don't they grow coffee in the USA I thought it was grown in Hawaii and Ca ?

That's only a 100.00 shy of my mortgage payment. WOW