Should welfare recipients be restricted from using their checks to buy alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets?

They supposedly are in most states, however they find ways around it by "buying " food that they then sell for cash to buy the other crap they want !

I don't agree with it and there will always be people who spend their money on those things before the essentials. Though I do think it is an abuse of human rights and privacy to do that. Because they will get those other non-essentials from somewhere. Maybe they will sell the food they buy and sell it at a cheaper price to buy the things they want and have even less food than before. Thus creating a black market in bartering. Vulnerable people with addictions will be exploited on the black market and have even less food.

It is cheaper for the government to pay their money into a bank account. And it is up to the individual to spend it anyway they want. If they don't spend it wisely then they can go to their parents, friends, or soup kitchens for food. There are plenty of back up systems there for people who don't spend wisely.

Absolutely but they can get around it. They are usually getting welfare by scamming the government with a bunch of lies why they can not work so I am sure they can get this money to do what ever with while their children are thrown out in the ghettos to fend for themselves.

Shameless!!

They already restrict them, the problem is the money they get on the side that pays for the other junk.

Yes, it should go on a debit card where it blocks those kind of purchases.

You welfare recipients know damn well monetary funds are also given.

Liberals almost as smart as lint.

They are already restricted for that. Yes, it should definitely be,that's an abuse of the system.Hopefully You don't do that.

Of course!

My opinion is that welfare should be strictly for the basic necessities of life. Food, shelter, clothing, medicine, utilities, transportation and daycare.

Of course! Try telling that to democrats. Republicans in almost every state have been trying to drug test welfare recipents but democrats won't budge....If you ask me, I say they should stop getting the extra benefit package when they get more children over their second at the least...

Obviously. Better yet.. how bout we scrap welfare and focus on education and ensuring everyone is charitably cared for by the public at large rather than our retarded and inept government. Talking gets us no where these days because politics dilutes our ability to communicate and understand the simplicity of whats happening.

Hell yes why the hell do we pay taxes this idea should be summited to your local Mayor or District Representative i would vote for it.

they already are. you get a debit card now. it only works for food. the card get's loaded every month with however much money you get depending on how big babies mama's family is.

HOWEVER, not to worry! the local crack sales guy accepts discounted food in exchange for dope. it's a whole black market thing-a-ma-jig going on out there based on "food stamps".

i had a friend that was making more money than i was but he and his family were scamming the system for food stamps. they BBQ'd every night. i didnt turn them in...i knew him/her/them since high school. still though, it really is a racket!