• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Should Rockstar energy drinks be EBT approved?

Status
Not open for further replies.
But it's a public program, which is payed in some way by your taxes. Do you not want better results from where your money is going?

I have an energy drink every once I awhile. There is absolutely nothing healthy about it. It does nothing positive for you at all. These programs aren't meant to be long term. But that's part of the problem. People have no where to turn so they end up being on these programs for as long as they can. Shits fucked up on this country from the top down.

Which has nothing to do with an energy drink. Maybe they feel groggy and they want caffeine. Coffee has health value, yet can be good or bad for you depending on circumstance. Most of the shit in the frozen food aisle is bad for you. I don't think some arbitrary line of energy drinks should be drawn in the sand.
 
You think the government should tell people who receive tax money assistance how they can spend it?

You mean tax returns? No, because that is money owed to you by the Government. If you mean, how you use government aid? Yes, because it is an aid to help you get out of poverty, not stay in it.
 
Which has nothing to do with an energy drink. Maybe they feel groggy and they want caffeine. Coffee has nutritional value, yet can be good or bad for you depending on circumstance. Most of the shit in the frozen food aisle is bad for you. I don't think some arbitrary line of energy drinks should be drawn in the sand.
So would you be okay if they bought alcohol or tobacco with the money? Is there any line or should it just be money given to them? I'm asking seriously. The way the programs were set up originally they had very defined lines of what you could and couldn't buy. So should it be changed to buy anything?
 
You mean tax returns? No, because that is money owed to you by the Government. If you mean, how you use government aid? Yes, because it is an aid to help you get out of poverty, not stay in it.

And being able to buy whatever food they want helps people stay in poverty how?
 
Sure the guy who founded Rockstar wouldn't want it to be.

He's the son of loud mouth conservative radio talk host Michael Savage.
 
So would you be okay if they bought alcohol or tobacco with the money? Is there any line or should it just be money given to them? I'm asking seriously. The way the programs were set up originally they had very defined lines of what you could and couldn't buy. So should it be changed to buy anything?

No because drink constitutes food under the program. Alcohol and tobacco do not. You just don't like what kind of drink they are buying.
 
You mean tax returns? No, because that is money owed to you by the Government. If you mean, how you use government aid? Yes, because it is an aid to help you get out of poverty, not stay in it.

I was just reminded of a diatribe Rush Limbaugh went off on about how the government had no right to tell banks how to spend their TARP money. I bet he would think they should tell poor people how to spend their government cheese though.
 
Holy shit! I had no idea these were approved by EBT. What the fuck is wrong the committee that approved these?

These are basically diabetes in a can.
 
I see Burger King even accepts them. What the hell? How and why is that even allowed?
How long has that been for? As far as I know here, EBT is only good for uncooked foods. Even in grocery stores, you cannot purchase foods that have been cooked, like the chicken legs at the deli sections, for example.

Maybe it varies by state.
 
I grew up in a pretty poor area, my mother works with the poor and mentally ill, but your right I'm just shitting on poor people.

That doesn't mean you can't shit on poor people, you know. It's a non-defense, the equivalent of "i have a black friend"

Just as good as you equating everything to class warfare. But please continue your bullshit everything is black or white if you don't agree with me fuck off posting.

lol
 
Just as good as you equating everything to class warfare. But please continue your bullshit everything is black or white if you don't agree with me fuck off posting.

Your defense of limiting the already meager choices of lower income individuals was essentially "oh yeah well I know poors."
 
I am far more disturbed by the ad than anything else.

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of food stamps then? If the state is providing them, they should at least make sure people use them to eat healthily.

I see Burger King even accepts them. What the hell? How and why is that even allowed?

Washington State charges 0% tax on non-preprepared foods, which I think is a good policy. Attempting to dictate behavior is a bad idea for a whole bunch of reasons, but nothing wrong with some positive encouragement.
 
I can see people being upset at what they feel is a bad use of money. Why are you spending so much money on this or that. I understand that. But energy drinks are drinks. They can be especially useful when you need to work long hours. Same with fast food. There isn't always time to cook. Who knows what people have to go through to get through their days. Its all food and drink and people aren't starving on the streets so it should be fine.
 
You think the government should tell people who receive tax money assistance how they can spend it?

Any money from the government should have strings attached, be it snap, student loans, tarp, ag subsidies. Free money with too few restrictions on how to use it disinclines one to reduce their reliance upon it, which should be the goal of the government assistance in the first place, a bridge to self sufficiency.
 
EBT cards also have a cash allowance, so any food you couldn't buy with EBT you could just buy with cash. It doesn't really matter, poor people need nice things as well as necessities, and it's not the government's job to decide what is what or why and how.
 
I can see people being upset at what they feel is a bad use of money. Why are you spending so much money on this or that. I understand that. But energy drinks are drinks. They can be especially useful when you need to work long hours. Same with fast food. There isn't always time to cook. Who knows what people have to go through to get through their days. Its all food and drink and people aren't starving on the streets so it should be fine.

Albeit, given it to children. That's a big no no.
 
Any money from the government should have strings attached, be it snap, student loans, tarp, ag subsidies. Free money with too few restrictions on how to use it disinclines one to reduce their reliance upon it, which should be the goal of the government assistance in the first place, a bridge to self sufficiency.

[Citation Needed]
 
The bigger issue is the way EBT is exploited by people, not what they can buy. Regularly see people come in at the first of the month and get 2 carts full of 24 packs of soda, to sell/trade at the local pawn shop. C'mon man. This is why we can't have nice things.
 
EBT cards also have a cash allowance, so any food you couldn't buy with EBT you could just buy with cash. It doesn't really matter, poor people need nice things as well as necessities, and it's not the government's job to decide what is what or why and how.

There's more hoops to jump through if you ask for money though, like drug testing, proof that you are looking for a job, etc.
 
The bigger issue is the way EBT is exploited by people, not what they can buy. Regularly see people come in at the first of the month and get 2 carts full of 24 packs of soda, to sell/trade at the local pawn shop. C'mon man. This is why we can't have nice things.

What?

Since when the hell do pawn shops take soda?
 
I agree it's pretty Edge Casey. There is caloric value to be found so I think they should be approved but only on that caloric caveat... A technicality. To tote it on a sticker like that kind of throws it in your face though doesn't it? I don't feel the same amount of empathy for a single mom using one of those cards, as I do for anyone using public funds for an energy drink.

You'd be amazed at how poorly one can spend money on food though. That's not even the most egregious example. It's not liquid shrimp bad, but it's up there. I think that partially explains why I see so many Jesse Pinkman stunt doubles, replete with JNCO jeans and xxxl hoodies who always seem to be toting a Rockstar or Red Bull around, when I need to second-guess myself when I get one - because I see them as such massive indulgences.

Comparing them to beer or cigarettes might not be something everyone agrees with in here, but that comparison is not lost on me. I can see it.
 
The bigger issue is the way EBT is exploited by people, not what they can buy. Regularly see people come in at the first of the month and get 2 carts full of 24 packs of soda, to sell/trade at the local pawn shop. C'mon man.

One of my coworkers buys link cards at a 1 for 2 exchange. Highly illegal. Lol.
 
they shouldn't be. but only from a health standpoint, but there are much more relevant issues that need attention, so this is almost not even worth being upset about.
 
And being able to buy whatever food they want helps people stay in poverty how?

Less money available to buy groceries or other essential items. In most states, you get a set amount of how much you can spend. It's to assist you and your family survive, not to use it as your personal junk food/fast food card.

By using it this way, it only takes away food from the mouth of others. From those that really need it but cannot get it due to lack of funds to the program that is funding the fast food addiction of others.

So, yes, I rather there be limits that prevent you from buying junk food. Rather than scrap the whole program like some other people want. Especially at a time when Food Stamps and other government aid programs are getting budget cuts.
 
You guys saying fast food places in your area are advertising to EBT holders, I was under the impression that hot, freshly-cooked foods weren't allowed by the program. Hence why you can't go to the store's deli and buy chicken wings or fried chicken or some shit.
 
It really irritates me when people scrutinize what EBT users are allowed to buy. Is it so bad if the poor want to have things anyone else can buy?
 
I would say as long as it's not meth, yes let it be approved. I didn't realize food stamps had a list of things that needed to be approved.
 
That's a shame. I'm not one for dictating what people should do with their benefits, but come on, using food stamps to buy Burger King or these horrendously unhealthy drinks?

It's crazy. I looked up EBT and it i basically food stamp but on a debit card.

Pretty much all fast food restaurants accept this card.

If my memory serves me correctly the rule was that you had to use food stamps are the grocery store for approved items. Generally these were juice, milk, vegetables and meat.
I think they even had a special store where you could get all these stuff at one stop.

Now it's all fast food?

Can you buy beer with the card?
 
My family growing up was on food stamps when they were still stamps (80s). This being antectodal, but my parents still say we were allotted more money than we ever needed for a family of 5. Then again, my father is a cheap ass man - and regarded government 'entitlements' as generosity.

He finds examples such as these appalling, and honestly - so do I.
 
It's crazy. I looked up EBT and it i basically food stamp but on a debit card.

Pretty much all fast food restaurants accept this card.

If my memory serves me correctly the rule was that you had to use food stamps are the grocery store for approved items. Generally these were juice, milk, vegetables and meat.
I think they even had a special store where you could get all these stuff at one stop.

Now it's all fast food?

Can you buy beer with the card?

Pretty much all fast food restaurants accept this card.

Not true. It's on a state-by-state basis, if anything. And my state does not allow EBT cards to be used at restaurants.

If my memory serves me correctly the rule was that you had to use food stamps are the grocery store for approved items. Generally these were juice, milk, vegetables and meat.
I think they even had a special store where you could get all these stuff at one stop.

This was never the case. I think you may be thinking of WIC, which is different.

Can you buy beer with the card?

Of course not.
 
My only concern is people on EBT growing more and more dependent on $2-$4 a pop energy drinks to the point that it starts to become a noticeable part of their limited budget. As you begin building a tolerance to it, suddenly you need more and more.
 
EBT cards also have a cash allowance, so any food you couldn't buy with EBT you could just buy with cash. It doesn't really matter, poor people need nice things as well as necessities, and it's not the government's job to decide what is what or why and how.
Again this may vary by state, but there's two types. One type is only for uncooked food and beverage purchases. The other is a cash assistance program.
 
EBT cards also have a cash allowance, so any food you couldn't buy with EBT you could just buy with cash. It doesn't really matter, poor people need nice things as well as necessities, and it's not the government's job to decide what is what or why and how.
Again this may vary by state, but there's two types. One type is only for uncooked food and beverage purchases. The other is a cash assistance program.

The food one is called SNAP and the cash assistance one is called TANF, I believe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom