Your tax dollars are hard at work paying for drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

Food stamp fraud is rampant in Michigan and while the working class are preparing to file their taxes anxious for a much-needed return – the same taxes are being used to finance the growing underground market of buying and selling food stamps by many that will not be filing taxes this year, and will be instead selling their state and federal issued benefits for cash and get their monthly tax refund.

Although, finally, new regulations and policy enforcement are “cutting off” some of the able-bodied lazy folks that have milked the system for more than three years, some for decades, more can and should be done.  Trafficking in food stamp benefits, or exchanging benefits such as those on the bridge card in Michigan for cash is a felony but that doesn’t seem to sway those that proudly announce that they have food stamps for sale – even on public social networks like Facebook and twitter.

 While some claim to sell their food stamps for needed bills such as electricity, and to keep a roof over their head – there are already other programs (also tax funded) that are earmarked to this specific relief, but all too often the bridge card is traded for drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.

Of course it’s not reasonable to expect that any agency can monitor and enforce the use of food stamp use to the point that every illegal transaction is caught – there is more that can be done.

It would be difficult to keep food stamp recipients from giving their bridge card to a relative, friend, or maybe more often than we care to admit to a drug dealer and provide them with the needed pin number for 50 cents on the dollar – this bloggers question is why do those that regulate companies approved to accept food stamps as payment continue to allow BLATANT Violations of their own policies to continue?

Wow – that’s a long question – but it will still be posed again and again until SOMEONE does something about it.

My vote is to help those truly in need in this challenging economy for 2012, and close the food stamp for cash ATM for those abusing the system. If you agree you are welcomed to share this article on Facebook and comment. Have a great new year!