- - witterpitters's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Nov 2, 2009 at 08:11 PM : These two pull this...

These two pull this scam every day at a different store, in a different town!

Nov 3, 2009 at 07:11 AM : True story: When I was...

True story: When I was a grocery checker (in a different lifetime) a well dressed elderly couple bought about 12 pounds of London broil and paid with food stamps. They proceeded to a new Lincoln and put it in the trunk.

A customer in line ranted about food stamp abuse.

The couple bought the steak on sale, priced about the same as 70% lean hamburger. They subsisted on social security. They were dressed in their Sunday best, which was years old. They didn't own a car, it was loaned by a friend or relative. I was the person who told this couple about the sale.

I guess I could have told the offended customer the facts, but it was none of his business. That, and I didn't want to blow his theory.

Recent true story: Obviously pregnant 18 year old was called a bitch and a whore by fundamentalists as she entered the Planned Parenthood office on G Street. Got called a "minion of Satan" for "murdering her baby" as she left. Make a story short, the appointment had nothing to do with getting an abortion.

Moral of these incidents: If you're going to think the worst of people, stick to every mothers advice. "If you can't say something nice...."

Nov 3, 2009 at 08:11 AM : MIDTERM2: ...

MIDTERM2: This story is just that - a story. I do not know if it is true or not, and IMO, it doesn't matter. The point of the story is to NOT judge a book by the cover. The point is we need to know the FACTS of a situation before making a judgment. I have been guilty myself of seeing someone paying with food stamps and thinking not so nice things - although I have never said anything - and I have to stop and think, "there but for the grace of God go I". And, yes, I get ticked off when I see certain foods being purchased that I can't afford (Cornish game hens - a dozen of them!) or junk food being purchased, chips, sodas, ice cream, donuts, etc.

There is a blog on here somewhere, wherein a blogger actually observed food stamp abuse and nobody said a thing, not even the checker, and that is wrong. There are just as many people who receive food stamps who use them wisely. There are abuses with EVERYTHING. There will always be someone who will find a loop hole in the system and abuse it.

Nov 3, 2009 at 10:11 AM : I have...

I have two jobs- one is commission only the other is $8 and hour but lately I haven't been given a lot of hours since the store has been really slow. In fact my benefit amount dropped last month because I WAS getting a bunch of hours. That's not the case now though. I have 4 people to feed, the ex is 12 months behind in child support. I appreciate the help. Otherwise we would have no food and no way to buy it without the help.

I don't abuse my card. I buy stuff that's on sale, store brands, generics. I get as much as I can but I am very frugal. When it's gone, it's gone. Have to wait until the next month.

Nov 3, 2009 at 10:11 AM : I figure for every one...

I figure for every one person who abuses the system there at least 10 others who are getting some good out of it, so I say live and let live.

Nov 3, 2009 at 04:11 PM : Though it's just...

Though it's just a story, should it have mattered if this woman's brother was killed in Afghanistan and she had to raise his kids?

We shouldn't judge people: period.

Nov 3, 2009 at 04:11 PM : And yet you do...

And yet you do don't you FSG. Your comments regarding my "usual cut and paste crap" "bs" etc. You don't consider that a "judgement" of me? I certainly did. Basically you are "implying" I don't have a brain cell to do anything else. I probably have no thoughts of my own so I "cut and paste". That is a judgement of someone, is it not?

Nov 5, 2009 at 02:11 PM : Actually, Witters, I...

Actually, Witters, I base my comments regarding your posts on the content of what I've seen from you. That's not judging - it's called observation.

Now, if after only viewing one post of yours, I decided to claim that you did nothing but "cut and paste," then I'd be casting judgement, much like how the man in the story took one look at the girl and assumed she was a waste of space who was taking advantage of government aid.

To answer your question, I think you have a brain, and I think you are completely capable of using it; however many times you do tend to post things that are completely hokey - especially the stupid chain letters (they're the worst).

The reason why I make comments about your copy/pastes is because more often than not, they're over-dramatized and based off of little reality. Oftentimes the point they make is one-sided and many times outright wrong.

You have every right to post them, and I have every right to point out that the majority of your blog posts are copy/pastes and provide little real substance.

Nov 5, 2009 at 06:11 PM : Thanks for...

Thanks for the post, WP. I enjoyed the story, whether it's true or not. Usually I can find a gem of truth and kernels of worth in everything you post, whether it's something you've cut and pasted or whether it's something else. Usually they're just funny. This one had a moral to the story, so to speak, and it was worth my time to read it.

Nov 6, 2009 at 07:11 AM : ALICEN to the rescue.....

ALICEN to the rescue.. quick.. say something nice!