Welcome to the soda debate

A proposal from a Bangor dentist to forbid the purchase of soda with food stamps elicited dozens of reader comments in this week’s ClickBack. Here is a sampling:

Government and taxpayers absolutely have the right to limit the choices of people receiving assistance when some choices will lead to further burdens on the taxpayer. Tax dollars also go toward funding programs like MaineCare, which ends up having to pay for treatment when health problems arise.

– Kathyp

The food stamp program has been renamed the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.” Key words to note here are “nutrition assistance.” Use of the “Nutrition Assistance Program” should obviously be limited to foods that actually provide nutritional benefit. It’s way past time for Big Brother to insist upon this. Otherwise, the program has no credibility.

– Paperreader

Non-nutritional foods, such as soda and snack foods, shouldn’t be allowed for purchase with the food card. It might be time for the whole program to be overhauled and run more like the WIC program, which tells you the foods you can buy. I see too many people in the checkout line buying carts full of boxed hamburger meal mixes, etc. Maybe those, especially young families, need cooking classes along with their food card, so they can learn to prepare inexpensive meals that have some nutritional value.

– onthefence

As someone who’s been on both sides of the counter, as a food stamp recipient and a supermarket cashier, I can tell you that a little dignity goes a long way. If a bottle of soda or a birthday cake makes food stamp recipients and their kids feel a little more normal, then let it be. What’s next: The cut of meat they’re allowed, ice cream, Twinkies? Should we make them take back the Del Monte corn for Hannaford brand? Let’s stop the war on the poor!

– missusmoon

This is a no-brainer! The harmful effects of soda are well documented. It should be removed from the list of approved products for food stamp purchase.

– Allenmirk

I am a food stamp recipient. I buy two 12-packs of soda each month. My 12-year-old son is allowed one a day on Saturday and Sunday and he rarely drinks those. I meal plan and use my food stamps carefully buying fresh vegetables, chicken and fish as well as some pork and beef. We waste little food as leftovers are planned into our menu. Neither my son or I have dental disease or weight problems. I, like most people who use food stamps or who don’t, try to find a good balance between good foods and not so good foods and fun snack foods and beverages. I find the context of the debate highly prejudicial with little if any statistics supporting that people on food stamps have higher rates of dental decay than those who don’t.

Would you like the government (or me) to be looking in your grocery cart?

– tricksmom

Don’t most of us consume a soft drink from time to time? Refusing people on food stamps the right to make purchases that everyone else takes for granted is simply punitive, and there is no good reason to punish people just because they’re going through a rough patch financially. You’re just adding humiliation to people who are already under stress, and creating resentment.

I have nothing against educational efforts, broadly directed. I have a college education, and I can use a reminder myself from time to time. But targeting the poor is bad policy, in my estimation.

– Stanwix

Now, as far as nutrition goes. Why can’t we all agree to say that moderation is key? There is nothing wrong with a bag of gummy worms once in a while … let the child be a child just don’t over indulge it. I think the majority of us when we were younger had the same given to us and we turned out fine.

– mainahmom

To read all the comments or add your own, go to bangordailynews.com and look for ClickBack under the Opinion menu. New questions will be asked on Tuesday’s editorial page.