“Obamaphone” is a slang term. The program that provides virtually free phones (with limited minutes month) is real. Providers set up kiosks in low-income areas in Detroit. The phones are perfectly functional “smart” Android devices that provide Web access, so if you are somewhere that provides free Wifi, you’re good to go.
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I’m just wondering how often or how many of these you might have seen? I’ve never seen any one fitting that description in all my days of shopping. And in Maine/NH in the winter you might even expect a fur coat.
JimA
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Maybe it’s just me, but I seldom pay much attention to how people are paying for their groceries. Not on my radar.
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Nice try to shift who started it, but they are really “shrubphones”, because that is who originally authorized them.
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Jim, I live in a largely immigrant neighborhood. The Asians and Hispanics in the area who use “food stamps” (actually a credit card-like object) generally look pretty legitimate, but, for example, the Russian immigrants wear clothing and jewels which look like a year’s salary of the others and also pay with food stamps. America is a great country.
Jeff
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In 2019 the stats were pointing to the suburbs being more poverty stricken than the inner cities. Families can cover that up a bit.
Part of inner city living is having middle class neighbors who buy low priced real estate because of the country’s history. Some 60% of African Americans are middle class.
The USA Latino economy now would rank as the 5th largest economy in the world.
Hard working people do not squander things.
Wendy,
People in poverty do not go from middle class to material dead.
Nor should they.
More importantly means testing people which is where this is leading is dangerous to our society. It stifles the future of our economy as excluding people from having a future. It is pure foolishness.
I do not judge someone based on buying potato chips. There is no law broken.
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Your bank accounts would be several times lower if you came up in a state with a minimum of care and a minimum wage of $7.25. Just read Florida’s minimum wage is in the $5 neighborhood. There are old people in Florida but very few adults.
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Fortunately, my bank account has not had to depend on minimum wage for quit a while 
Jeff
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I am not talking about you or anyone here earning minimum wage.
I am talking about your business clients paying minimum wage and thinking your rates are high.
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Yes, I know. But the ubiquitous term is “Obamaphone,” and so that’s what I used. (We’re veering more and more off topic.)
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Only ubiquitous because a certain faction pushed the term to try and make a political point.
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Of course. But then the directly affected folks took the term and put a positive spin on it, sorta like “Obamacare.”
(I’m getting the sense that some posters are misunderstanding my point of view on this, or perhaps haven’t read my earlier post.)
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In NY:
“Most households applying for SNAP no longer have to pass a savings/resource test in order to get SNAP benefits. This means that the household’s assets (stocks, savings and retirement accounts, etc.) are not considered when determining eligibility.”
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I read any number of times that this is an urban myth.
Yes,the cadillac fur coat meme has been quoted for many years. With no asset based requirements it is entirely plausible that people with nice things can temporarily qualify for food stamps. Get over it.
Jk
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Actually, in this case, it is far from a myth. It also involves a willingness to opportunistically commit fraud with a lack of a moral compass. The local group most apt to take this route as the common sense approach are those from former Soviet republics.
Jeff
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Jeff,
If I recall correctly,you are a multi millionaire living in a rent controlled apartment,is that correct?
You don’t see that as oppurtunistic? You cannot see the irony?
Jk
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Well, Golden’s Rotary- sponsored annual Miracle Shoppe kicks off tomorrow. Have spent the last couple of days with cronies doing set up etc. I shall definitely be on the lookout for cellphones, fur coats and Mercs … along with anyone who’s not sufficiently 'umble and grateful.
The 4 colourful skateboards plus helmets and the still wrapped scooter are a few of mine👇
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Just an update. On Christmas Eve there were 78 clients. Of course, we were also giving away Christmas toys at the same time, so that may have been an added draw.
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