BG, come on, you've NEVER seen this happen?

Maybe you're from a real affluent neighborhood but I'm from Queens NY, a good blend of wealth, middle, and the poor. 

I happen to be behind this person, and I saw the entire transaction.  Excessive texting on the brand new iphone (easily $200..doesn't take a phone expert to notice an iphone), a northface jacket, and a few designer items.  Maybe I should mind my own business...but I always watch the transaction in front of me at the supermarket.  Our supermarket has a pull up station like IKEA where you can pull up your car and load the groceries and it's really hard NOT to look out the gigantic row of windows in front of me.

The point I'm making is, why does anyone who can afford all these other expensive items need government help??

You'll have to excuse BG.  His politics lean just ever so slightly to the left.  He's naturally forgiving of those folks who might be cheating the system. 

To be fair to the guy in front of you in the checkout line - he probably bought the Northface jacket at Goodwill, he got the iPhone from a wealthy neighbor who upgraded and felt generous enough to just give his old phone away rather than sell it on Ebay, the car belonged to his recently deceased father, and the rest of the clothes were knock offs purchased in Chinatown.  I got a very nice Guccci purse for my wife there one time.

BG - I think I've made that same type of observation dozens of times checking out at our local supermarket or Wal-Mart.  I'm always amazed that the retailers have to put up signs that say they won't accept EBT cards for things like cigs or beer.  You can't scrape enough money together to buy bread and milk for your 5 kids (who all get welfare checks, free lunches at school, free after school care, free school supplies (purchased by other parents), etc), but you sure as heck can scrape enough money together to buy a carton of cigarettes and a case of beer every week, a cell phone package with the works, and cable package with all the HD channels so  you can fully utilize your 52 inch flat screen.   

His point is absolutely spot on that there are way too many people using EBT cards, otherwise known as my money, to buy crap at the grocery store they don't really need, thinking that they are entitled to that money for some reason or another.  All the while spending their money on stuff that used to be considered luxuries. 

Now, before you get your panties in a wad, I know there are a lot of folks who use those services the right way, more than likely the majority of them.  It's those folks that don't that seem to always be in front of us in the checkout lanes.   

Ah,  you guys are jealous because the unemployed person was dressed better than you and drives a better car? So, of course they must be cheating the system?

The average unemployment chk in this country is $293 a week. if you can buy a new Mercedes, designer clothes, and the highest end consumer electronics on that, more power to you!!!!

I'm a little hinked out that there are guys in supermarkets paying so much attention to female shoppers. Around here that earns you a chat with the local PD.!!!

BG - I have to tell you.  There are some people who are hypervigilant.  Either they served in the military, or are former police or current police officers. 

And they notice things.  I can't believe you never noticed something like that.

Here is something funny.  I was at this place called Bahama Breeze a few years back (Not in the Bahamas).  This guy was outside wearing some old rags and had a sign that read, "Homeless, Hungry and Humble". 

After about two hours of panhandling, he pulls out his cell phone (this was before iPhones), checks the time and then begins to walk to the far parking lot.  I watched him go.  I almost yelled when I saw him approach a Mercedes SUV (Don't know the name off of the top of my head).  But then I saw him get out his keys.  He through his sign in the back.  Took off his ragged coat, revealing a nice shirt underneath, and got in his car.

Unemployment benefits are not a net stimulative factor, since they are not new money: they are funded by employment payroll taxes. As costs of benefits rise, employed worker cash compensation shrinks. With rates higher, costs rise to employers without any increase in worker’s paychecks. We need a safety net, but we need jobs even more urgently. Private sector jobs increase wealth and fund government, government sector jobs simply move existing wealth around.