Hypothetical Radical Mouse Ideas

Dear Friends and Family,

Okay. I'm not saying this has a snowball's chance in heck of passing. But, what if... instead of food stamps, now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, we went the route of the Ancient Romans and had the 2012 equivalent of a grain dole.

The current program puts the equivalent of approximately $76.7B in the hands of approximately 46.4 million people which averaged out to $133 per month per person.

What if, instead, you raised taxes and expanded the program to a $540B program. Then, instead of qualifying for it, every man, woman, and child gets $150 per month in food stamps. It takes out the network externality of people of the fringe of eligibility having motivation to want to qualify.

Theoretically, everyone needs to eat. So, it's money you would have spent anyway. Make it acceptable everywhere. And, while I'm on the radical train, here's another thing I'd change about the program - simplify what's eligible...

Single ingredient foods only. So, I could spend my $150 on blackberries and chicken and rice. You could spend yours on olive oil, pasta, crushed tomatoes, and salmon. But, neither of us could spend it on hot dogs, hamburger helper, and diet coke.

I'd make it a credit card that auto increases each month. Then, when anyone goes grocery shopping, they pay with that first and are responsible for whatever's left on the grocery bill.

Radical, but in my crazy mind, somehow an improvement over today's system in some ways.


Cheers!
mouse