I grew up below the dirt poor, like oodles and noodles were a treat poor, with no adult supervision for a good portion of my childhood. My mom was on basically every government program that existed, that didn't mean I got anything out of it. The only reason I survived was by people looking the other way as I fed myself.

As I got older I had no life skills whatsoever and couldn't hold down a job, friends, or any sort of meaningful relationship. So again, dirt poor, a little better off than I was before because there were a few ways to make money. But still I only ever got food at a store, and probably would have starved if too many people said something, or had to do even worse stuff than I was to feed myself.

Hell even when I got myself together a bit and held down a shitty job for a while I still couldn't afford to feed myself after the bills hit, it was even worse when I started making just enough to get kicked off state insurance and stamps.

There are a lot of people out here just trying to survive, they shouldn't have to steal to eat but they do and in my eyes that's a human right.

Side note: food stamps are a fucking joke. What they're giving to a family of 4 wouldn't feed a single person, from my experience at least.

[–] DaBabyAteMaDingo@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I sympathize with this but your situation is very anecdotal and on the extreme end of the poor spectrum. Most of Americans in need of government assistance largely benefit from it.

The problem with the post is that it's a point of view by way of ignorance. No one steals carts full of baby formula and diapers (mostly formula) to give away a la robin hood style. They do it to sell on the streets or to cut drugs with it. That's just the facts.

[–] neomachino@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Those people stealing carts to sell them on the street are a god send.

We had a guy in my old neighborhood who would come around once a week with various necessities that most people couldn't afford otherwise. Sure he made decent money, but babies got fed, pantries got replenished, feminine products were given out if you bought stuff from him regularly.

That might seem grimey to you, but that's fine.