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Comment by greenwich26 | Hacker News Reader

Food stamp recipients are usually obese

They can't "rise up" from the couch, do you really think they are going to "rise up" and start a revolution?

Based on my visits to the USA, I think that’s mainly because Taco Bell and McD are cheaper than anything even vaguely healthy from any American supermarket.

(Regions visited: Central and North California, I-80 highway between SF and Salt Lake City, New York-Newark conurbation, Boston-Providence area)

That’s a ridiculous stereotype. Regardless, how long do you think one can stay obese without food?

It ain't that ridiculous. Poor people can't afford high quality raw ingredients and so more rely on highly processed, high-calorie foods (especially HFCS) that leave them obese.

Food stamp payments might be more than you think. For example, for a household of two people in California, the minimum payment is $430/month [0]. That's not going to be putting fancy food on the table, but its more than beans and rice (or soda and chips).

[0] https://www.getcalfresh.org

I’m not American, but my ex is, and she told me California has unusually good food stamps. Can someone here confirm or refute that?

There’s certainly systemic discrimination and exploitation done to the food supply of the poor (e.g. food deserts).

Being too fat/lazy to “rise up from the couch” is an ignorant stereotype.

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