Yeah, good thread, Dana!
Other myths we have in the US center around foodstamps (now called the SNAP program with benefits issued on a credit type card - NOT stamps). I don't know how many places all over the Internet, the news media and people IRL I've heard tell tall tales about SNAP recipients:
*The poor use up all their SNAP benefits buying junk food from the local quick stop store.
*Drugs are often purchased using SNAP benefits. (not sure how this would work since the SNAP card rejects any non food purchase).
*The poor are given more to spend on food each month than the average middle class family gets to spend on
their food. (Oh, right!
)
*Alternately, anyone should be able to live on the $30/week that is the true average SNAP benefit for a single person. (Ramen, ramen, ramen and more ramen - yum!)
*"I was standing behind a woman who used food stamps to buy (pick one or insert your own choice):
an expensive, fancy cake from the store bakery section
a cart filled with junk food
6 lobsters and a partridge in a pear tree
a dozen sirloin steaks
caviar
The resentment here over the food stamps/SNAP program is incredible.