The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doesn’t want to talk about the food stamp situation in South Carolina … and we can’t say we blame them.
After all, if the agency’s objective is to dole out food stamp reward money to state bureaucracies whether they earned it or not … “mission accomplished.”
Last summer, the USDA “rewarded” South Carolina with a grant of more than $2 million – ostensibly for reducing its food stamp error rate. But did South Carolina – specifically it’s Department of Social Services (SCDSS) – actually lower its error rate? Or did it just tell the federal government what it wanted to hear?
FITS readers know the answer to that question …
Anyway, FITS founding editor Will Folks (a.k.a. Sic Willie) popped into the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters this week in an effort to speak with someone on the record about various issues related to the Palmetto State’s food stamp program – which doles out an estimated $1.4 billion in annual benefits.
To his surprise Sic – no stranger to trouble with the law in our nation’s capital – was blocked from entering the public facility.
“Admission is restricted to those with a point of contact at the agency,” he was told.
At that point Sic requested the telephone number for the agency’s media relations office.
“All Office of Communications questions must be submitted by email,” he was told.
At that point Sic asked for an email address for the agency’s office of communications.
“You can find that information on our website,” he was told.
Yeah …
And at that point, Sic was politely asked to leave the building. Because, you know … he was clearly being unreasonable asking a bunch of federal bureaucrats to, you know, do what they get paid to do.
Anyway, Sic eventually tracked down a pair of email addresses at the USDA – and rather than firing off a snarky missive about taxpayer-funded employees not doing their damn jobs, he posed his queries respectfully.
Specifically, Sic asked whether the USDA was aware of the allegations against SCDSS – and if so, whether it was investigating them. He also asked about a food stamp waiver requested by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley as part her recently announced “War on Fat.”
We’ll let you know what (if anything) we hear back …
***
26 comments
Hey Will, We’ve taken up a collection to help bail you out should you get arrested…so far we have 73 cents in nickels and pennies, an IOU for a quarter, a button and some lint.
Will,
Good news, your bail fund has almost doubled. Smirks finally gave us his quarter and now we’re up to a buck fifty, three buttons, two sticks of juicy fruit (Lindsey said you’d understand), a paperclip and enough lint for a sweater!
Hey Will, We’ve taken up a collection to help bail you out should you get arrested…so far we have 73 cents in nickels and pennies, an IOU for a quarter, a button and some lint.
Will,
Good news, your bail fund has almost doubled. Smirks finally gave us his quarter and now we’re up to a buck fifty, three buttons, two sticks of juicy fruit (Lindsey said you’d understand), a paperclip and enough lint for a sweater!
No doubt they’ll respond to your e-mail in a month or two per bureaucrat S.O.P.
No doubt they’ll respond to your e-mail in a month or two per bureaucrat S.O.P.
They likely read this site, and laughed out loud when FITS tried to act like a legitimate journalist.
FITS…being a journalist usually requires some thought, talent, learning and heavy lifting, to get an understanding of how things work..
You don’t just sit up on high, and pontificate. Especially after you were deemed unfit by one of the most unfil governors to ever rule over SC.
You are just like Lazy, loud-mouthed, entitled politicians (Sanford, Davis and Obama) who don’t contribute.. You are supposed to EARN a voice. Nobody gives it to you based on your obnixious and decadant nature.
Remember: You SUCKED us dry as a member of Sanford’s corrupt staff..
What the EFF makes you think you can now act as some sort of voice of authority?
FITS is EXACTLY the problem. And we don’t need any more problems w/ Obama in office.
PS: FITS said there was NO difference between Romney and Obama..even though Romney was pretty close to the Libertarian FITS claims to be, when he is not claiming to be a Conservative.
Ditto DITTO DITTO!!! Sic’s real purpose is grandstanding. Otherwise physical visit wasn’t required. Piece wasn’t written by a grown up. What job were bureaucrats not doing by refusing entry? Dropping everything to give tours???
Our rules don’t authorize servants to limit public access by their own say so. Our rules allow servants to restrict our access for explicitly designated reasons (security/confidentiality/etc.) Like a fearful sheep (unless there’s more facts to this story than
printed…Nah…) Sic let the servant assume authority to obstruct his access with assertions apparently based only on servant say so. Sic didn’t demand servant meet his/her duty to prove authority for obstruction, via documented verification building lobby includes material explicitly protected.
My what big stones you’re missing Sic.
Don’t fret, Sic. It’s okay you don’t have the stones to reject or challenge, mano a mano, a servant’s assumption of authority for ordering you what to do. FITS serves the cause. Gossip is to fact what smoke is to fire. FITS helps citizens who have stones. We use your gossip to hunt real facts.
So, Mr. cut and paste, where’s your fine example of journalism?
They likely read this site, and laughed out loud when FITS tried to act like a legitimate journalist.
FITS…being a journalist usually requires some thought, talent, learning and heavy lifting, to get an understanding of how things work..
You don’t just sit up on high, and pontificate. Especially after you were deemed unfit by one of the most unfil governors to ever rule over SC.
You are just like Lazy, loud-mouthed, entitled politicians (Sanford, Davis and Obama) who don’t contribute.. You are supposed to EARN a voice. Nobody gives it to you based on your obnixious and decadant nature.
Remember: You SUCKED us dry as a member of Sanford’s corrupt staff..
What the EFF makes you think you can now act as some sort of voice of authority?
FITS is EXACTLY the problem. And we don’t need any more problems w/ Obama in office.
PS: FITS said there was NO difference between Romney and Obama..even though Romney was pretty close to the Libertarian FITS claims to be, when he is not claiming to be a Conservative.
Ditto DITTO DITTO!!! Sic’s real purpose is grandstanding. Otherwise physical visit wasn’t required. Piece wasn’t written by a grown up. What job were bureaucrats not doing by refusing entry? Dropping everything to give tours???
Our rules don’t authorize servants to limit public access by their own say so. Our rules allow servants to restrict our access for explicitly designated reasons (security/confidentiality/etc.) Like a fearful sheep (unless there’s more facts to this story than
printed…Nah…) Sic let the servant assume authority to obstruct his access with assertions apparently based only on servant say so. Sic didn’t demand servant meet his/her duty to prove authority for obstruction, via documented verification building lobby includes material explicitly protected.
My what big stones you’re missing Sic.
Don’t fret, Sic. It’s okay you don’t have the stones to reject or challenge, mano a mano, a servant’s assumption of authority for ordering you what to do. FITS serves the cause. Gossip is to fact what smoke is to fire. FITS helps citizens who have stones. We use your gossip to hunt real facts.
So, Mr. cut and paste, where’s your fine example of journalism?
Food stamps?Wasnt that the issue that got all the yahoos down here in SC all worked up for Newt Gingrich?That worked out well!Yeh lets talk about food stamps!The Republicans have been obsessed about them for years.
Food stamps?Wasnt that the issue that got all the yahoos down here in SC all worked up for Newt Gingrich?That worked out well!Yeh lets talk about food stamps!The Republicans have been obsessed about them for years.
well,aren’t you fucking radical,boy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtrC3rMP1lQ
I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
No, I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you’re havin’ a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
well,aren’t you fucking radical,boy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtrC3rMP1lQ
I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
No, I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
Well, he hands you a nickel
He hands you a dime
He asks you with a grin
If you’re havin’ a good time
Then he fines you every time you slam the door
I ain’t gonna work for Maggie’s brother no more
You could have just checked their website for the Office of Communications email address and sent the email before you went to Washington, right? Or is grandstanding about being denied entry to the USDA building without a point of contact more important that getting your questions asked?
You could have just checked their website for the Office of Communications email address and sent the email before you went to Washington, right? Or is grandstanding about being denied entry to the USDA building without a point of contact more important that getting your questions asked?
Food Stamps buy Democrat votes. So, what’s the problem?
Food stamps feed poor people, especially kids. Sure, there are some who abuse the system and bureaucratic inefficiencies, but you could really use some help on your oversimplification of a complex issue and stereotypes. The largest percentage of people on food stamps are rural and white – a demographic that doesn’t generally vote Democratic.
But I suppose oversimplification is easier for you. “So what’s the problem?” Low info people like you who throw out tired talking points instead of facts or meaningful contributions to a discussion. Move along.
Food Stamps buy Democrat votes. So, what’s the problem?
Food stamps feed poor people, especially kids. Sure, there are some who abuse the system and bureaucratic inefficiencies, but you could really use some help on your oversimplification of a complex issue and stereotypes. The largest percentage of people on food stamps are rural and white – a demographic that doesn’t generally vote Democratic.
But I suppose oversimplification is easier for you. “So what’s the problem?” Low info people like you who throw out tired talking points instead of facts or meaningful contributions to a discussion. Move along.
It will be interesting to see if they will respond to the email after all that drama that went on.
http://www.ebtcardbalance.net/
It will be interesting to see if they will respond to the email after all that drama that went on.
http://www.ebtcardbalance.net/