Blood, Boiling.

Warning:

(image courtesy of Robb Allen)

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Yankeefried sends this story that's certain to send you running for more blood pressure medication:

Firing squad ends clerk’s EBT stand

Jackie Whiton, age 65, had worked as a cashier at the Big Apple convenience store in Peterborough, N.H., for years. But then a couple of weeks ago she committed a firing offense.

She refused to allow a welfare recipient to use his EBT card to buy a pack of smokes.

How dare a taxpayer say no to a member of the non-working class? This is verboten in Obama’s America.

Now, a couple of points:

1. The store had every right to fire the clerk. They received a complaint that she refused a legal sale, they have every right to terminate her employment. Because it is legal to buy cigarettes with an EBT card doesn't make it right, but her job is only to make legal sales.

2. While the store has every right to fire the clerk, I - meaning those of us in the media - have every right to broadcast far and wide about this injustice. This clerk should have gotten a bonus rather than a pink slip - she was outraged (as am I) that someone can use a card given to them as a form of welfare to purchase something as frivolous as cigarettes.

Oh, BTW? Should you feel the need to contact Big Apple convenience store management about this egregious miscarriage justice, there is a contact form that can be used, or you can contact them via phone, fax, or USPS:

C.N. Brown Company
P.O. Box 200,
South Paris, Maine 04281

Office: 207-743-9212
Fax: 207-743-8357

If you're going to write, call, or fax, please be courteous and proper - no F-bombs, please, nor threats. Explain to them why you disagree with their decision to terminate Mrs. Whiton, and that you will not be patronizing their stores unless and until they correct their error.

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Now, with that said, can *anyone* tell me why it's legal for someone to buy cigarettes with an EBT card? For those unclear on what they are, here's some basic information.

• EBT is used in all states to issue food stamp benefits to recipients.
• Many states also issue cash benefits such as TANF using EBT.

(TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). So there are two forms of EBT cards - a "food stamp" card that only allows the holder to buy food, and a "cash benefits" card that allows them to buy... anything. Unless unemployment benefits go to EBT cards, I can't see any other reason for an able-bodied young person to have such a card - although there may be something I'm overlooking at the moment. It's still a big stretch to authorize usage for cigarettes - especially considering how the .gov is always telling us how bad cigarettes are for us.

Then again, how silly am I, expecting consistency from our government...

That is all.