SNAP rules

How the new SNAP rules under the big beautiful bill will be enforced by state. Here is how Nebraska will handle things. Under the law, enrollees must work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month, attend school at least part-time, or participate in job training. Or they must prove they qualify for certain exemptions, such as caring for a child 13 or younger or a disabled parent, or having a health condition that prevents employment. Proving employment status will require documentation, but Nebraska officials say they will allow enrollees to self-attest that they volunteer, go to school, or qualify for exemptions, such as for poor health or caring for a disabled parent. "Supporting documentation, such as medical records, will not be required," Spilinek said. That could make it easier for enrollees to get exempted under the law's "medical frailty" exception. The long list of health conditions that can be considered for the exemption was posted last week by the state and includes many types of cancers and mental health and heart conditions. SNAP legislation). The law specifically excludes disabled individuals, caregivers of young children, and pregnant individuals from these mandates.

Education

Since 1950, American public schools have experienced a massive "staffing surge," where the number of non-teaching employees has grown dramatically faster than the number of students. In 1950 the average class size was 35 and today that is 16. In 1950 there were 2.36 teachers for every non-teacher working in the schools and today it is one to one. While student enrollment has increased 100% the number of teachers has increased 243% and the number of non-teacher employees has increased by 700%. The result has been that while the cost per student in real dollars has increased the test scores have not. The cost per student has increased from $2,000 in 1950 to $20,000 today using inflation adjusted dollars. Inflation-adjusted K-12 education spending per student has increased dramatically, rising from roughly \(\$1,800\)–\(\$2,300\) in 1950 to over \(\$20,000\) by 2023. This represents a more than 300% increase in real spending per pupil, driven by lower class sizes, higher teacher salaries, and increased special education services. Special education started in 1975 and was not included in the 1950 data. The total spending on K 12 education in 2023 was $947 billion while $39 billion was spent on special education.

SSI

It is sometimes said that government benefit programs never end but that is not always the case. Prior to 1996 alcoholism was considered a disability by Social Security Income (SSI) and alcoholism was considered a disability under this program. Alcoholics living on the street were receiving $600 per month but the law required that they have a permanent address to send the checks and there must be a responsible person to receive the money. It was common for the alcoholic to use the neighborhood liquor store as this address and the owner as the responsible person. The store would keep track of the purchases during the month and when the check arrived, they would deduct the amount owed and turn over the rest to the recipient. It the limit was reached they would be cut off until next month. It served as an interest free loan of next months purchases. This had been going on for many years but was stopped in 1996. Studies showed the Social Security Administration (SSA) didn't monitor addicts properly, and only one-fifth of those required to be in treatment actually were.

SNAP

The latest government scandal is in the food stamp program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps is administered by the Agriculture Department at a cost of $100 billion dollars per year. The USDA estimated that in 2023 about 11.7% of payments were improper so why is that still going on today and how does it happen. Application fraud which includes lying about income, household size or residency is where most problems start along with retail fraud where store owners exchange SNAP benefits for cash or nonfood items. Food stamps are traded on the street at a 50% discount. This is common among addicts to get cash to buy drugs. Some dealers will take the stamps directly. Once again Minnesota has the dubious position of leading the way in the fraud. This week, federal agents targeted 20 plus MN retailers involved in SNAP trafficking, where benefits are exchanged for cash or ineligible items. Audits indicate a lack of security left hundreds of thousands of people receiving double benefits or benefits intended for deceased individuals. This follows the scandals surrounding the “Feeding Our Future”, Child Care and Autism fraud. While this investigation is centered in MN most experts believe it is prevalent in other states. This leads many to believe that the government is too large to properly administer.

Social security private

The federal government thrift plan was started in 1986 and has been a success. There are five funds and a five percent employer match. The plan has a $25,000 per year maximum and is similar to the 401K plans in the private sector. The President today signed into law a new tax deferred savings plan for the millions of people who do not have an employer pension plan. The plan is for people who earn less than $35,000 and they can save $1,000 per year with a government match of $1,000. This could be the start of privatizing social security (SS). The worker would have his social security money which is deducted from his pay check deposited in the new savings plan. This would include the matching amount from the employer. It would start slow with anyone turning age 25 next year being eligible. The payroll deduction is 7.65% of which 6.2% is for social security. That amount includes 2.2% to cover the cost of disability and survivor benefits and the remaining 4% is for SS. This is matched by the employer and so 8% of salary can be set aside each paycheck and deposited into the new savings plan. Based on past market performance this will far exceed the current SS benefits and the employee will own the account. This means any money left over at death will pass to the heirs. This will remove the discrimination against Blacks under the current system because it is based on life expectancy and Whites live longer. This would also remove SS from the responsibility of government. If a person age 25 earning $40,000 per year gets a 3% raise each year and invests 8% of his salary that earns 10%, he will have $1.56 million in his account at age 62. If he invested this money and earned 8%, he would have $10,000 per month income for life and then pass on the $1.56 million to his heirs. Under the current SS system, he would receive $9,200 per month and have nothing to pass on. The estimate of his earning 10% on his savings during his work career is based on the 100 years average for the stock market. This would have the added advantage of putting money into the private sector to be invested in the economy. Instead of living off the interest at retirement he could purchase a life annuity for $9,400 per month and guarantee his retirement income or some combination of the two.

Iran then and now

The Shah of Iran Reza Pahlavi a US backed dictator was overthrown in 1979 and a religious dictator took control. These new leaders immediately held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days while the US stood helpless for fear that the oil supply would be cut off. Thus began 47 years of rule by a theocratic dictatorship led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Citizens were controlled by the Mullahs and women’s rights were curtailed based on Sharia Law. In 1980, Iraq led by Saddam Hussein invaded Iran and started a war that lasted until 1988, costing both nations massive resources and lives which strengthened the control by the Mullahs. During the war, the US sided with Iraq and sent chemicals that could be turned into weapons along with materials to make anthrax. These were used to synthesize mustard gas, sarin, tabun and VX and all were used against the Kurds and Iranians. Years later when Bush 43 was president he went in to Iraq based on the threat of WMD but he asked the wrong question. He asked where are the WMD instead of what happened to the WMD. Iraq claimed they destroyed them but would not say where because the ground could have been tested to confirm the destruction. While US troops encountered some scattered remnants of WMD, they did not find an active or large-scale site where the weapons were destroyed. Led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran embarked upon expanding their influence in the area. They set up and financed the Hezbollah in Lebanon, the PMF in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and various groups in Syria. The use of proxies provided Iran with “plausible deniability” and allowed them to continue their goal of destroying Israel. Iran sees Israel’s military power as a direct security challenge and a reason to develop nuclear bombs. After Khomeini’s death in 1989, the new Ayatollah Khamenei became Supreme Leader and they continued to export the revolution. Over the years Iran has attacked Americans. In 1983, 220 American servicemen were killed when an Iranian proxy blew up their Beirut barracks. President Reagan immediately pulled all US soldiers from the area and once again the US refused to confront Iran just as they did during the 1979 hostage situation. Then in 1996 several hundred US soldiers were injured when another Iranian proxy blew up the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia and true to form President Clinton did not retaliate. Iran continued down the path of disrupting the area and added Hamas to their list of proxies. In recent years a combination of events has put Iran in a weakened condition and the US and Israel combined forces to take military action. Iran lost their supply path to Hezbollah when Assad was deposed in Syria. Attacks by Israel in Palestine had weakened Hamas and the inability to supply Hezbollah with weapons allowed Israel to move into Lebanon. The Houthis were weakened when they tried to close the Red Sea and this left Iran without their proxies. The economic sanctions had put the Iran economy into a tail spin and the time was right to finally put an end to the regimes ability to cause havoc. The US was no longer dependent on Middle East oil and could finally act without fear. The question now is, will the American people be willing to put up with high gas prices to end the long running rogue nations desire to bring death to Israel and America or will they go back to the old days of just watching and waiting.

Iran surrender

The US plan is to cut off all supplies to Iran and force them to negotiate. Iran can go this route if they decide to fight to the end. The Guard that is now in control understands that the people see them as the ones with the guns, the ones who have already killed thousands of citizens who attempted to revolt and so they will not allow freedom for the masses. They fear retaliation. Just before the blockade began Iran stopped all exports of chemicals and directed them for home use. They are willing to sacrifice the country rather than capitulate, so this will go on for some time. They can import food overland but would have to rely on Pakistan and Turkey to allow passage. If that happened the US would bomb the rail ways. The US will try to put pressure on these countries but over time the military will get the last of the food and the people will starve. At that point the general population may rise up against the guns and a slaughter will follow.