Athens "farmer's market" and WIC

Here's an Athens News story about the Athens "farmer's market".

Lot's of quotes from local officials bragging about it, etc.... same old stuff.

"This summer, the Athens Farmers Market is using grant funding that will allow area residents who receive Food Assistance benefits to receive even more fresh fruits and vegetables at the market.

“The Food Assistance Program is wonderful,” Jack Cantrell, president of the Athens Farmers Market, said in the release. “We are having more and more participants all the time.”

In 2009, area residents spent about $21,000 in Food Assistance benefits on fresh fruits and vegetables at the Athens Farmers Market. This accounted for nearly half of all of the Food Assistance benefits used at farmers’ markets across the state.

“We are proud that we have such a group that works together to help people out in southeast Ohio. It’s just a good example of how by working together we can make things better for everybody,” Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason said in the release.

“I think it’s a win-win for everyone involved,” added County Commissioner Larry Payne who is a past president of the Farmers Market. “The Farmers Market has a history of providing fresh fruits and vegetables for people in our area. With this partnership, it allows people with lower incomes to have access to these products that they may not have had on their own. It’s just a great program.”"

Larry has one thing right, its a "win-win", just not for everyone.

It's a win for the hippies selling stuff.
It's a win for those receiving free taxpayer money to buy products from the hippies.

Two wins make it a "win-win"

However its a "lose" for the taxpayers. Taking money from people that work and giving it to people that don't.

I wonder if any of these local officials, or The Athens News for that matter, have ever wondered why prices are higher when the WIC coupons are handed out...........on sight....believe it or not.

Some "farmers" actually have two prices for the same product side by side. Higher prices for those paying with WIC coupons and lower prices for those paying cash.

Other "farmers" just have one set of higher prices during the time frame that the WIC coupons are in effect.

So, it looks to me that the taxpayers are getting hosed with this grand scheme. Yet our local officials all think it's great.

How does this make any sense?

Athens County Sheriff Office move

A few comments on this Athens News story and this Athens News story:

1. We currently have new property between Canaanville and Athens that is owned by the county. The County Engineer is using part of it. Why not move the Sheriff's office there?
2. Hockingport and Torch are currently the farthest away from our Sheriff's office. Now we want to move our Sheriff's office even further away, to The Plains? Why, when we could move the Sheriff's office to a more central locale that is already owned by the county?
3. I'm disappointed in Mark Sullivan suggesting a temporary sales tax increase. Right now, when people need to keep their money the most.
   
4. Don't ever trust the government when they want to "temporarily" raise the sales tax. If the county is anything like the state government, when it's time for the "temporary" sales tax to end, they'll just cut it in half and tell you that you just got a tax cut.
5. I'm glad Lenny is against a sales tax. However, what does he think issuing a bond does? It's borrowing money and then we have to repay it. The payments with interest take money away from other priorities. Sometimes, the shortages caused by having to repay bonds are excuses to raise taxes. Which, if we were not repaying our bonds, we'd have the money to begin with. Here's an idea, if we see a cost / need coming in the future, why don't we start setting aside money now to pay for this future need. Instead of running to lenders every time we "need" something.
   
6. Larry Payne gets it. Now is not the time to raise taxes. The only thing I'd add is, there is never a good time or reason to raise taxes. the less government we have, the better we are. One way to force less government is not feeding it.