Patrick Gibson, a soldier in the U.S. Army, so he knows a thing or two about paying his dues.
Not long ago, he stopped at his local Walmart store to purchase a few food items and diapers for his family with the little bit of money left over from his paycheck.
As he stood in line, he couldn’t help but noticed the two full carts of food the couple in front of him was buying.
Little did Patrick know, as he stood in the Walmart line that day, that he was about to see something that would have a profound effect on him.
When Patrick saw how the couple paid for their purchase and what they did with it, he realized that there was something very, very wrong.
He then took to social media to vent his frustrations.
Patrick snapped a photo and uploaded the picture of his own shop to Facebook, putting it side by side with the cart belonging to the couple in front of him.
He wrote, “The picture you see on the left is the amount of groceries including diapers that I was able to afford this pay period for my family,” which consist of his wife, son, daughter, and himself.
Patrick explained that he paid in cash and that he works really hard to make a living and provide for his family.
”The picture on the right is of the purchase in front of me in line. If you can’t tell in the picture there are 2 full buggies of groceries including such items like steak and some other very nice choices of food.”
But, the problem wasn’t just what was in the cart.
“Here’s the kicker. This purchase was made in food stamps.”
Not only that, but Gibson took note of the fact that the couple pulled out an EBT card to pay an $800 grocery bill, as well as folding a big wad of cash over to get to the card in the first place.
Making matters worse, the couple seemed perfectly capable of physical labor.
The final straw in Gisbon’s book was when watched as the couple loaded their bounty into their carts before he spotted them in the parking lot, putting the heavy grocery bags into the back of a brand new Hyundai Genesis.
That is a vehicle worth about $15,000 to $20,000 more than Patrick’s own car.
“I just thought I would take the time to tell this person/family that you are very welcome from all of us hard working/struggling to buy food Americans that have to foot the bill for your fancy steak feast while I skip breakfast and lunch every day (so) that way my wife and children have food to eat every day because $50-$75 dollars doesn’t go very far,” Gibson said, hoping the couple would see his Facebook-post.
“So, you enjoy your $800 free grocery purchase.”
Unsurprisingly, Gibson’s post has garnered a fair amount of attention.
Many people jumped on to agree with his sentiments.
“I agree with you Patrick 100%. There are a lot that really need it, but as you said, there are a lot that abuse the system and a lot like yourself that need them and can’t get them, especially you and your family,” one person wrote.
Many expressed agreement that food stamps and welfare should only help support the bare necessities for those going through hard times. The programs were never meant to be a lifestyle for those who prefer not to work.
Others think he’s been too quick to judge a couple he knows nothing about.
“Do you really know their backstory? Don’t be quick to judge someone because you’re angry. How do you know if that person works and their spouse doesn’t work because of problems? That all the money in their pocket is to pay their bills that the new car was a gift? How do you know that’s not the case?” one person questioned.
PatrickGibson then responded:
“Let’s just call it what it is. We can all sit around and believe in sunshine and rainbows saying the old don’t judge a book by its cover crap, but the reality of it is that so so so many people are abusing the system that was put in place for struggling families. If we can’t even acknowledge that there is a problem, then how can it ever be corrected. And a brand new car as a gift? Really? If they have friends or family with money like that, then its a shame they still need $800 a month in food stamps.”
I agree on that don’t know the entire story, but I think Patrick Gibson still makes a valid point.
Sadly, the reality is that there are stories about people abusing the welfare system which justify Gibson’s reaction.
Abuse happens. It is a problem. If we don’t call it out when we see it, how do we expect anything to ever be done about it?
What do you think? Is Gibson in the right with his comments? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.
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