The Associated Press reports the government is cracking down on food-stamp fraud in Detroit-area stores.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/03/food-stamp_fraud_detroit-area.html

Here is an example of taxpayer dollars being wasted on the food-stamp program/ bridge card program.

It is often a subject of debate on college campuses about the bridge card program. I personally do benefit from the bridge card program, I do not have one but when I am in need my friend provides me with food on occasion.

(My resume for need: Two retired parents on a fixed monthly income.)

People argue some who receive these funds in college that are abusing the system and wasting taxpayer money. I am not going argue against that, some people need assistance and others do not.

Now the bridge card system is regulated, there have been cases where students have had their cards revoked because of fraud or not reporting all funds.

Others continue to receive money from home and jobs, but continue using the system.

Why does the government allow this to happen? Do they not know about it?

Ha, of course they know about it, a CM-Life article was published last fall about State Rep. Joe Haveman attempting to end abuse.

http://www.cm-life.com/2009/10/16/state-rep-seeking-to-end-bridge-card-abuse/

Taxpayer dollars will probably go to greater waste by seeking to end abuse from those college students who are not in need.

More man power and hours will be spent reviewing applications and conducting background checks of those who are students.

More than likely it will create an environment where students are targets or the first to be rejected.

With the cost of tuition, rent and books, some students are in desperate need of aid.

College students who abuse the welfare system, will likely abuse the system until they graduate. Once they graduate and get a job, they will stop using the card or risk being caught for fraud.

Other abusers off college campuses are probably more likely to continue abusing the system year after year costing taxpayers more in the long run.

Stores will continue to make profits exchanging bridge card funds for other items (tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, cash and other non-food related items) at our expense.

The system is broken, but potentially harming those students in great need while attempting to secure a viable future and wasting even more taxpayer dollars, is not a way to fix it.