I don’t think American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people’s pie purchases. To me it’s no different than nail salons and Lottery tickets. It’s pastry, it’s dessert. My pies are great, but come on.

Andrea Taber, proprietor of the Ever So Humble Pie Co. in Walpole, MA, who sells her baked goods at the Braintree Farmers market. Ms. Taber does not accept EBT cards, because she argues that on principle, if taxpayers are underwriting this program, purchases should go towards healthful foods whenever possible and not luxury, decadent pastries.

I agree with Ms. Taber ideologically, but I also value consumer choice. A person on food stamps should be able to indulge their sweet tooth every now and again the same way a person not on food stamps should. Ms. Taber, however, is under no obligation besides from the farmers market where she vends that “encourage[s] everyone who sells eligible products to participate;” I respect that she is willing to sacrifice a few more purchases to run a business in line with her beliefs. It is non-discriminatory because she is not saying a person on food stamps can’t shop at her business, just that they must use money instead of monthly food benefits. If someone wants to purchase baked goods with their EBT card, there will almost certainly be somewhere else that they could purchase it, too.

It’s a fascinating issue to think about. What do you think?