I've recently seen a meme running around conservative circles on Facebook, saying something along the lines of 'This is why the government shouldn't provide food aid. The government that provides food can also take it away.' The statement is ostensibly referring to how SNAP benefits are in danger of being interrupted due to the government shutdown. I submit for your consideration that the logic in this statement is flawed.
While the statement is technically factual, it overlooks a couple of facts, which I will quickly point out...
-The government isn't exactly taking away food aid. It's more accurate to say there's a lapse in aid during the shutdown. To use a crappy analogy, it's kind of like having two angry parents in a heated argument, meanwhile the kids are in the living room, really hungry and waiting for dinner. It's not like the parents plan to stop feeding the kids permanently, they're just being stupid and focusing on their petty argument.
-The logic of the original post implies that it's less offensive for the government to let people starve than it is to provide sustenance for the hungry, because later on the government could take it away sometime down the line. I don't know about you, but if I'm hungry, truly hungry, I don't care where the food comes from. Whoever came up with this concept has quite obviously never had to worry about missing a meal.
-As an extension of the same logic, maybe I should stop my charitable giving, because that puts me in a position of power where I could stop giving. Oh wait, that's circular logic.
3 comments:
It's not really the food aid I question- altho I think it is seriously in need of an overhaul...it's the whole Shutdown that I just cant fathom.
What would you change to food programs if you were in charge?
I'm not sure to be honest- but it infuriates me to see ppl with more than a few kids running around in a 50,000 car with their nails done perfectly and their hair and makeup done , smoking cigarettes and coming out of the liquor store going straight into the grocery store and buying $900 groceries with food stamps- and buying nothing but Junk and Convenience foods - while dressed in their designer shoes and clothes. I mean WTF??? Meanwhile there are elderly and honestly disabled people who have been denied food stamps/EBT/SNAP (whatever they are calling them this year) and are in actual NEED of help.
Wait I take that back- I DO know what I would do if it were up to me-
I think there should be stricter limitations on the TYPES of foods bought with the food stamps and there should be a CAP on how much each family can receive- no matter how many kids they have. I was brought up if you cant afford to feed and clothe them, don't have any more!! I would also require at least one of the parents to show documentation that they were ACTIVELY looking for steady employment to continue receiving benefits every 6 months.
I can see it from both sides too- when I was a young mom I was on Govt assistance for a short time after my ex lost his job and was looking for work, however during that time would steal the stamps out of my wallet and trade them for drugs or money for gas- for cents on the dollar... he literally took food out of his children's mouths to feed his addictions. When I divorced him(shortly after figuring out how what he was doing) I swore I would never go on Govt assistance again- and so far I have been true to my word on that-(41 years now!). I've worked my ass off to get everything I have and if I can't afford something- I go without, or I find a way to get it - Not by stealing or shoplifting or drug dealing either!!
My daughter is disabled and can't work from a medical condition she's had since birth but only diagnosed about15 years ago, can't lift anything over 5 lbs., can't sit nor be in her feet for long periods of time and if she tries to get a job it will disqualify her for her applied for disability status. Her condition has degenerated over this time and she worked as long as she could before accepting the fact that she just isn't able to work any longer-(Fiercely independent) However- in the meantime, she can't get assistance because I live with her and my granddaughter and take care of the other bills and apparently I make too much money for HER to receive help from the govt for her and G-Daughter although all my money JUST barely covers everything except food. I don't have to eat but one meal a day as I'm trying(and succeeding) on losing weight- been eating like I am for 3 years now and lost a ton of weight, but My daughter has health issues and she needs the nutrition- and G-Daughter is a growing teen so she needs the nutrition as well. We eat completely different things. Our food is separate so why would she not qualify and the other "Imma have more kids so I can get more benefits and food stamps" qualify without tougher restrictions and CAPS? (the more benefits thing is another mindset I completely would like to be seen to but that's a different comment as well).
Ugh... If I was in charge everyone would prob hate me. I'd be FAIR- but FIRM.
Sorry Dude- Didnt mean to write a RANT- but that's what talking politics does for me.
*Digging in my backpack* "Where are my BP meds......"
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