"The free food gravy train is coming to an end," she offered just loud enough for us all to hear and without remorse after the customer at the front of the line's SNAP benefit card did not work. "Get a job, work harder."
My heart broke for the physically challenged customer who took out $10.00 and paid for a quart of milk and a box of Cheerios, clearly embarrassed at the comment and at miscalculating her remaining benefit. I was glad she had some cash. There was a part of me that wanted to scream at the audacity of anyone to criticize someone's misfortune.
But, I really was not up for a fight, today, so I drove home thinking about the impact of the government shut down on this woman and so many others.
I thought about my mother-law's stories of "Uncle Frank" who long ago went into the Foundling system after their father died. There were no social protecting programs in those days, and clearly his future was determined by the need to care for children with a minimum wage job. Can you imagine how hard it would be to give up your child just so they could have food?
I thought about children and elderly, frail and disabled who rely on such benefits. I thought about those recovering from addiction, those suddenly on their own, or struggling to find better jobs in a world where bad news comes regularly and food prices climb daily.
I am sure there is fraud and waste in the system and absolutely support efforts to make sure those benefits are not squandered. Fix the waste, please. Yet, with an ongoing government shutdown putting such benefits on the line, we, as the most prosperous nation in the world, had better think about a system that has supported many struggling Americans since its inception after the Great Depression.
To quote Ms. Rachel, "Nobody needs a billion dollars, but everyone needs food."
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