Last week, I met one of the 42 million low-income Americans for whom SNAP benefits ceased during the government shutdown. He was using the last of his benefits at the grocery store but remained short of funds. Because of the kindness of strangers, he left with all of his items and declared that he would pay it forward. Notably, he is intellectually disabled, and reinstatement of his SNAP benefits without guaranteed affordable health care is simply an untenable Hobson’s choice.
The headline “SNAP benefits for 42 million hang on legal battles, shutdown” (Nov. 10, TribLive) enraged me. This convoluted, drawn-out process involving all three branches of government is allowing the Trump administration to literally withhold food and medical care from our most vulnerable citizens. To paraphrase James Carville — hey Trump administration: It’s the hate, stupid! Americans take care of each other. We don’t want a government that actively promotes antipathy toward 42 million citizens.
Sharon M. Biasca
Mt. Lebanon