Deeper than SNAP
Around the country, people are placing blame on others whom they believe to be responsible for their neighbors losing SNAP and other government assistance as a result of the shutdown. Social media and the media, at large, is filled with angry posts and criticisms. I have to admit to feeling a similar anger and frustration, but after listening to politicians and pundits on every side of this, one thing that I feel even more deeply is the need to change the locus of control and the focus of our energy - away from government programs and toward ourselves, in our own communities.
The toll on our fellow human beings of this government shutdown is profound. I know each side has stated reasons for allowing it, but it is hard not to see this shutdown as a leverage strategy, one that has been used many times in the past. And one result is that food pantries across the country have dramatic decreases in resources and dramatic increases in demand. In some cases, there is half as much supply and twice as much demand. Your neighbors are scared and they are suffering.
Finding a way to help right now is critical, just as there are deeper questions to ask, such as:
Why do so many people still need SNAP, and why do they need it for so many years?
What can we do in our communities to create economic opportunities that will reduce the number of our neighbors who need this type of assistance?
When it comes to food, we know there is an abundance in our country. This shutdown is the right time to bring new ideas and greater innovation to its distribution. It is not only inhumane that we have so many children and adults experiencing hunger each day; it’s inane. It has been so for generations.
It’s well past time that we eradicate hunger in this country of abundance, and it is you who can do this, even if you do not yet see how. You and your company, faith community, or civic group can better solve this in your community than the people who are playing politics at the expense of our most vulnerable neighbors. This type of shutdown is going to happen again; elected officials and their staffs have proven that for decades. Let’s get out ahead of it and dramatically reduce the need for SNAP and other assistance. That’s where dignity lies, and it’s where our humanity can be found.
We have an opportunity in our own communities to ensure that children and adults are not chronically in need of someone else to provide their food. If there are disabilities involved, surely we can secure food and other necessities without depending on large systems that are vulnerable to politics.
This is a time to redirect anger and frustration toward solving the enduring economic problems that your neighbors face. You may say we can take care of that later, but we never do take care of it later. Too often our neighbors' struggles become fodder for our political arguments, and then another issue arises to grab our emotions and attention.
We are about to enter the holiday season, a time when we talk about peace for all humankind and good will to men, women, and children everywhere. There are ways to measure if we mean it. Hunger and poverty are at the top of that list.
Mark Bergel, Ph.D.
Co-founder, Executive Director