Snap goes SNAP

One of the greatest lessons I learned in college as a student on my own for the first time was “broke” people think differently. There were times when the college closed for the holiday, and I’d often stay in my dorm in Boston for the breaks. During that time the cafeteria was closed, and I was broke as a joke and had no idea where I was going to eat my next meal. It wasn’t like Mommy was going to Cash App me money. So, my mind set started to change. I knew I could always eat something if I could just get past the lone cashier at the local Grocery store.

I’m ashamed to admit it publicly, but I would go to that grocery store and shoplift. I became a thief. Some thing I would have ordinarily been too frightened to do, but when it comes to hunger, I lost all sense of the law, morality, and good citizenship. I recognized then people think differently when they have no money.

I am bringing this up in reference to the 40% cut in the SNAP Program (Food Stamps) mandated by Trump’s Big Bill passed last month and 40 mil lion American will be affected. Change is coming for many people that receive SNAP or want to receive it. For example, from now on, a recipient can only receive SNAP benefits for no more than 3 months in a three-year period. Also, there will be a job requirement to receive benefits. At first blush I thought it was Trumps way to putting black people in place. But what Trump probably doesn’t know is more white people receiving food stamps than black, mostly card carry MAGA supporters.

This reminds me of a funny story I’ve told many times before. As a rookie firefighter I was assigned to Eng. 25 in South Buffalo. One afternoon it was my task to pick up lunch at the nearby Tops Market. It must have been the first of the month because the store was packed with white people, all with giant carts full of food. Being from the hood I knew right away what the deal was. When I got back to the firehouse I casually mentioned to my all-white conservative brethren, how crowded the store was and wondered why. They acted like they didn’t hear, but they did, and they knew what I was insinuating.

Some baby boomers may remember a time before food stamps when the US government had food centers where “surplus food” was provided for free or very low cost to people on Welfare—In Buffalo it was located in the Masten Armory. At that time the government bought excess crops and livestock products from farmers to stabilize prices and prevent market collapse. This surplus included butter, cheese, flour, canned meats, peanut butter, and powdered milk. Today the government spends billions subsiding farmers not to grow crops. Maybe it’s time to reconsider Surplus Food again for the masses.

These SNAP cuts are sure to increase the crime rate in both the black and white communities. Mark my words people think crime fueled by drugs. That will pale in comparison to the drive for food. No food no peace.