Government 'Mercy': Starvation Lite for Poor Families
The Trump administration, via The Independent, announced a minor reprieve: SNAP benefits won't be cut as deeply for 'some families' during a government shutdown. This heartwarming concession follows years of systematic assaults on the social safety net, including previous attempts by the same administration to slash hundreds of billions from SNAP. While touting reduced cuts as a win, the narrative
conveniently omits the larger context of austerity policies that disproportionately harm the nation's most vulnerable, often while tax breaks flow freely to corporations and the wealthy. One might wonder about a system that reduces food assistance for its citizens while simultaneously approving billions in military aid abroad. For instance, in 2019, the same fiscal year this SNAP battle raged, the
US provided $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel, a consistent pattern for decades. (Source: Congressional Research Service, 'U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,' 2019). Apparently, funding F-35s and iron-dome systems takes precedence over ensuring children don't go hungry. A less 'deep' cut to food stamps still beggars belief when juxtaposed with lavish military spending.