Kerby Anderson

Columnist Cal Thomas wrote about “The Hunger Games.” He wasn’t talking about the movies but about the fact that 42 million people receive food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That figure represents 12.3 percent of our population.

Many Americans learned more about SNAP because of the government shutdown. The government could not fund the program because there weren’t enough Senate Democrats to vote for closure and thus break the filibuster.

Cal Thomas suggests, “Now would be a good time to ask why so many Americans seek food assistance. A starting point that should get political support (at least from Republicans) would be the elimination of mistakes, waste, and fraud in the SNAP program.” According to the Secretary of Agriculture, a percentage of the SNAP funds go to what are called “improper payments,” which include a significant amount of fraud.

Another important question is why do many of these SNAP payments go to people who are able-bodied but not working? There are work and job training requirements for people receiving SNAP benefits.

He concludes that “too many Americans believe they are entitled to other people's money and that it is government's responsibility to take care of every citizen (and some non-citizens) from cradle to grave.”

As I have said in previous commentaries, most Americans believe in a welfare system that provides a “hand up” to people in difficult situations so they can become self-sufficient. But they balk at merely providing a “hand out” that keeps people dependent on government aid.

We have also seen the value of local food banks and Christian ministries during the recent interruption in SNAP funding. Perhaps it is also time to let churches and other organizations provide food, care, and compassion.