Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a final rule on Wednesday that will make it harder for able-bodied people to receive food stamps and move more of them toward self-sufficiency.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is intended to provide temporary assistance, not continue for life. Secretary Sonny Perdue’s statement:
“Americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch. Government can be a powerful force for good, but government dependency has never been the American dream. We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand,” said Secretary Perdue. “Now, in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work. This rule lays the groundwork for the expectation that able-bodied Americans re-enter the workforce where there are currently more job openings than people to fill them.”
Earlier this year, Star Parker, founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss the Trump administration’s food-stamp overhaul plan.
“I know it’s in vogue for everyone to hate the president,” Star said, “but he’s doing some amazing things for the poor, and this is one of those things..to say ‘Hey, we’re going to give you a little nudge. We’re going to give you a little help. Let’s open up the economy in your own lives so that you can prosper.’”
The crisis isn’t the poor, Star said. It’s mostly able-bodied, non-working men. They’re mostly “disconnected from family, and we’re rewarding this behavior.”
Congratulations to the President for looking out for taxpayer dollars.
There is no reason able bodied individuals should get fed by the taxayer because they don’t feel like working, it applies to single individuals with no dependents and no physical reason for not having the ability to work.
For years we would hear about workfare but it was just verbal rhetoric, now we see real action being taken.
The guidelines of working for 20 hours a week for three months out of 36 seems too liberal to me.