In 1985, my term at the Gauntlet ended, I broke my wrist, and so was unemployable for the summer. So it was back into the poverty zone for me and another stint on welfare as I tried to appeal my way into summer student loans (which eventually paid off three months later). That summer was when I found the combo of a Lipton side dish and a tin of tuna could feed me for a day. Once a month, give or take, I would spend about 14 of my incredibly scarce dollars for a box of wine. It's the sort of purchase that probably wouldn't get past food-stamp guidelines, but for me, my wine was my one pleasure. Life that summer was hard, but it was bearable, and I spent my days drawing cartoons and studying philosophy. Eventually I got back on my feet. But I totally relate to this article. "The problem comes in when people try to nickel and dime the SNAP program... It's a popular program, but thanks to the way we demonize people on any sort of government assistance, it seen as something that we need to regulate, lest the undeserving poor get to live the high life on taxpayer dollars.... Instead of trying to regulate government policy, how about we all try to meet people where they are to create a healthier nation?" Meeting people where they are is, to me, core.
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