About a year ago on a message board where I am a moderator, there was a discussion sparked about social programs. When I mentioned that I recieve food stamps (a form of medicare, by the way), the thread became about me. My entire life from what I spend my money on (I was accused of spending my money on internet access, and other frivolous things), to how well I do in school became subject to inspection. I was called names, told to drop out of school and get my priorities in order, and accused of being lazy et al because I get aid from the State of Washington so that I can feed myself.
All of my life, republican conservatives have been telling me that "well-fare programs are for the lazy (et al)". Everything that I had been hearing my entire life came into play in this debate about whether I should have the opportunity to eat. It's all well and good that we want people to fend for themselves, and that the "American dream" involves pulling yourself out of the gutter by your own boot straps, but some people don't have the luxury of starting out with boots.
Here's something I never told them during the course of this debate. The night I got my food stamps approved I had a nervous breakdown. Because I had been brainwashed into thinking that people who recieve assistance from the state are somehow weaker or inferior. It came down to one thing, though: eating. I work two jobs and go to school full time. I have to pay my own rent, bills, buy my own supplies, and still find the money for food? Of course that's not going to happen. The State of Washington allows students who can't otherwise afford food (students who go to private institutions, live off campus, have jobs and pay bills) to receive food benefits because it's in the best interest of society as a whole that people be allowed to freaking eat.
But you know what I didn't realize at the time that I had my breakdown? I went to public school from 4th grade through 12th. That's a social program. I didn't pay for it, and while my parents pay taxes (and still do) that pay for those schools, the whole system is pubically funded and is a social program. Just like medicare, which provides me with my food benefits (which, by the way, my parents also pay taxes to fund).
Planned Parenthood supplies me with free birth control and condoms. Free. I don't have to pay for it becuase I don't make enough money to actually be able to pay for it. That's a social program. Food banks, other medicare services, Pacific Medical Centers (who will never refuse care to someone on the basis that they can't pay for it); any number of social programs have been instated and continue to recieve government funding (no thanks to the Bush administration) because they help people and make society better as a whole.
Yes, there are people who take serious advantage of the system. That's a given. There are people who take advantage of every system. However, by and large the people who receive benefits from the state need them. Like me. I wouldn't have been able to have my little frozen pizza for dinner or my cup of yogurt for dessert if I didn't have food stamps. Now, of course, I would weigh much less, but that would be unhealthy weight loss, rather than the vain attempt I am making by eating healthier and making sure I get enough exercize.
I work hard. I work a lot harder than President Bush, that's for sure. And I'm not going to say that I am "entitled" to recieve these benefits, but I will say that I am entitled to eat. Something has to give. Luckily for me, it's the State of Washington doing the giving.
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