Food is political. The simple act of eating until one’s belly is full—something so human, so essential—is a right. And it is a right millions of Americans are on the verge of losing. To be fed should not be a luxury, but a human right. Yet in the wake of a historic government shutdown, that right has been shaken, revealing the fragility of our food system and leaving families to wonder whether tomorrow’s meal will be certain or a question.
A sigh of temporary security surfaced as the U.S. government reopened, but relief is escaping with the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” rewriting the laws for who is and who isn’t given food assistance (SNAP). Across the country, households are being forced to reduce the quality or quantity of their food, to endure hunger, or even to go days without eating
We, as a paper, believe that every American should have the right of having food on their table. Food is not only a necessity but a human right that, regardless of socioeconomic status, every citizen should have access to. A list of qualifications should not determine one’s right to food, as it is necessary for survival. There are families in the United States who have had to compensate for the lack of benefits available, they have had to stretch out their food supply in order to not go hungry.
There should be no reason for this, not when food is such an important part of human life, parents should not have to worry about when’s the next time they are able to feed their children, children should not have to ask when their next meal is. These groups of individuals are not the only ones impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits, but they are some of many who rely on these benefits and deserve to have the human right to food.
On Oct 1 our government failed to come to a consensus on funding issues, therefore leading to a government shutdown. This meant that all federal employees would be unpaid for the foreseeable future, and programs like SNAP would cease functioning. This led to a lot of uncertainty in our nation, with people not knowing if they or their children would be able to eat for the month of November– especially with thanksgiving right around the corner. The shutdown did end on Nov 12, marking the longest government shutdown in American history. Although food is a necessity, we must also consider that one’s need for SNAP only applies if they cannot afford it, as taking advantage of the government deprives those who truly need it.
There should be no over-reliance. People who don’t make an attempt to work if they are able should not recieve these food assistance benefits. There is and should be no justification for denying food resources to anyone who asks. We have enough food for everyone yet we pick and choose who will be able to eat a meal. Everyone should be able to receive it. It should not be limited to arbitrary restrictions and the government makes it difficult to bypass those prerequisites.
We, as a country, need to ensure that all of our citizens have access to essentials such as food, no matter how wealthy or poor they may be. We need to encourage our lawmakers to put their politics aside and look after the people that really need help. Being able to eat is a basic and essential human right that shouldn’t be taken away for any reason whatsoever. Ripping away one’s sustenance will only make matters worse as it further divides the nation.
