Will SNAP (Food Stamp) Cuts Collapse Society?

A reader recently asked me my thoughts on the SNAP (supplemental nutritional assistance program) cuts that took effect on November 1st. She asked if it could “crash the food and medical systems.” I told her that anything was possible, but I agreed with her that Congress would likely step in before it gets to that point.

As I write this over the weekend, I’ve looked into it a bit more. About 42 million Americans–roughly 12 percent of the population–rely on SNAP (food stamps) to some degree or another. Say what you will about the political in-fighting over proposed bills, who’s to blame, and what the “solution” truly is; I don’t much care anymore because our political system is entirely broken. Few people in government seem to care about the people, at least they don’t care about our long-term survival. It’s about their re-election and keeping the masses distracted.

This is why I continue to urge anybody who will listen to prepare themselves in every way possible. Whether that means buying 30 years of food or stockpiling ammunition to the ceiling, nobody in charge cares about you. That’s why you have to take steps to prepare for whatever is to come.

What’s to come, exactly? Well, it’s not good.

Besides this video of a woman bragging that she gets $3000 per month in benefits to “feed their kids” even though the mother is clearly overweight, other videos I’ve seen of people (originally via TikTok) don’t indicate a civilized response by some EBT recipients. Granted, a large portion of this talk is bluster, but some people will act out irrationally, which puts well-meaning people like you and I at risk. Some people outright say they’ll rob people of their groceries in parking lots, possibly even murdering over it! Again, maybe this talk is largely bluster, but you never know.

What worries me has more to do with the longer-term consequences should this issue continue to remain the political pawn that it is. Whereas folks who relied on SNAP benefits might put up with a week of no groceries, even though they probably don’t really need the aid, what does the situation look like after a month of not getting what they expect? Remember, they say anarchy quickly follows after only nine missed meals, so maybe I’m entirely wrong … anarchy incoming tomorrow!

All kidding aside, and as much as I am for government curtailing spending, our society outright requires government handouts to keep the masses placated. Just think about how many people are given something, deserved or not, from the government. Beyond food stamps, people get Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (children’s health insurance program), TANF (temporary assistance for needy families), WIC (a program for women, infants, and children), NSLP (national school lunch program), unemployment insurance, section 8 housing, LIHEAP (low income housing energy assistance program), SSI (supplemental security income), EITC (earned income tax credits), state-sponsored handouts beyond federal handouts, and more that I didn’t bother to include here.

About one in five people receive Social Security and Medicare, respectively; even more people are on Medicaid and CHIP combined. I’ve already stated that 42 million receive SNAP benefits. And there are millions who receive the other benefits stated above. Although there’s certainly overlap among recipients, we’re talking about a large portion of the population being directly reliant on federal and/or state government handouts in some fashion.

Just look at that list again. What happens to polite society if/when those programs go away for good, and it’s clear they’re not coming back? Even a cut to these program would be seen as benefits being “taken away.” What then?

To a degree, I don’t blame people for being upset; they’ve been trained to rely on the government for their very survival, sometimes from birth. But something must be said for personal responsibility, too. Some thought about their own future should things change, right?

Regardless, because these programs provide everything people need to live, including housing, food, and healthcare, what happens if you take away any one of those pillars? Obviously, people feel pain.

And people tend to revolt when they feel too much pain.

The truth is that we (really, the government) cannot stop these programs. Ever. Governments MUST keep them going to prevent the masses from revolting.

Sadly, I believe the outcome is inevitable. We’re so horribly in debt with no foreseeable way out of it (even given potential growth sectors like AI) that there’s no civilized way out of our problems. It’s simply a matter of when, not if.

That said, those who cook the books–I mean, run the government coffers–are smart, devious people. They know how to pull strings and kick the can down the road far better than I could’ve imagined. So, who knows what the plan is to keep America afloat.

[Side note: there are some people who suggest that the government’s interest in digital currencies (and crypto, in general) is a scheme to somehow offload our national debt to the world. But I don’t understand the ploy, so I can’t comment.]

What I will say is that the situation looks bleak on all fronts because our nation is divided in so many ways. No longer do political parties agree on the problem but offer different solutions; we don’t even see eye-to-eye on the problems. The divide between the “have’s” and the “have not’s” grows larger by the day; and it’s not just the elites who leave the rest of us behind. Worse, we divide ourselves ethnically, culturally, morally, and religiously.

I just don’t see how we get past it all at this point. But I’m a bit of a pessimist about such things.

Back to the SNAP benefit cuts. Will it collapse society? Probably not. Government will step in because they still can. For now, the world needs American dollars and American firepower. But this will end, too. And when that happens, expect fireworks. Let’s just hope they don’t burn down your house and mine in the process. But I won’t hold my breath, and neither should you.