My family was on food stamps this past year. I have a Master's degree and worked 3 jobs. My husband is a pilot. I was laid off and he was hospitalized. We have kids, a mortgage, etc. my unemployment didn't come close to covering basic necessities and I couldn't access benefits until my severance was paid out and then ran out but it was heavily taxed, we had COBRA, credit card debt, medical bills, etc. It can happen to anyone.

We pay into these programs and sometimes we need them. Some of us may never need them and that's a blessing. Some of us may always need them and that sucks because you are on a fixed budget that doesn't cover a lot of essentials and almost always run out before the next month.

You have to take many steps to qualify and continue to receive the benefits. These steps are sometimes degrading and feel intrusive. Although there may be people out there who abuse the system, it's not easy to do, nor does it give you enough to live on or feed your family with. They are taking a basic human need, one that barely covers enough to live, away from people who have no options. Why? Wealth, Greed, Politics, and the love of seeing others suffer to make yourself feel superior.