Letter to the Editor: Only in America

Dear editor:

The Trump administration is threatening to cut SNAP benefits to 21 states, Democratic states. They are using their favorite mantras: waste, fraud and abuse. They want personal data on every person on SNAP and immigration status.   

I continue to see the cruelty this administration heaps on the poor, elderly, veterans and the disabled even though a judge said no for now.  This administration is doing what McKinley and Hoover did by blaming the poor, the least among us. Undocumented people do not get SNAP benefits. 

This ties in with Rachel Rodriguez Williams and the Freedom Caucus. According to Wyofile, she has decided that accessory foods — coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, condiments, sugar and salt — be eliminated. Are we really going to deny Grandpa his morning cup of joe or as a vet deny him a cup of hot cocoa with his grandchildren? Or Grandma, her afternoon tea which is her treat for the day?

How about deny our active military families? Remember, 25% are on food assistance. 

Let’s deny poor people ketchup, mustard, spices. Let’s deny them sugar to make anything sweet, spices to make food taste better; most healthy recipes rely heavily on spices. Salt is such an important electrolyte that our bodies need, but hey, we are going to deny salt.  Are we really becoming that state or nation? sounds like some crazy California fantasy idea.  

How about our legislators come up with something that can actually help, like universal childcare for 0-5 years like New Mexico? Maybe our young people wouldn’t want to leave. Or affordable housing? Or how about the deafening silence about the cost of healthcare from our state representatives or reimbursing our OB doctors?  Wyoming deserves better than to worry what the poor, seniors, disabled and veterans, active military and children eat.  Maybe instead of worrying about the $6 per day they get, start looking at corporations and the subsides they get. Millions of government welfare.” 

Mr. Dalton Banks’ letters did not include the 2 cent state tax increase which will not make up the revenue loss of property taxes. They will tie this to a bill to eliminate property taxes, so vote for the elimination of property taxes but realize that you are voting for a 2 cent maybe more, with an increase on everything else. They say this is to protect the elderly from losing their homes. By increasing the price on everything else, who wants to take bets on a personal income tax or tax on food coming? They need to be two separate bills. Not combined.  

Only in America could a billionaire make us pay for his golf weekends, while denying food, healthcare, and science to the American public.  

Respectfully 

Lynn Meier, 

Basin