Young: Shutdown lesson — don’t depend on D.C.
The recent federal government shutdown has reignited discussions about the reliability of federal assistance programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As the shutdown came to an end, one critical takeaway emerged: the need for communities to rely less on Washington for support and more on local solutions. SNAP, which provides essential food aid to millions of Americans, is heavily dependent on federal funding. This reliance makes it vulnerable to political gridlock, leaving many families uncertain about their access to food during times of crisis. The situation highlights a broader issue: when Congress cannot agree on a budget, it is often the most vulnerable populations who bear the brunt of the consequences.
To address this vulnerability, experts suggest that aid programs should be funded and managed at the state and local levels. By shifting the responsibility away from Washington, communities can create more reliable and responsive systems of support that are less susceptible to political disputes. Local programs are often more adaptable and accountable, allowing for quicker responses to the unique needs of their residents. Additionally, historical context shows that private aid initiatives, such as local charities and community organizations, have proven to be effective in helping those in need. In fact, Americans donated an impressive $550 billion to charities last year, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting one another at the grassroots level.
The insights drawn from this situation encourage individuals to take action within their own communities. By volunteering or donating to local food banks, shelters, and other charitable organizations, citizens can directly impact the lives of those around them. The historical perspective provided by David Beito in his book “From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State” illustrates how neighborly support thrived in pre-New Deal America, suggesting that with the right mindset and initiatives, communities can once again take charge of poverty relief efforts. The overarching message is clear: rather than relying solely on federal programs that can falter under political strain, we should empower local solutions and harness the generosity of individuals to create a more resilient support system for those in need.
The federal shutdown is over. Here’s one big takeaway: We need to depend less on Washington. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food aid program’s vulnerability shows how government failure puts people at risk.
Shutdowns make the federal government too unreliable to be solely entrusted with helping the poor. When people need help, they should be able to get it. Almost everyone agrees on that, regardless of politics. The question is how to deliver that help.
When Congress cannot agree on a budget, SNAP recipients are an unintended casualty. The solution is to move aid out of Washington and closer to home, so national political spats have no bearing on whether hungry families can afford food.
Government-run relief programs should be funded at the state and local levels to the greatest extent possible. SNAP is administered by state governments but depends almost entirely on federal funding, which makes it unreliable. States should transition to funding and running their aid programs without federal involvement.
There are other benefits to reform. Programs run at lower levels of government tend to be less distant and impersonal, more adaptable, more accountable, and have fewer long-term dependency problems. It is easier to fix a problem in your own town than it is to solve one halfway across the country from a Washington office building.
Private aid tends to work better than government aid. Everyday citizens should consider donating and volunteering at a local food pantry, soup kitchen, or shelter and look for other ways to help people in their community. Americans gave $550 billion to charities last year, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. That makes us among the world’s most generous donors, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of our income. We have the means to succeed where Washington fails.
The historian David Beito’s book “From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State” shows the rich history of neighbors helping neighbors in pre-New Deal America and how that degraded when Washington took over the job. Even in a society much poorer than ours is today, people found ways to help each other out.
Although government aid has crowded out a lot of private aid, that private infrastructure is still there in the form of non-profits, churches, families, friends, and neighbors. More importantly, the will to help is still there. Anyone who puts their mind to it can do what Washington can’t. So why not you?
The most important lesson from the latest federal shutdown is this: Don’t trust Washington, and don’t give the politicians there any more power.
Poverty relief is just one example out of many that demonstrate why a combination of federalism and private initiative can provide higher-quality services that are not affected by federal shutdowns.
Ryan Young is senior economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)./InsideSources
