Young: Shutdown lesson — don’t depend on D.C.
The recent federal government shutdown has underscored a critical lesson: reliance on Washington for poverty relief, particularly through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is fraught with risks. As Congress struggles to reach budget agreements, vulnerable populations, such as SNAP recipients, find themselves caught in the crossfire, highlighting the need for a more reliable and localized approach to aid. The prevailing sentiment is that when individuals and families require assistance, they should be able to access it promptly and effectively, without the uncertainties that come with federal funding disruptions.
To mitigate the adverse effects of political gridlock on essential services, experts suggest transitioning the funding and administration of aid programs to state and local governments. This shift would not only enhance the reliability of assistance but also allow for more tailored and responsive solutions to meet the unique needs of communities. Programs managed at local levels tend to be more adaptable, accountable, and personal, fostering a sense of community engagement that is often lost in the bureaucratic maze of federal oversight. Additionally, the historical context provided by David Beito’s book, “From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State,” illustrates how communities have successfully supported one another through mutual aid systems, a practice that has diminished with the federal government’s increasing role in welfare.
Moreover, the potential of private initiatives in poverty relief cannot be overlooked. Americans have demonstrated their generosity by contributing over $550 billion to charitable causes last year alone, showcasing the capacity of individuals to effect change at the grassroots level. Local food pantries, shelters, and community organizations are vital resources that can mobilize support more effectively than distant government offices. By empowering citizens to engage directly with their communities, we can create a robust safety net that is resilient to the whims of federal politics. The overarching message is clear: to foster a more effective and compassionate system of support for those in need, we must prioritize local solutions and private initiatives over an overreliance on Washington, ensuring that help is always within reach when it’s needed most.
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
