SNAP is big news since it's set to run out on Saturday if Democrats don't get off their posteriors and stop the shutdown nonsense. The program is supposed to help poor people get food, and while we can debate whether the government should be doing such a thing--spoiler: they shouldn't--the truth is that they do and a lot of people count on that.
I'm sympathetic to their plight. Many of them aren't able to work for whatever reason, so they don't have much choice but to count on assistance from wherever they can get it.
I feel awful for those people.
But based on how some people who live off of EBT benefits, I'm starting to think that fixing the SNAP SNAFU is really going to be more about paying tribute than helping the needy.
Man says that Trump has to open the government because “I live off them stamps, ho… I’m not playing.” pic.twitter.com/3KXOom46Vc
— EBT of TikTok (@EBTofTikTok) October 29, 2025
Woman says it’s “time to flip some f*cking tables” when SNAP benefits go away. pic.twitter.com/tAZmomQQHo
— EBT of TikTok (@EBTofTikTok) October 28, 2025
This one is serious because this woman looks like she'll starve to death without SNAP sometime in 2083.
Woman says she plans on "still looting, still stealing" even if Walmart shuts down everything but curbside pickup.
— EBT of TikTok (@EBTofTikTok) October 29, 2025
"We don't give a f*ck b*tch, Walmart ain't the only grocery store, you dumb*ss hoes." pic.twitter.com/eKcvxTpePi
Woman says that grocery store employees need to ignore looters because they will still get paid, “hey cousins… be a team player.” pic.twitter.com/vN9Jy1UpfV
— EBT of TikTok (@EBTofTikTok) October 29, 2025
In other words, they're using threats of violence to try and pressure the government to at least address SNAP before November 1st.
Back in the day, when you paid someone money so they wouldn't invade you or raid your trade caravans or ships, it was called tribute. You acknowledged them as a peer and gave them money to go and bother someone else. Anyone else, so long as it wasn't you.
Part of me would like the SNAP thing resolved by Saturday, if for no other reason than to not have to worry when I run to the grocery store to pick up a few things.
Another part of me is concerned that doing so would only encourage more of this crap from people who sure as hell look like they're physically capable of getting off their butts and getting a job. If they can loot and rise up, they can damn sure put in a job application at the nearest Arby's.
But they won't, because they want tribute instead.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute.”
I doubt he'd ever expect the demand for tribute to come from within our own borders, but that doesn't make the concerns that sparked that comment less accurate.
Millions for law enforcement, not one cent for SNAP if this is how people are going to act about it. Unfortunately, there's no way the Republican Party is willing to go to that extreme on the subject.
