By Mike Mathis, Fairfield
There’s a lot of discussion about what the ‘Founders’ intended in the Constitution. E.g. just what is ‘freedom of speech’, ‘the right to bear arms’. I would suggest a look at the Preamble for guidance:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
(copied from https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/preamble/)
The Preamble much like a summary section of a school or work document, tells the reader that everything that follows is there to support, enhance, the Preamble.
First, it’s We the People, not We the Citizens. So, being a citizen isn’t a ‘test’ for what is in the Constitution (except where it is specifically spells out pertaining only to Citizens).
When I read ‘insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, I think of things like safe streets, good roads, educated populus. I think also of benefits like SNAP. Congress began the food stamp program in 1939. Certainly, the program has changed, enlarged with millions more recipients.
SNAP is being held as a cudgel to one-side of Congress to cave-in to cuts for millions of ordinary Americans. There is no plan that I’ve heard of about ‘training’ or assistance for childcare, or transportation. Only work more or get nothing. Let me express, this is also talking about children. Congress is willfully not doing their job to actually take food from children, from single mothers, from people that previously qualified for benefits so they could put food on the table.
Non-profits will be doing their best, but who is kidding who? Non-profits are overstretched with getting food as it is.
The Gettysburg Connection’s own article (10/28/2025) states that an estimated 70,000 Pennsylvanians will lose SNAP benefits. How can our elected officials be ‘okay’ with telling needy constituents just to ‘figure it out’. Not a hand up, rather a slap down.
It is past time that Congress comes up with an agreement to reopen all of the Federal Government, as it was at the end of September, and negotiate in good faith. Letting maintenance go undone, letting vandals deface and destroy elements of our National Parks, and letting families beg for food isn’t politics, it is cruelty.