The Politics of Feeding my Dog

Last month, I wrote a post celebrating Fiona’s 14th birthday. In it, I mentioned that she has an inoperable adrenal tumor, and that she had gained back 2 pounds. Fiona should weigh about 56 pounds, but she was down to 44 pounds, and then up to 46 pounds. She is now back down to 44. Fiona needs to eat more food.

This makes me think about SNAP, and the fact that the most a single person can get from SNAP is about $ 7.00/day, although most people get less because of income limits.

Today is Tuesday as I write this, and later today I have to have a minor medical procedure. So I’m thinking less about today’s vote on the budget, plus today’s special elections, and more about Fiona and my doctor¹.

Like I do at crack of dawn every morning, I sat on the floor encouraging Fiona to eat. This involves actual hand feeding of the stew I cook for her. And it hurts that I am trying to cajole her in any way possible to eat so she can stay alive, the way people tried to get me to eat when I had cancer and food was just YUCK. I know how Fiona feels.

We live in one of the richest countries in the world, and there are hungry people. Of all ages, genders, orientations, races, religions. Due to the DOGE cretins, there are now more hungry people in the world due to the cuts to USAID.

If I were a rich person, I’d spend all my money so that no one was hungry. Because everyone deserves enough food to eat. Every single day. It makes me miserable every time I struggle to get 500 calories into Fiona, thinking of all the people who don’t have that opportunity.

When I’m told that I need to be nice to the people who voted for the Orange Menace, I just can’t fathom how so many people could have voted for a guy who actively works to starve more people. And those same people also voted for his lackies who constantly look for ways to cut SNAP, WIC, and all the other food programs. I cannot find it in my heart to forgive them.

The past several days have been rough. I’ve had to answer a lot of hate mail. It took a lot out of me. One thing that was obvious to me is how badly we need to find common ground as a party, and I think “FEED THE HUNGRY” is a good place to start. Irrespective of one’s identity, each of us needs to eat every day.

MAGA world works to divide us by identity. They push all sorts of legislation to make things more difficult on specific groups of people. We can discuss terminology, and means of approach, and people’s stories, but FOOD. I don’t care who you are, nor how you define yourself - you need to eat today. “FEED THE HUNGRY” transcends.

Can we agree that this is a place to start? Or is it too invisible a problem?

I’ll be back on Friday.

1. I have a lot of medical procedures, and people often wish me “good luck” but I don’t need that - all I do is show up. I want my doctor to be in a good mood, and on his/her best game.