Paul Krugman: From the Mouths of Babes

Like many observers, I usually read reports about political goings-on with a sort of weary cynicism.
Every once in a while, however, politicians do something so wrong, substantively and morally, that
cynicism just won’t cut it; it’s time to get really angry instead. So it is with the ugly, destructive war
against food stamps.

The food stamp program — which these days actually uses debit cards, and is officially known as
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — tries to provide modest but crucial aid to
families in need. And the evidence is crystal clear both that the overwhelming majority of food
stamp recipients really need the help, and that the program is highly successful at reducing “food
insecurity,” in which families go hungry at least some of the time.