Jeffery Strickland+FollowI’m Not “Illegal,” I’m Just Stuck HereI grew up in the U.S., but I’ve always been reminded I don’t belong. My parents are undocumented. I never chose that. I went to American schools, speak English, pay taxes—but can’t legally work or access healthcare. The government says the law must be respected, but the law never created an exit for people like me. I’m not a criminal or a visitor. I’m a generation left behind. That’s not fairness. It’s indifference. #UndocumentedYouth #ImmigrationReality #PolicyFailure #AmericanLife67Share
kedwards+FollowI Refused a $1.50 Raise: I Can't Afford to Leave Poverty.My boss wanted to give me a raise, but when I calculated losing SNAP, housing assistance, and child healthcare, that $1.50 raise would cost my family a net $400 a month. I work full-time, yet I’m trapped: one step forward and I fall off the 'Welfare Cliff,' ending up poorer than I am now. The system isn't designed to help us climb out; it's designed to keep us stuck. #WelfareCliff #WorkingPoor #PolicyFailure #EconomicTrap10Share
Charlotte Schmidt+FollowThe Benefits Finally Arrived. I Only Bought Junk FoodToday, the court ordered the November SNAP benefits released. My EBT card finally has money. I went straight to the store. What did I buy? Fresh vegetables? Milk? Chicken? Nope. I bought every can of Spaghetti-O's, every bag of chips, all the instant ramen, and all the soda I could fit in my cart. All the high-calorie, long-shelf-life, zero-nutrition junk. Why? Because this month taught me one thing: the government can, and will, turn off your food supply at any time. I don't care about the "food pyramid." I care that when the politicians start fighting again next month, my kids have calories to eat. I'm fighting their stupid policy with my own. #SNAPLife #Hoarding #PolicyFailure499884Share
