I just saw today that a company is worth $5 trillion dollars. Yes, you read that correctly. A COMPANY IS WORTH $5,000,000,000,000. Numbers start getting beyond my comprehension once they contain that many zeros. I bring up this company’s staggering financial milestone because in just a few days the US government has made the decision to stop SNAP benefits for millions of Americans INCLUDING CHILDREN and it’s infuriating to know that kind of wealth is out there. I’m not saying this company should fund the government or cover SNAP benefits for citizens, but to know that much money is just floating around while people are struggling is something I can’t quite wrap my head around.
The distribution of wealth and power in this country we know is unequal to say the least and nefarious at its core. If you’ve been here before, you may be rolling your eyes because you know what I’m going to bring up. SLAVERY. Yes, folks, the original sin of this country that just continues to keep on giving in every horrible way possible. For everything awful that’s littering the current socio-political landscape can be traced back to the bloody birth of this nation. Not just slavery but all of the ways in which racism, colonialism, and capitalism have laid waste to indigenous cultures, collapsed communities, and newly weaponized empathy. We are at the precipice of something big in this moment. A true test of humanity and exposure of character. In this moment of what can only be described as self-inflicted distress by the hands of soulless, careless republican political leaders, we are already seeing the true ugly nature of people. I have seen more TikToks than I care to admit with these evil influencers mocking folks who use SNAP benefits as if there is some sort of moral high ground to stand on. The only thing these influencers are doing is showing their ignorance and disgrace. What makes all of this even more unbelievable are that they are usually also touting how Christian they are in other videos. It is so offensive to true followers to have these nincompoops expressing their faith in Jesus while gleefully eating on camera making boohoo faces for people who won’t be able to buy groceries next month. I truly don’t understand how they can completely miss the hypocrisy. The only sliver of a silver lining is these people are being called out on even larger platforms and being shamed like I’ve never seen. Just ruthlessly put in their place. I love to see it.
In other, more positive news, this is the final weekend before the election day for NYC mayor. An election that the entire country has been involved in for obvious reasons and politicians outside of NY have a very vested interest in. We all know why though. Zohran Mamdani isn’t just running for mayor of NYC. He is a beacon of hope and change that this country is thirsty for. He is a symbol of political engagement that’s not steeped in fear and division. He is an adorable a face of possibility and social consciousness that is not only refreshing but necessary in this fiery political hellscape we’re in. It’s impossible to ignore the ease in with which he navigates controversial topics and is able to maneuver through divisive distraction. He is giving the entire country hope in what this country can be. A vision beyond anything we’ve seen with stuffy establishment democrats. I cannot wait to vote for him on Nov. 4th! Early voting is open now and a few of my friends have already voted for him. We’re all hoping he wins, but we’ve also lived through Nov 2024 so trying not to be too excited until it’s official.
More personally, I am looking forward to taking vacation soon. I haven’t been away from New York since the summer and it is high time for a reset. I’m very much looking forward to it. Also looking forward to Thanksgiving, my favorite family holiday, but even that’s tainted with the reality that households will not be able to buy food. I’ve been keeping an eye out for food banks in my neighborhood and plan to be extra generous next month however I can. There’s no way we can let children go hungry. There’s no way we should let ANYONE go hungry. Luckily in NY the government plans on continuing to fund the program but I’m not sure it’ll be as much as what the government gives so… Everything sucks right now.
I know I try to be positive at the end of these posts, but this next month in particular scares me. This entire government shutdown scares me. The continuous amass of wealth by 1 company scares me. The lack of fighting the power scares me. The political fatigue scares me. The utter lack of compassion and empathy scares me, but I know there are so many more people who don’t want this. So many more people who are resisting in their own ways. I just worry about it not being enough. I’m worried about leaders drunk with power and loose with morality. I’m worried about the wealthy class exploiting a desperate situation. I’m worried about that small contingent of prejudice people emboldened by this time who are looking for violence, hungry for it.
I’m scared, I’m worried, and I’m exhausted, but I am ready to pretend nothing matters for a while in a few weeks. Hope I make it back into the country.
Update: Mass Blackout Nov. 25th to Dec.2nd - Take your dollars out of the system. Don’t buy anything from huge corporations. If you’re buying, buy hyper local. More on the action here.