I would like to relate my experience of going on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP. This is a federal program that is still colloquially referred to as “food stamps,” though technically this is incorrect. While the ability to buy food used to be administered via stamps that could be exchanged for food, they migrated more recently to a credit card-like system: the bearer is given a card that has a balance on it. The money on the card can be swiped like a credit card at the supermarket, but it can only pay for food.

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A Fictional Interview of the Author by an Inflamed Conservative, part II (Anticipated Frequently Asked Questions [A.F.A.Q.])

IC: Why can’t you liberals just be happy?

KC: Ah, I’m very glad you asked this, IC. This is something that both liberals and conservatives–but particularly conservatives–have at the core of their beliefs about America and developed-world lifestyle. The aforeposed sentiment is exemplified by this bumper sticker:

“Annoy a Liberal – Work hard. Succeed. Be Happy”

IC: Yes, I suppose that is the sentiment I was expressing.

KC: I like this sticker because it illustrates the core difference between conservative and liberal–particularly eco-liberal–value systems. In order to examine this difference, I am going to start with the original sentiment and move on to the bumper sticker. Read the rest of this entry »

A friend asked me a few days ago what my goal was in forgoing my house.

My reply was: “So I can be free.”

And I then added, “Free as in Speech, not as in ‘buy one get one.’”

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Home-Free Living:

A Manifesto in Favor of Homelessness as a Lifestyle Choice for the Privileged Class
by Kristen Cheep

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