A recent article in the OBSERVER was headlined, “Food stamp change fuels anxiety as states try to curb impact.” The article stated, “Having food stamps offers Richard Butler a stability he has rarely known in his 25 years. He was a state custody case at age 2, spent his teen years at a Chicago boys’ home and jail for burglary, and has since struggled to find a permanent home.”

Butler, who shares a one-bedroom apartment with two others states, “It means the world to me. We can go without a lot of things like phones and music. We can’t go without eating.”

The article also noted the $194 deposited monthly on his benefit card buys fresh produce and meat, but his stability is being threatened as well as others who are able-bodied without dependents and between the ages of 18 and 49. The new Trump administration rules taking effect April 1 put hundreds of thousands of people in his situation at risk of losing benefits.

What’s wrong with this picture?

My response to this situation is very clear and easy. Get a job and be self-sufficient so the taxpayers who are working men and women don’t have to babysit your life. The taxpayers are too busy taking care of their own lives to be burdened by people like you who are freeloaders of our society.

Yes, get a job now and help to stop the burden of tax money wasted on those who don’t want to take care of themselves. It isn’t fair to those hard-working taxpayers to be burdened by those who are irresponsible and more concerned for themselves than others who are responsible for those who are not.

The article notes the person is able-bodied. So again, get a job, pay taxes and be more responsible for yourself and this country.

I don’t think those who pay your way are very concerned for your problems, because those taxpayers have problems of their own without any added problems from people such as yourself.

Maybe those paying the way for others could then save some money.

Richard Makuch is a Dunkirk resident.