I appreciated the Maine Sunday Telegram’s Editorial Board position in “A lot done to ease SNAP fear in Maine. A lot more to do.” (Our View, Nov. 2). As stated, the current crisis “has shed valuable light on the precarity of day-to-day life for so many of us.” In my own case, I discovered, despite my Maine PERS pension, that I was eligible for SNAP benefits.

For over 30 years, I taught primarily in the Portland Public School System. Ah! The golden years with a little dross thrown in.

 I think we currently have a terrible game of chicken being played out today in Congress. Only, in this case, I think both heads chance being cut off. Look up the word “brinkmanship.” Insert the word sink instead of brink. Democracy cannot work this way and survive. 

All representatives (Republican/Democrat/independent) should agree to talk without pre-conditions. All should listen to their voting constituencies, not to the executive branch. It’s the voting branch that’s being toyed with. It’s health care and food being held hostage and the ordinary voter with ordinary pocketbooks shelling out the money.

Our leaders know the right thing to do. Please do it. 

Nicole d’Entremont
Peaks Island