If The Machine Is Broken, Keep Using It.
No one will notice the difference
Images by Gemini AI
Yes, that’s what my grandfather used to say, “If the machine is broken, keep using it. No One will notice the difference.”
Actually, my grandfather never said anything like this, nor probably anyone else’s grandfather, because it’s stupid and doesn’t make sense.
And yet, as I read the latest chess move from the Trump Administration and Ketanji Brown Jackson’s response regarding SNAP payments, I can’t help but think that someone in our government really, and I mean really, doesn’t understand the concept of something being broken.
One judge says, Make SNAP payment in full using existing funds. Another says, No, wait a second. Then a third pipes up, Yes, pay them right now. Then the Supreme Court weighs in and states, Hold on, we’ll give you some more time to unwind everything you did in the last 15 minutes, so we can spend more time trying to figure out what the hell’s going on.
And the outcome?
Some SNAP payments were made by the states. Some were not. The Trump Admin. is doing what they always do, threatening someone to claw back the money if the states paid out too much, or we’ll punish you. (Actual intent: make people suffer so they’ll blame the Democrats for the government shutdown.)
Like this wasn’t what was going to happen, when the Administration’s lawyers pounded on the Supreme Court‘s front door and said, Look at this now, or we’ll do something really mean! And then they did it anyway.
Like the Supreme Court hasn’t already provided the Trump Administration with enough fuel, fire, and permission to burn down our democracy bit by bit.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this was a Grandmaster’s chess move for the ages, but it just doesn’t look that way.
I know the Supreme Court is busy. I know they have other cases to review. But it’s hard to imagine they did not see the SNAP issue landing on their doorstep and that maybe, just maybe, they could have thought about it a little bit more.
In the real world, when something is broken, we replace it with something that works. Why can’t our government get this concept?
