Alanna Durkin’s article “Big changes next month for Maine welfare recipients” (Sept. 30) reports that new rules requiring employment of 20 hours per week to receive food stamps begin in October.

Garrett Martin’s column, “Maine Voices: LePage’s work requirements make no sense in Maine’s down economy” (Aug. 28), analyzes why this is a hardship for many Mainers.

People thrive on the structure and sense of self-worth employment can bring to their lives. Craig Anderson’s and Jennifer Van Allen’s article about the Market Basket employee protest, “Part-time workers lose hours as Market Basket cuts staffing” (Aug. 8), supports this point.

They quote Nicole Capriolli, an employee worried about losing her job: “This job got us out of the projects. For the first time we’re in our own apartment and off of government benefits. … And I love my job.”

Many people have sought work for a long time. The effects of unemployment and underemployment are debilitating. Many unemployed people don’t even seek food stamps; they’re helped by family, civic organizations or no one.

Questions come to mind: Why focus on the minute number of people who abuse the system, instead of the huge number struggling to afford food?

Why speak of “limited resources” available for struggling people, when there are large ads for multimillion-dollar homes and $100,000 cars?

Why are sensible ideas rejected? Does anyone honestly believe work requirements will end generational poverty?

Even during full employment, people fall through cracks. This current food stamp policy change is based on two false premises: that people who don’t work are simply choosing not to, and that by simply cutting off food and demanding that people do something they cannot do, people miraculously will be able to do it.

Increasing the pain of those who are already struggling goes beyond illogical; it’s deplorable.

Jean Sawyer

Brunswick