I listened with astonishment to the MPBN program, “Maine Calling,” recently as Rep. Ken Fredette, the minority leader in the Maine House of Representatives, spoke of seeing people in a grocery store who are “able-bodied” individuals with carts full of “name brand” items who he believes are abusing the welfare system, specifically TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

He offered this “evidence” to support his efforts to make TANF more difficult to access by people in crisis in Maine.

Fredette couldn’t cite any real data to support his hunches and couldn’t explain how he could determine someone was “able-bodied” simply by looking at them. His attitude demonstrates a callous disregard for the involved families and for the facts.

While there will always be people who abuse any system, the overwhelming majority of TANF recipients desperately need the help. They are victims of domestic violence, or they are mentally or physically disabled or care for someone who is disabled. A significant percent have less than a high school education and many lack job skills and experience. They often don’t have reliable cars and can’t afford child care. Those are real barriers to a higher level of functioning.

Finally, many of those affected are children.

Unless we want to guarantee that the next generation will fall even further behind, we need to make every effort possible to ensure that those families thrive. Placing more hurdles in their application process is, at best, a short-sighted public policy.

Maryann Larson, New Gloucester