Conservative "Advocate" Suggests Families Can Survive With Pasta Alone, Gets Absolutely Schooled On Twitter
Walk in someone else's shoes to understand where they're coming from instead of making rash judgments.
The internet loves a bad take, and this one landed right in the middle of a real poverty debate. A Conservative commentator suggested that families could get by on pasta alone, and people on Twitter were not impressed.
The backlash centered on a single mother in the UK who works part time as a nurse and is raising three children. With childcare costs, food prices, and everyday bills piling up, even basic meals can become a struggle, and skipping meals is sometimes part of the reality.
Then the replies started rolling in, and the gap between theory and lived experience became impossible to ignore.
This is the suggestion from Twitter user Kevin Edger
KEdge23The replies came fast.
Comments poured in, especially from BookstrapCook, who knows how that isn't nearly enough for the nurse's family.
BootstrapCookThe answer is filled with sarcasm, but the point stands that it isn't as easy as Kevin seems to think.
BootstrapCook
People were quick to point out the obvious problem.
Jack continued and showed how much the tweet misses the mark.
BootstrapCook
The magic pasta simply wouldn't solve their crisis.
BootstrapCook
Jack got into the details of prices, grams, and the calories you'll get.
BootstrapCook
That is where the argument really fell apart.
There is a difference between saving money when you cook budget-friendly recipes, but you can't save money you don't have.
BootstrapCook
Jack challenged people in the replies who say that the nurse from the video can save money for food here and there.
BootstrapCook
It got her fired up to see people who think this way.
BootstrapCook
Although people might've appreciated Jack raising awareness with her replies, some pointed out that it might be shifting the focus from the real problems.
StuartsVoices
But she corrected the person and told them.
BootstrapCook
They dug up some history on Kevin, and it turns out that he is a Conservative.
RandomKentGuy
Jokes started, but it's pretty obvious that people who go through poverty know how hard it is.
JimMFelton
More people jumped in to back Jack Monroe.
This pasta debate is similar to a Redditor refusing to pay siblings’ moving expenses after they lost their job.
Twitter user BillyVacant went on to support Jack Monroe in shutting down Kevin Edger.
BillyVacant
They suggested that maybe Kevin should spend time working the way the nurse does for the same salary.
BillboBagginsX
It might prevent dying from starvation, but malnutrition is a big issue that catches up to a lot of people.
RebeccaJJules
Essential workers are the people who care for you when you need it the most; they shouldn't be stressing about their own basic needs.
jsy11997807
His priorities are questionable.
villa4life4
The nurse probably tried every way to budget her salary.
diva_political
Kevin might just be a pot stirrer while being unaware of the facts about the problem.
1957AJB
Instead of blaming the inefficiency of a system, the victims are blamed.
GeorgeHotchki14
The nurse is aware that a lot of people suffer the same way she does, but she still tries to provide as much as she can.
KeatLiz
It's a messed-up world.
yip_kevin
It's not practically possible most of the time.
cinzywincy
They are also random and don't go well with other budget items.
mat8iou
It's a vicious cycle.
HirwenHera
Look at the reality and see how other people live before making suggestions like he did.
GaryPau72646490
There is always hesitation in splurges, even though other people technically don't consider them splurges.
Blumblo
To barely survive is already expensive.
AlexNorthrop1
Look at it this way.
RayMacLean1
The reality is that a lot of people struggle with poverty. Skipping meals or being without a roof over your head is, unfortunately, common.
Thinking you can do better than those people without being in the same shoes as them shows ignorance. This is why the people in the comments made sure to share their sentiments about how bad it is.
Some takes are cheaper than pasta, and still not worth much.
Want another family money fight? See if a sister’s “not contributing more” lands her as the A-hole.
