Believe it or not, some Americans understand the value of plastic bread bags. A nice set of bread bags over the shoes can make it easier to slip into tight winter boots, and they also provide an extra layer of waterproofing in the rain and snow. Plus, they’re free and reusable. Just remember to turn them inside-out to dry.

Unfortunately, Sen. Joni Ernst’s bread bag anecdote in her State of the Union response managed to confound a good portion of the population, who now have something else to keep them from acknowledging Ernst’s accomplishments.

I did my civil duty and watched the #SOTU, and response. This is all I got from the entire experience….. #BreadBags pic.twitter.com/ovePiBQldC — The Josh Show (@whatsajosh) January 21, 2015

I have never known the horrors of bread-bag feet — Joshua Green (@JoshuaGreen) January 21, 2015

What is this? Bread bags? Is this a response? #JoniErnst — Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) January 21, 2015

How could this happen under Ronald Reagan’s leadership?

Ernst tells of riding school bus filled w other Iowans w plastic bread bags pulled over their only shoes. She's 44, so under Reagan, GHWB? — Melinda Henneberger (@MelindaDC) January 21, 2015

To be clear, #JoniErnst grew up in the Reagan Era, not the Great Depression. #breadbags — Echo (@E__c__h__o) January 21, 2015

During the Carter administration mostly, but that’s beside the point.

OTOH, Ernst's anecdote's punchline — everyone wore the bread bags — weirdly anti-climactic. So things were bad for everyone then, and…? — Ron Kampeas (@kampeas) January 21, 2015

How much bread did 1970s Iowa consume? Two #breadbags per kid per day seems excessive. — Michel Marizco (@BorderReporter) January 21, 2015

I'm Jewish, so I grew up wrapping my shoes in bags from tasteless horrible rye bread. — Peter Sagal (@petersagal) January 21, 2015

poor is wrapping your shoes with bread. period. — Ron Kampeas (@kampeas) January 21, 2015

We never had any #breadbags growing up, so sometimes we'd carry our baked goods in fancy shoes. #SOTU @SenJoniErnst — Noah Hartman (@nohartman) January 21, 2015

joni ernst's frozen smile while talking about rows and rows of iowan children wearing #breadbags over their shoes is creeping me out. #SOTU — Leah Nelson (@jetpilotnelson) January 21, 2015

Why blow money on free community college education when it’s a ton cheaper to buy #breadbags for everyone? #SOTU2015 — Brian Steffen (@BrianSteffen) January 21, 2015

Alright. This time I'm really going to sleep. Goodnight kids. If it rains, put away your rubbers- get your #BreadBags out instead. — Dustin Pari (@dustinpari) January 21, 2015

You could always tell who were the rich kids on the bus because they had Wonder Bread bags not store brand. #Breadbags #SOTU — Kristy Harte (@KristinKohlHart) January 21, 2015

Snow and rain forecast for tomorrow. Better double-bag those boys' feet in the morning. #breadbags #sotu — Petula Dvorak (@petulad) January 21, 2015

#breadbagchronicles When I was a kid, my mom said I should be thankful because kids in China didn't have #breadbags — Warren Throckmorton (@wthrockmorton) January 21, 2015

Don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their #breadbags — pizzmoe (@pizzmoe) January 21, 2015

Lol #breadbagshoes #Breadbags It's the new binders full of women! The GOP are so generous to Internet memes. — Sheila (@sheilaInDC) January 21, 2015

Kidding aside, I'm from Iowa, and I have put #breadbags in my shoes — Tony Trout (@tony_trout) January 21, 2015

Here’s one guy on Twitter who gets it — well worth a read if you want to demystify the bread bag phenomenon.

@billmon1 She was misleading people. #breadbags helped her get her boots on. LOTS of kids did this. https://t.co/xnjJMVZOMM — Brian C. Bock (@BrianCBock) January 21, 2015

Here’s a liberal we could totally sit next to on the school bus.