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In Baltimore schools, free meals for all

The schools are providing nutritiously convenient food for the kids at their school, where they spend a minimum of 7, and up to 12, hours a day depending on age & activities.

It's for kids who have impoverished or dysfunctional homes on one end, all the way to kids of affluent families who enjoy the convenience of not having to plan finances, logistics, and funding on a daily/weekly/monthly basis with their kids, or have to worry if the kid stays late but doesn't have any snack-food money.

I really don't see your problem with this - feel free to send your kids with bologna sandwiches, if you'd like.

Heck, my kids both went to private prep schools, while I live in the middle of some of the very best public school systems in the country, including my own local district. Even without my kids attending the public schools, I have no problem paying the taxes, because it's reflected in the quality of the young men and women they graduate and the things they go on to do in their lives, and what they add back to the community. A great school system hugely adds to the quality of life of a community.

And good food available to all the kids, nourishing the brains of our future during the critical process of learning, is a good thing from where I'm sitting.

La Te Da. Yes, I understand the package has been wrapped in bright shiney paper with satin bows, and filled with chocolate covered good intentions.

What about the unintended consequences? Progressive polices make parental responsibilities no longer necessary. At one time people would think before having children. Within the confines of the Progressive State, it no longer matters. Just spit out a child at will and all will be well. Hell, let taxpayers cover the cost of parenting from birth to death.

It's a miracle the human race survived without these Progressive State policies and programs. Dang, how the hell did we invent the airplane, or even get to the moon?

Sorry, the bleeding heart crap doesn't fly with me. Nor does the typical, "so you want them to starve" blather that usually follows these discussions. Progressive State policies are destroying families, and crushing children. All one has to do is see how these liberal policies have worked out in places like Southern California, or Baltimore for that matter.
 
Their welfare allotment is based on how many kids they have. Even welfare bums are given enough money to feed their kids. But they say no, give my kids free meals

Year round. Guess how many new union workers it takes to provide meal services year round. See any connections here?
 
I think when considering where my tax dollars go, the cost of feeding children is probably one of the areas I'm happiest with.

That's how deadbeats look at it. They're very happy with someone else paying for their kids meals.

No...I think that's how people that aren't assholes look at it.

Although I can see for myself that this thread goes on for another zillion pages, I'm still going to respond with "/thread."
 
Why are we giving these brats free breakfast.? Why can't their parents feed them a breakfast.? Parents should also pack a lunch for the kids.

I came from an impoverished community. We had a breakfast program too. Like 20 years ago and still do. Some kids go home at night and don't eat again until the next day. Yes. Places like that exist.

Are they brats for starving?

I bitch about my taxes all the time too. That is one of few programs that actually does good with tax dollars and you are crying about it. Don't feed starving children?

You ever think maybe their parents aren't around or don't care? You want to punish the kid for that?
 
progressive ? all children should be fed and it is either parents' or the goverment's responsibility(especially if you are a worldpower).not everything is about money or politics in this damned world.

Mankind should never let the government take control of, and responsibility for, children. That is a recipe for absolute disaster. All these Progressive State moves are designed to move the responsibilities for raising children farther and farther from the people who should be the only ones raising them. Rewarding ignorance and lack of responsibility if a debilitating and destructive action plan.

As more an more people become dependent on the Progressive State, when will the State start making family decisions for them? If you think family planning won't become a Government Agency under the Progressive State, you haven't paid attention to any history. It is a natural progression from where this all started. It all started with Milk. And now it's year round meals. When will the Progressive State start warehousing children so they can dole them out to areas of need the State deems important?
 
Why are we giving these brats free breakfast.? Why can't their parents feed them a breakfast.? Parents should also pack a lunch for the kids.

Wow. I know its been said dozens of times on this same thread, but I'm going to say it again. I fully support any program that feeds children. Especially if it is healthy, nutritious foods for our nation's children. People need to eat, and children are not responsible for their parents.

Furthermore I support any programs designed to feed people. Not just children. Letting people starve or go hungry benefits noone. It hurts society. Nothing can push a person to crime like hunger.
 
You do realize this is not limited to Baltimore? They do it in my city. I'm not about to complain that kids are getting fed. :shrug:

actually, i was looking for something to be pissed off about today. feeding kids breakfast in Baltimore sounds like a great thing to focus my rage on.
 
actually, i was looking for something to be pissed off about today. feeding kids breakfast in Baltimore sounds like a great thing to focus my rage on.

I was going to be pissed off about the ongoing drug war, the military industrial complex, privatized prisons and the eradication of the middle class, but yeah, feeding hungry kids is just the worst.
 
I was going to be pissed off about the ongoing drug war, the military industrial complex, privatized prisons and the eradication of the middle class, but yeah, feeding hungry kids is just the worst.

Why the government is trying to eliminate the parents by feeding hungry children!!!!!!
 
OK - then don't complain about taxes. Money is taken from you and used to feed someone else's kids because those parents won't do it.

You're probably pro-war and never flinch at your tax dollars supporting that. But he'll no, making sure children are fed! Some folk have the strangest values.
 
La Te Da. Yes, I understand the package has been wrapped in bright shiney paper with satin bows, and filled with chocolate covered good intentions.

What about the unintended consequences? Progressive polices make parental responsibilities no longer necessary. At one time people would think before having children. Within the confines of the Progressive State, it no longer matters. Just spit out a child at will and all will be well. Hell, let taxpayers cover the cost of parenting from birth to death.

It's a miracle the human race survived without these Progressive State policies and programs. Dang, how the hell did we invent the airplane, or even get to the moon?

Sorry, the bleeding heart crap doesn't fly with me. Nor does the typical, "so you want them to starve" blather that usually follows these discussions. Progressive State policies are destroying families, and crushing children. All one has to do is see how these liberal policies have worked out in places like Southern California, or Baltimore for that matter.

Greetings, ocean515. :2wave:

:agree: There is an infuriating article on Yahoo today titled "Lunch Lady Fired After Refusing to Humiliate Students - It's not right!." Apparently in her school district, parents pay for their children's school lunches, and if they haven't kept up on payments - maybe they just don't have the money, or they forgot - the lunches are taken from the children when they reach the cash register, and thrown in the trash as a matter of school policy! The children affected are given a piece of cheese and a slice of bread in lieu of lunch. WTH? Is this what the bottom of the barrel looks like when there are no morals left - punishing children for something they had no control over? (She either paid for the lunches when she could, or just let them have them). This is bull****! She admits she broke a rule she didn't agree with, and she's not going to fight the firing, but is that a reason to fire her...for showing compassion and common sense? Give me a break! This is so disgusting to me that they are throwing food away to make a point, and as for the hungry children - meh! "Let them eat cake!" :thumbdown:
 
I was going to be pissed off about the ongoing drug war, the military industrial complex, privatized prisons and the eradication of the middle class, but yeah, feeding hungry kids is just the worst.

it sure is.

BUY YOUR OWN DAMNED WHEATIES, TAKERS!!!111ONE
 
La Te Da. Yes, I understand the package has been wrapped in bright shiney paper with satin bows, and filled with chocolate covered good intentions.

What about the unintended consequences? Progressive polices make parental responsibilities no longer necessary. At one time people would think before having children. Within the confines of the Progressive State, it no longer matters. Just spit out a child at will and all will be well. Hell, let taxpayers cover the cost of parenting from birth to death.

It's a miracle the human race survived without these Progressive State policies and programs. Dang, how the hell did we invent the airplane, or even get to the moon?

Sorry, the bleeding heart crap doesn't fly with me. Nor does the typical, "so you want them to starve" blather that usually follows these discussions. Progressive State policies are destroying families, and crushing children. All one has to do is see how these liberal policies have worked out in places like Southern California, or Baltimore for that matter.
We've got two issues here, that I see -

The first is providing a benefit to those kids, whom for whatever reason are not getting the proper food or nutrition at home. If you don't want to act on this for the ethical issues alone, you may consider the practical: we can either deal with these kids when young, helping them get a start towards a life as an educated productive citizen; or we can deal with them as adults when they are at risk to become a drain on social services at best, housed in the criminal justice system at worst. Neither alternatives are cheap - we need these kids to become productive contributors, not lifetime takers. Either way we, as a society, pay. (and we pay more than just financially)

Education (while far from perfect) is statistically the best indicator of one's lifetime earning potential - I'm for doing whatever we can to keep our kids at risk in school, and if that means giving the kids a lunch to keep them there, I'm all for it.

Don't confuse this school lunch program with the myriad of lifetime free means-tested entitlements doled out like candy in this country - I'd cut or curtail many of those in a heartbeat! But school lunch is not one of them; if anything, I'd expand educational opportunities at all levels.

The second issue is providing benefits as mean-tested, which is often done in this country. I'm dead against this, for the most part. There's a whole host of reasons to not provide meant-tested benefits, and I suspect you know many if not most, so I'll simply state that I only want to see benefits (or rights, for that matter) provided equally for all - we don't pick winners or losers in America (or we shouldn't). And this program satisfies this last criteria well.

EDIT:

Mankind should never let the government take control of, and responsibility for, children.
And your solution for feeding the neglected kids, is what?
 
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--snipped--

Of course, you're probably white and come from privilege, so you have absolutely no idea what it's like as a child to not get to eat.

I can see both sides of this argument. Some of the questions people have:
Should we feed kids? Will this develop dependence? Shouldn't the parents do more to feed them?
Should we pay more to vet the incomes of recipients? Would that cost outweigh the benefit?
How do we then, control the fraud and waste?

Well, I don't care what it costs, children SHOULD be fed!
A hungry child does not care about politics or even how much their parents work and make. When lunchtime rolls around they are miserable
because their stomach is growling and starting to hurt. That is what hungry children are focused on.

When I grew up my dad left us at the age of 5. My mom did the best she could with what she had. I remember her working her butt off to put food on the table and keep the lights on.
Because her income was so low, we kids qualified for free/reduced lunches and occasionally, breakfasts (when offered)
I can personally attest to the huge value and difference this made in my life!
I know that if I did not have this wonderful benefit my good grades would have not been as good. (It is much easier to learn when you are not hungry)
Children must be fed.

(rabidalpaca: Why, you may ask, is he responding to my post? Because I am WHITE. And...like a lotta other white folk, I was never well-to-do or priviledged! FYI)
 
Greetings, ocean515. :2wave:

:agree: There is an infuriating article on Yahoo today titled "Lunch Lady Fired After Refusing to Humiliate Students - It's not right!." Apparently in her school district, parents pay for their children's school lunches, and if they haven't kept up on payments - maybe they just don't have the money, or they forgot - the lunches are taken from the children when they reach the cash register, and thrown in the trash as a matter of school policy! The children affected are given a piece of cheese and a slice of bread in lieu of lunch. WTH? Is this what the bottom of the barrel looks like when there are no morals left - punishing children for something they had no control over? (She either paid for the lunches when she could, or just let them have them). This is bull****! She admits she broke a rule she didn't agree with, and she's not going to fight the firing, but is that a reason to fire her...for showing compassion and common sense? Give me a break! This is so disgusting to me that they are throwing food away to make a point, and as for the hungry children - meh! "Let them eat cake!" :thumbdown:

Hi Polgara -

I had caught the headline, but didn't read the content. This incident illustrates what I have been railing about. The road to decay and destruction is paved with good intentions. When the Progressive State becomes the parent, woe be it to those who don't heed it's demands. And as this worker learned, woe be it to those who dare step outside its lethal borders.
 
Hi Polgara -

I had caught the headline, but didn't read the content. This incident illustrates what I have been railing about. The road to decay and destruction is paved with good intentions. When the Progressive State becomes the parent, woe be it to those who don't heed it's demands. And as this worker learned, woe be it to those who dare step outside its lethal borders.

What are you talking about? They aren't FORCING kids to eat school provided lunches. Why they hysterics?
 
actually, i was looking for something to be pissed off about today. feeding kids breakfast in Baltimore sounds like a great thing to focus my rage on.

Want to be even more pissed off? I bet this program is feeding millions of illegal immigrant children.

Please try and control your rage now. :)
 
What are you talking about? They aren't FORCING kids to eat school provided lunches. Why they hysterics?

If you are interested in a discussion, you might refrain from illustrating your obsession with the word "hysterical" and it's derivatives. You're beginning to look hysterical.

You suggest they aren't forcing kids to eat lunches. I have never suggested that. On the other hand, the news is full of examples of schools not allowing kids to bring certain foods to eat for lunch. So who is forcing what on them?

Back to the primary issue. When parents learn they no longer need to take responsibility for feeding their kids, what do you think happens?
 
Want to be even more pissed off? I bet this program is feeding millions of illegal immigrant children.

Please try and control your rage now. :)

Immigrant children eat food? :shock: My oh my, what's this world coming to? Think that these kids forced their parents to come to America so that could eat food paid for by the US taxpayers? :shrug:
 
If you are interested in a discussion, you might refrain from illustrating your obsession with the word "hysterical" and it's derivatives. You're beginning to look hysterical.

You suggest they aren't forcing kids to eat lunches. I have never suggested that. On the other hand, the news is full of examples of schools not allowing kids to bring certain foods to eat for lunch. So who is forcing what on them?

Back to the primary issue. When parents learn they no longer need to take responsibility for feeding their kids, what do you think happens?

You might want to stay away from using these over the top arguments about how "woe be" the person who doesn't heed the state. It's ridiculous is what it is. Just over-sensationalized propaganda. What happens if a parent "doesn't heed the state" here? What? Woe be them, yes? So what will happen if you pack your kids lunch or you feed them breakfast before going to school? Answer that.
 
You might want to stay away from using these over the top arguments about how "woe be" the person who doesn't heed the state. It's ridiculous is what it is. Just over-sensationalized propaganda. What happens if a parent "doesn't heed the state" here? What? Woe be them, yes? So what will happen if you pack your kids lunch or you feed them breakfast before going to school? Answer that.

Perhaps you should catch up with the times so your opinion can come from a more informed place. The answer to your question is it would depend if the lunch they packed, or the breakfast they served, met the Progressive State directives.

Colorado Mom: I Was 'Lunch Shamed' For Giving My Daughter Oreos

An Aurora, Colorado mother named mother named Leeza Pearson packed Oreos as part of her daughter’s lunch and says she was subsequently “shamed” by school administrators. Apparently the teachers confiscated the cookies like they were heroin balloons and sent the child home with a stern note.

According to ABC News, the message to Pearson read:


“Dear Parents, it is very important that all students have a nutritious lunch. This is a public school setting and all children are required to have a fruit, a vegetable and a heavy snack from home, along with a milk. If they have potatoes, the child will also need bread to go along with it. Lunchables, chips, fruit snacks, and peanut butter are not considered to be a healthy snack. This is a very important part of our program and we need everyone’s participation.”​

Food police confiscate 4-year old’s lunch, bill parents :: Northern Colorado Gazette


A pre-school in North Carolina has created a stir around the country after it was reported that officials forced a child to eat a school lunch and billed the parent because her lunch brought from home did not meet school standards for nutrition.

The incident happened at the West Hoke Elementary school in Raeford. According to the North Carolina Journal, the four year old student’s mother, who wants to remain anonymous, had prepared a lunch for her daughter consisting of a turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, apple juice and potato chips.​


Now you may not like my accurate portrayal of "woe be", I really don't care. But when a parents decision on how to feed their child is met by the kind of crap depicted above, and in countless other articles I could post, it is indeed, woe be to the parents who fail to meet the Progressive State directives.
 
Why can't the parents feed their own kids.? Oh yeah - they'd rather spend their money on drugs and lotto.

That is not the only reason, but even when it is the situation the kid should not be punished by not getting fed. Hunger interferes with learning.
 
Perhaps you should catch up with the times so your opinion can come from a more informed place. The answer to your question is it would depend if the lunch they packed, or the breakfast they served, met the Progressive State directives.

Colorado Mom: I Was 'Lunch Shamed' For Giving My Daughter Oreos

An Aurora, Colorado mother named mother named Leeza Pearson packed Oreos as part of her daughter’s lunch and says she was subsequently “shamed” by school administrators. Apparently the teachers confiscated the cookies like they were heroin balloons and sent the child home with a stern note.

According to ABC News, the message to Pearson read:


“Dear Parents, it is very important that all students have a nutritious lunch. This is a public school setting and all children are required to have a fruit, a vegetable and a heavy snack from home, along with a milk. If they have potatoes, the child will also need bread to go along with it. Lunchables, chips, fruit snacks, and peanut butter are not considered to be a healthy snack. This is a very important part of our program and we need everyone’s participation.”​

Food police confiscate 4-year old’s lunch, bill parents :: Northern Colorado Gazette


A pre-school in North Carolina has created a stir around the country after it was reported that officials forced a child to eat a school lunch and billed the parent because her lunch brought from home did not meet school standards for nutrition.

The incident happened at the West Hoke Elementary school in Raeford. According to the North Carolina Journal, the four year old student’s mother, who wants to remain anonymous, had prepared a lunch for her daughter consisting of a turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, apple juice and potato chips.​


Now you may not like my accurate portrayal of "woe be", I really don't care. But when a parents decision on how to feed their child is met by the kind of crap depicted above, and in countless other articles I could post, it is indeed, woe be to the parents who fail to meet the Progressive State directives.

"Food-shaming" wouldn't work on me. I was all about my kid's nutrition beginning with homemade baby food, but if they were still in school, I swear I'd pack nothing but soda and Twinkies and other crap.

But back to the important topic, if children are going hungry, they need to be fed. States and communities need to make this a priority.
 
This does not help america. It helps the kids and their parents who are getting more freebies, but it's all paid for by others. Just another transfer of money from working americans to deadbeats.
Hungry children do not learn as well as well nourished kids. Letting kids go hungry perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
 
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