Social programs- free school lunches

[jelloshots4all]

It was on the news tonight.  It was provided to ALL families last year regardless of income in my county/the country.

I could have qualified last year for the first time ever.  I did not sign up (and I am NOT shaming anyone that needs it- NOT my point at ALL!).

Now parents in my VERY red county are up in arms because they can't get it, and are claiming the need due to the Delta variant of covid. 

Yet in MY county many refuse to get vaccinated.

It seems like they want social programs that benefit them, yet complain about others who need them.

Maybe wrong forum- feel free to move it.

Thoughts?

[swamp]

I don’t really understand why people get upset about feeding kids, Yeah yeah yeah I know, don’t breed em if you can’t feed em. It’s a nice sentiment but it doesn’t help the hungry kids out there.

Jell-O, I think the people in your area are upset about those brown skinned kids getting fed.

[Lizard Queen]

Our school had it for everyone last year. Nobody had to sign up--they just fed the kids that wanted the school food. We took advantage of it simply because it was easier, and my kids finally got used to the food that was served there. This year, my elementary school is continuing for everyone, but I haven't heard whether the middle school is. If not, we'll just pay. Now we've been spoiled by not needing to pack lunches everyday.

What I think? Just feed all the kids in public schools. I believe other countries do. So much effort is expended trying to determine if people deserve it.

[pulmonarymd]

They are willing to take welfare. I thought that was only for the poor, unwashed takers. Who is paying for their lunches, the liberal elites?

[jelloshots4all]

I agree that all kids should be fed.  Maybe this was more of a political post and can be moved.

The people complaining are using covid as an excuse for free lunches now.  When the parents could be vaccinated and work.

It's them being hypocrits and anti-vax.  Yet the Gov't should support their families so the Gov't doesn't "tell them what to do and put a chip in their arms"

Just fed up.

[pulmonarymd]

I thought Covid was a hoax, at least according to red America. We don’t need mask mandates, vaccination mandates, or social distancing. You know, the things that might make the need for free lunches unnecessary

[Lizard Queen]

Oh yeah, we already knew those people were flaming hypocrites.

[formerroomate99]

It’s pretty standard human nature to want the programs that benefit you and be skeptical of the ones that don’t. I tend to be in the camp of letting kids get fed in public school, simply because it’s easier than dealing with the discipline problems that will inevitably arise when kids are hungry.

[Artemis Windsong]

This would end the unpaid lunch tabs for some students. And the humiliation of minimal lunch.

[raeoflyte]

Both kids school get free breakfast and lunch this year. There isn't an option to pay for it.

[giramomma]

Aug 24, 2021 18:13:17 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

It seems like they want social programs that benefit them, yet complain about others who need them.

I think a lot of people feel like this. Fear of missing out, feeling like someone else is getting your piece of the pie, whatever.  I want mine. I'm entitled, dammit.

I think part of the problem is people are  turning more and more inward.  If all you do is hang around folks that reinforce that you are right, well, then there's no need to critically think, challenge assumptions, or grow as a person. And the pandemic isn't helping.

I also think it's a sign that folks have way too much time on their hands. It is amazing how much my mom gets all upset about such things. But, she literally has no other way to pass the day, other than to sit and ruminate and dwell, judge, and criticize. She doesn't read. She doesn't interact with other people. She doesn't engage in hobbies.

Granted, I'm crazy with what I put on my plate, and that shouldn't be the standard, either. But, I can assure you, I don't have the bandwidth to worry about the situation of other families, or to keep track of who is getting what, while I am not. Or keep track of what I'm getting while others are not.

Worrying about myself is a big enough job, KWIM?

ETA: Or it could be simply being upset that folks are upset when their fantasy/imagined  life doesn't match reality. I also know that's a contributing factor for mom as well.

[thyme4change]

Aug 24, 2021 18:59:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I thought Covid was a hoax, at least according to red America. We don’t need mask mandates, vaccination mandates, or social distancing. You know, the things that might make the need for free lunches unnecessary

Covid is not the real problem. The fear mongering left is destroying the economy and using the Covid hoax to bring about socialism and/or communism. Or something like that.

[pulmonarymd]

Aug 25, 2021 9:36:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Aug 24, 2021 18:59:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I thought Covid was a hoax, at least according to red America. We don’t need mask mandates, vaccination mandates, or social distancing. You know, the things that might make the need for free lunches unnecessary

Covid is not the real problem. The fear mongering left is destroying the economy and using the Covid hoax to bring about socialism and/or communism. Or something like that.

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 25, 2021 9:38:23 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Aug 25, 2021 9:36:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Covid is not the real problem. The fear mongering left is destroying the economy and using the Covid hoax to bring about socialism and/or communism. Or something like that.

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

Those actors in the morgue play dead very well.  They can give a possum a run for his money!

[Tennesseer]

Aug 25, 2021 9:38:23 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Aug 25, 2021 9:36:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Covid is not the real problem. The fear mongering left is destroying the economy and using the Covid hoax to bring about socialism and/or communism. Or something like that.

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

Yea. A lot of those young adult crisis actors filling up the beds in the ICUs are the same individuals used nine years ago as little kids murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

They do get around.

[bean29]

It kind of goes right along with those people who were in the ACA Health Insurance Plan and voted against their self interest in the 2016 election.

I could see where parents that have more money might just want free hot lunch b/c it is more convenient.

When my DH was a kid they qualified for free lunch, but found using the tickets embarrassing.  He and his brothers always did odd jobs to earn $$ so they could pay for hot lunch.

When DH and I lived in our first house there was a foster kid that always came and asked for odd jobs to earn $$.  DH would give him $$ and ask him to come back to do the "work".  Usually DH had him pick up dog poo in the backyard.  Occasionally the kid would ring the door bell in the AM.  I asked DH what was going on, and he would tell me the kid needed lunch $$.  

[formerroomate99]

Aug 24, 2021 18:59:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I thought Covid was a hoax, at least according to red America. We don’t need mask mandates, vaccination mandates, or social distancing. You know, the things that might make the need for free lunches unnecessary

Being someplace where you don’t have to take the governor out to a fancy restaurant during a lockdown in order to be allowed to make a living does tend to make charity less necessary.

My state has extended the free breakfast and lunch for another year. I don’t have a problem with it. They are plenty of people around who are still recovering financially from the lockdowns. That’s something that the states who are stopping the free lunches really need to think about.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 25, 2021 10:41:06 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 24, 2021 18:59:24 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I thought Covid was a hoax, at least according to red America. We don’t need mask mandates, vaccination mandates, or social distancing. You know, the things that might make the need for free lunches unnecessary

Being someplace where you don’t have to take the governor out to a fancy restaurant during a lockdown in order to be allowed to make a living does tend to make charity less necessary.

My state has extended the free breakfast and lunch for another year. I don’t have a problem with it. They are plenty of people around who are still recovering financially from the lockdowns. That’s something that the states who are stopping the free lunches really need to think about.

The free lunch is under a federal program, so all states should have access to it.  Even our private school does.  Unfortunately, it's only for schools that took part last year and our grades 5-12 cancelled hot lunch entirely last year so they're out of luck this year.  K-4 gets it though.  I'm not complaining though, even though our lunches are $5/day, because the meals they're getting are amazing.  We passed on the free government breakfasts/lunches over the summer, because it was just tons of prepackaged processed stuff.  Way better than going hungry for sure, but we could afford better options.

[formerroomate99]

Aug 25, 2021 9:38:23 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Aug 25, 2021 9:36:14 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Covid is not the real problem. The fear mongering left is destroying the economy and using the Covid hoax to bring about socialism and/or communism. Or something like that.

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

Would the ICUs be filled if the working age people had gotten vaccinated? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t sit there and condemn anybody who chooses not to get vaccinated as being the reason we’re still in the middle of this, and then act like the vaccine never happened and we all have to stay in lockdown forever, and hand out welfare to people who can’t work from home.

[formerroomate99]

Aug 25, 2021 10:56:13 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 25, 2021 10:41:06 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Being someplace where you don’t have to take the governor out to a fancy restaurant during a lockdown in order to be allowed to make a living does tend to make charity less necessary.

My state has extended the free breakfast and lunch for another year. I don’t have a problem with it. They are plenty of people around who are still recovering financially from the lockdowns. That’s something that the states who are stopping the free lunches really need to think about.

The free lunch is under a federal program, so all states should have access to it.  Even our private school does.  Unfortunately, it's only for schools that took part last year and our grades 5-12 cancelled hot lunch entirely last year so they're out of luck this year.  K-4 gets it though.  I'm not complaining though, even though our lunches are $5/day, because the meals they're getting are amazing.  We passed on the free government breakfasts/lunches over the summer, because it was just tons of prepackaged processed stuff.  Way better than going hungry for sure, but we could afford better options.

My point was that my state chose to make the free lunches automatic across-the-board instead of putting roadblocks in place like other states did. I am aware that the lunch program is a federal thing.

[pulmonarymd]

Aug 25, 2021 11:00:38 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 25, 2021 9:38:23 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

Would the ICUs be filled if the working age people had gotten vaccinated? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t sit there and condemn anybody who chooses not to get vaccinated as being the reason we’re still in the middle of this, and then act like the vaccine never happened and we all have to stay in lockdown forever, and hand out welfare to people who can’t work from home.

Give it a rest. There are plenty of mitigation steps that the states in the worst shape could have done. Masks, social distancing, masks in schools, and vaccination. Vaccination was always part of it. And if working people(your description), CHOSE not to get vaccinated because of whatever reason they chose, and are now wanting my(well paying, not government supported)(again, your description) job to pay for it, all while casting aspersions on me and my fellow medical professionals knowledge and motivation, I have a problem with it.

These are the same people who call it a hoax and have resisted mitigation efforts. Excuse me if I have no sympathy for them after 18 months of hell at my job.

[bean29]

www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2021/08/25/waukesha-students-there-really-no-such-thing-free-lunch/5573671001/

These people on the school board are real A-holes.  But is the article wrong Jello?  I know you are in Waukesha County, but you are not in the Waukesha School District right?

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 25, 2021 11:03:01 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 25, 2021 10:56:13 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

The free lunch is under a federal program, so all states should have access to it.  Even our private school does.  Unfortunately, it's only for schools that took part last year and our grades 5-12 cancelled hot lunch entirely last year so they're out of luck this year.  K-4 gets it though.  I'm not complaining though, even though our lunches are $5/day, because the meals they're getting are amazing.  We passed on the free government breakfasts/lunches over the summer, because it was just tons of prepackaged processed stuff.  Way better than going hungry for sure, but we could afford better options.

My point was that my state chose to make the free lunches automatic across-the-board instead of putting roadblocks in place like other states did. I am aware that the lunch program is a federal thing.

I wasn't aware that some states were turning down the free lunches.

[Tiny]

IDK, free lunches for all the kids in the local public schools - does benefit me (I have no kids) indirectly. I assume there's a possibility that the kids who don't get fed by their parents (possibly for a variety of reasons beyond their parents are lazy and gaming the system) will have one less "insecurity" in their life and may not have to make a difficult choice (steal? bully? just not go to school?) which would effect the community right away and could have long term consequences.   It may give some kids hope (the light at the end of the tunnel) for their future.  It may give them an opportunity they might not have otherwise had.  It help them to change/choose their future. 

I assume it's possible that some of the kids have parents that are getting by financially - and maybe not having a "lunch expense" for their kid(s) might mean the family has more money for savings or some other life improvement. Families getting by and having hope for the future - tend to make good neighbors and a better community.

I assume it's possible that some of the kids have parents doing great financially and I'm guessing those parents are like "YES!!!" I get to keep more of my money earning money for me!!! woo hoo!! - as in they no longer have this expense and can allocate the $$ to something else. It's like they get some of their "tax" money back.


So, I say free lunches for school kids makes my life better - thru the people/families around me and my community. I'm all for it. Even if the rich people get yet another perk that helps them get richer.

[andi9899]

Aug 25, 2021 11:00:38 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

Aug 25, 2021 9:38:23 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I guess all those people filling up the ICUs are crisis actors. They are all going to magically get up out of bed and walk out of the hospital.

Would the ICUs be filled if the working age people had gotten vaccinated? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t sit there and condemn anybody who chooses not to get vaccinated as being the reason we’re still in the middle of this, and then act like the vaccine never happened and we all have to stay in lockdown forever, and hand out welfare to people who can’t work from home.

Unvaccinated people are exactly why we're still dealing with this.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I've never really understood why lunch isn't just included with the cost of K-12 education all the time anyhow.  What is the cost of a year of school when you factor in the buildings and maintenance and the teachers and administrative staff salaries? I'm sure it's many thousands per kid. If we fed a kid a $3 lunch every single school day the entire 9 months it comes to maybe $400/year.  Seriously, just feed them all and be done with it.  We pay to bus them all.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Aug 25, 2021 12:05:49 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I've never really understood why lunch isn't just included with the cost of K-12 education all the time anyhow.  What is the cost of a year of school when you factor in the buildings and maintenance and the teachers and administrative staff salaries? I'm sure it's many thousands per kid. If we fed a kid a $3 lunch every single school day the entire 9 months it comes to maybe $400/year.  Seriously, just feed them all and be done with it.  We pay to bus them all.

According to when our school system ran the budget after becoming part of the free for all school lunch program it's a wash.  They factored in the time/money and staff needed to maintain the accounts and chase people down who were deliquient and send out all the reminders/forms etc.   They may have even come out slightly ahead.

So I don't know what the big deal about it is either, it's not costing anyone anything extra.   I suppose it's the notion that if a kid gets free lunch you are somehow being screwed over because you aren't getting "your fair share" of the $5 school lunch the kid is eating. 

[wvugurl26]

I just don't get the anger over feeding children. For supposedly the richest nation in the world and we can't even feed our children? I'm all for trimming back government spending but feeding children is not what I call wasteful.

Children are innocent. They can't help their parents situation or decisions. If we have the means to feed them, we should. It's what a civilized nation should do. Our future should be important.

[pulmonarymd]

I think feeding the kids is ok, IF we are feeding them healthy meals. If we are feeding them junk, like many places do, we are just going to make childhood obesity worse and reinforce poor dietary habits. If that is what would happen, no thanks.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Aug 25, 2021 12:54:10 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I just don't get the anger over feeding children. For supposedly the richest nation in the world and we can't even feed our children? I'm all for trimming back government spending but feeding children is not what I call wasteful.

Children are innocent. They can't help their parents situation or decisions. If we have the means to feed them, we should. It's what a civilized nation should do. Our future should be important.

Cause we're still a largely Puritan driven society.  Things like poverty are not a fault of circumstances or lack of privilege.  It's a deep moral failing on your part.  You are a disgusting human being who must be reminded every day that you suck so you will become a good moral Christian and eventually rise above it.  If you don't well clearly God hates you.

If you do something like free school lunches and it actually IMPROVES things then it forces those with privilege to examine their privilege.  It's a lot harder to stand there and smugly say you are where you are solely because of how awesome a worker you are if society steps in to challenge it.

People need someone to look down on.  I can choose to ignore and vote for people who go against my interests as a woman if they can promise me at lest I'll be better and get more stuff than that poor person over there.  It gives the elite someone to distract the rest of us with.  That's why they keep beating the drum.  Gotta keep us in an endless state of frothing rage at the "others" rather than looking at the people who actually hold all the power in this country.