POLL: Should free lunch kids be allowed to buy from snackline at tax payer's expense?

[SuperTool]

I agree that taxpayer money should not be spent on snacks. But if some kid wants to get a snickers in addition to his free lunch, I don't see how it's any of my business. Unless you can show that he is not eligible for free lunch because his parents underreported their income, he can buy whatever he wants with what little discretionary budget he has. This notion that because someone gets free/reduced lunch they need to shop at Ross, wear Payless Shoes, get all their furniture from Salvation Army, eat Rice and beans all year, use 1ply TP, and live a miserable existence is complete nonsense. These are kids we are talking about. Of course they want an occasional snack once in a while. There are specific income requirements for free lunch, and as long as the student's families meet those requirements, their family budgets are none of my business.

 

[IJump]

I think snacks in school should be banned, as well as lunches in general. All lunch does is make a big mess. And while we're at it, can we get rid of the students too?

 

[Thegonagle]

To hell with you all, I say get rid of the snack line. Why should the school make JUNK food available to anyone? If anyone MUST have that junk food, they should bring it from home in the ol' brown bag.

 

[KEV1N]

Oh my freakin' god, Jerboy. There are people other than you in this world.

 

[Amused]

Where is the option in your poll to stop welfare handouts?

Free lunch programs are just abuse ridden handouts for kids of lazy parents.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< Where is the option in your poll to stop welfare handouts?

Free lunch programs are just abuse ridden handouts for kids of lazy parents. >>

I couldn't disagree with you more. Why should kids of poor parents be made to suffer? When I was young, my mother qualified for FREE lunches. She was and is as far from lazy as one could be. You try being a University student maintaining a straight A average while raising your two small children, and scraping up enough each month for a mortgage payment. She gave me life and a house to grow up in.

 

[BDawg]

<< I couldn't disagree with you more. Why should kids of poor parents be made to suffer? When I was young, my mother qualified for FREE lunches. She was and is as far from lazy as one could be. You try being a University student maintaining a straight A average while raising your two small children, and scraping up enough each month for a mortgage payment. She gave me life and a house to grow up in. >>



To be devil's advocate, why should AmusedOne be forced to support someone else with his hard work?

Personally, I don't have a problem with helping someone out who's down on his luck. Just about everone gets caught in a layoff or illness sometime in his life. It's the people who never try to move out from poverty and continue to have children who bother me.

 

[AMDJunkie]

My elementary schoo offered free lunches and I had no beef with the kids who were on it and were able to scrounge up the $.50 for a cookie or chips. What really pissed me off was the aholes that used the free lunch system, ate only what they liked, threw away half of a perfectly good lunch, and then get into the snack line with $2.50 for snacks. They're the ones you should be pissed with.

 

[geno]

<<

<< Yes, they should be. Some people don't stand in very high financial status and they want snack too >>

>>

 

[gopunk]

<< My elementary schoo offered free lunches and I had no beef with the kids who were on it and were able to scrounge up the $.50 for a cookie or chips. What really pissed me off was the aholes that used the free lunch system, ate only what they liked, threw away half of a perfectly good lunch, and then get into the snack line with $2.50 for snacks. They're the ones you should be pissed with. >>



i know exactly what you mean... 95% of the free lunch kids at my old school would get burger and fries, then throw away the burger because they didn't like it. there were trays full of discarded burgers.

 

[DaiShan]

a tough question indeed, split it down the middle, you take half I take half!

 

[Gillbot]

<< I don't think schools should provide free or reduced lunches. First off most of the time these kids end up getting made fun of. Second, it's freaken $2.25. Anyone..even people on welfare should be able to pay this even if they have 4 kids. If they can't they're obviously spending the money on things they shouldn't be. Food for you children should come before the nice dress from the mall. >>



Well, apparently you have never been on welfare. I for one grew up in the "gutter" and i am proud of what i have done FOR MYSELF. We made a WHOPPING $600 a month for a thre person family on welfare. Now factor in the bills and you tell me if $2 is to much to spend? HELL YES IT IS. Just my $0.02

 

[Amused]

<<

<< Where is the option in your poll to stop welfare handouts?

Free lunch programs are just abuse ridden handouts for kids of lazy parents. >>

I couldn't disagree with you more. Why should kids of poor parents be made to suffer? When I was young, my mother qualified for FREE lunches. She was and is as far from lazy as one could be. You try being a University student maintaining a straight A average while raising your two small children, and scraping up enough each month for a mortgage payment. She gave me life and a house to grow up in. >>



Why should parents be allowed to make their kids suffer, and why should *I* pay for it? I'm not making them suffer, therefore I'm not responsible. Hold the lazy freakin parents responsible. If, perchance, the parent is truely disabled, than disability should cover that. But for perpetual welfare parents, no. If you're able to work, don't come to me begging for a hand out.

 

[Russ]

<< This notion that because someone gets free/reduced lunch they need to shop at Ross, wear Payless Shoes, get all their furniture from Salvation Army, eat Rice and beans all year, use 1ply TP >>



Superfool,

You arrogant, elitist twerp. Those happen to be great places to shop, but I guess in your world only the poor welfare people would ever embarass themselves by doing so.

Jerboy,

You really are a spoiled little brat. I used to think it was just your forum "shtick".

The only thing wrong with the school lunch program (and, it's the same in my area) is that the minimum income threshhold is far too high. Beyond that, it is one of the few programs that actually has a definitive and provable benefit.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Amused]

<<

<< This notion that because someone gets free/reduced lunch they need to shop at Ross, wear Payless Shoes, get all their furniture from Salvation Army, eat Rice and beans all year, use 1ply TP >>



Superfool,

You arrogant, elitist twerp. Those happen to be great places to shop, but I guess in your world only the poor welfare people would ever embarass themselves by doing so.

Jerboy,

You really are a spoiled little brat. I used to think it was just your forum "shtick".

Russ, NCNE >>



Russ, let me add to this. If a family says they need free lunches, and they AREN'T shoping at Ross, wearing Payless Shoes, geting all their furniture from Salvation Army, eating Rice and beans all year, and using 1ply TP, they are wasting OUR money on things they do NOT need. Since when did having creature comforts become a RIGHT???

 

[gopunk]

Why should parents be allowed to make their kids suffer, and why should *I* pay for it? I'm not making them suffer, therefore I'm not responsible. Hold the lazy freakin parents responsible. If, perchance, the parent is truely disabled, than disability should cover that. But for perpetual welfare parents, no. If you're able to work, don't come to me begging for a hand out.

so what happens to the kids?

 

[microAmp]

<<

<< Yes, they should be. Some people don't stand in very high financial status and they want snack too >>

>>

 

[Amused]

<< Why should parents be allowed to make their kids suffer, and why should *I* pay for it? I'm not making them suffer, therefore I'm not responsible. Hold the lazy freakin parents responsible. If, perchance, the parent is truely disabled, than disability should cover that. But for perpetual welfare parents, no. If you're able to work, don't come to me begging for a hand out.

so what happens to the kids? >>



Their parents will start feeding them. For the tiny minority that don't, they'll lose their kids, as well they should.

Welfare and free lunches do nothing but create dependency. Plus, the manditory funding of these programs relegates the rest of us to slavery status, as those gaining from these programs then become ENTITLED to the product of our labor.

 

[Viper GTS]

<< I think they should have to put that cash towards their lunch, if they have the cash to spend, they shouldn't be getting it for free, since obviously they had cash to spend....though i do sympathize with them, they should be alowed snacks too. Take away free lunches and make it all reduced prices......though some families simply cannot afford that......sticky situation >>



So you're saying kids should have to forfeit their spending money to pay for meals if their parents qualify for reduced price lunches?

:disgust:

My family qualified for reduced price lunches when I was in gradeschool. When we went to buy our lunch tickets they would charge whatever price you qualified for. The lunch tickets were all the same, whether you paid full price or $0.40 like I did. When I had spending money (spending money was the joy of my childhood, if I had $10 I felt really damn rich) I spent it however I pleased.

Viper GTS

 

[CSoup]

<< I don't think schools should provide free or reduced lunches. First off most of the time these kids end up getting made fun of. Second, it's freaken $2.25. Anyone..even people on welfare should be able to pay this even if they have 4 kids. If they can't they're obviously spending the money on things they shouldn't be. Food for you children should come before the nice dress from the mall. >>



Many families can't afford 2.25 a day per kid. Would you want these kids to starve? They would probably start stealing to get money for food. The reason there is such a program instead of giving the family more welfare money is that it guarantees that the kids who basically have no say in the matter of food get fed while they are at school. If instead the family was given more welfare money and free lunch was discarded, the parents might spend the extra money on other stuff and the kids would starve. I went to schools where over 80 percent of the kids were on free/reduced lunch for most of my life. I was that kid for a large portion of my life. No toys. Never could even afford McDonald's. Had 7 shirts and 3 pants all from the thrift store. Definitely would not have been able to afford lunch at school.

So many people are poor. Got to help them out a little. The income distribution is already very uneven as it is today. The kids especially need the help and do not deserve to be punished for being poor.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< I don't think schools should provide free or reduced lunches. First off most of the time these kids end up getting made fun of. Second, it's freaken $2.25. Anyone..even people on welfare should be able to pay this even if they have 4 kids. If they can't they're obviously spending the money on things they shouldn't be. Food for you children should come before the nice dress from the mall. >>



Many families can't afford 2.25 a day per kid. Would you want these kids to starve? They would probably start stealing to get money for food. The reason there is such a program instead of giving the family more welfare money is that it guarantees that the kids who basically have no say in the matter of food get fed while they are at school. If instead the family was given more welfare money and free lunch was discarded, the parents might spend the extra money on other stuff and the kids would starve. I went to schools where over 80 percent of the kids were on free/reduced lunch for most of my life. I was that kid for a large portion of my life. No toys. Never could even afford McDonald's. Had 7 shirts and 3 pants all from the thrift store. Definitely would not have been able to afford lunch at school.

So many people are poor. Got to help them out a little. The income distribution is already very uneven as it is today. The kids especially need the help and do not deserve to be punished for being poor. >>


Oh quit with the drama

Show me a "starving" child in the US. Show me one before the free lunch programs, for that matter.

No one is starving in the US.

BTW, income is NOT distributed, it is EARNED.

 

[Russ]

<< Russ, let me add to this. If a family says they need free lunches, and they AREN'T shoping at Ross, wearing Payless Shoes, geting all their furniture from Salvation Army, eating Rice and beans all year, and using 1ply TP, they are wasting OUR money on things they do NOT need. Since when did having creature comforts become a RIGHT??? >>



Of course creature comforts are not a right. Never have been, never will be. And, in the case of ATDF (food coupon) recipients, I completely agree. That program is a disaster that has proven in the long term to be of more harm then benefit.

However, the subsidized lunch program has demonstrable benefit and is one of the least expensive of subsidies. Along with WIC, they are the only two for which the funds can be used only for a very specific purchase. In other words, you can't buy steak with these programs, when hamburger would do. As I said, my only real problem with it is that it's too easy to qualify.

I'm less inclined to take a hard line against programs where we can see some real value.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Geekbabe]

I personally have no problem with providing in kind supports like WIC or school lunches, the help goes directly to the child as intended and in the long run is probably cost effective to taxpayers in terms of reducing medical costs related to poor
prenatal/childhood nutrition.

 

[djheater]

<<
Show me a "starving" child in the US. Show me one before the free lunch programs, for that matter.

No one is starving in the US.
>>



You're wrong. There are many starving Americans. Call your local DCFS and ask them about statistics you might be amazed at how terrible living conditions in America can be. Take a look around appalchia if you need more proof.

 

[shurato]

There friggin kids for christs sake.....its not like we're talking about a free lunch program for 30 year olds... their just KIDS!
Sure theres gonna be some abusers in the system...but this is meant to help...thats what makes living in the United States so great...you think kids in africa or somewhere else have free lunch programs for school kids? I doubt most even goto school for that matter. This is the stupidest thread I have read in a long time. Some say poor people shouldn't breed, well ignorant people shouldnt breed either.