Free School Lunches

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

Just now, Thornton Melon said:

If you can afford to feed your kids, I shouldn't be paying for their lunch. If you're low income and having trouble, I don't mind helping. As far as the "stigma" of kids being embarrassed to be getting a free school lunch: deal with it, kid. It'll make you stronger person overall.

Why does one kid know how the other kid is paying for their lunch? We buy a ticket. Gets punched when they use it. Is the ticket the kids that need help look different? Don’t do that. Problem solved.  

[edjr 6,592]

do I get back the $100 I have sitting in my kids lunch account since pre-covid?

[Thornton Melon 620]

2 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Why does one kid know how the other kid is paying for their lunch? We buy a ticket. Gets punched when they use it. Is the ticket the kids that need help look different? Don’t do that. Problem solved.  

I don't know, my kids have long outgrown school, and I don't know how it was when they were going. I just know the whole "stigma" thing is one way they try to justify universal free lunch. The ticket idea sounds good to me, though.

[Thornton Melon 620]

2 minutes ago, edjr said:

do I get back the $100 I have sitting in my kids lunch account since pre-covid?

Not if you're gonna spend it on blow

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

Just now, Thornton Melon said:

I don't know, my kids have long outgrown school, and I don't know how it was when they were going. I just know the whole "stigma" thing is one way they try to justify universal free lunch. The ticket idea sounds good to me, though.

I remember riding the bus to school. Our route went through a middle class neighborhood, a rich neighborhood, and a poor one. I guess they shouldn’t have the route work like that because the poor kid might be stigmatized when they see the rich neighborhood.  I wore canvas sneakers. Other kids wore leather Nikes. The horror. 

[RogerDodger 798]

Mass actually passed a 530 million tax relief package for 2024.  Half as much as the Republicans wanted, however, your taxes should be going down.  In other words the money for school lunch isn't being paid for in a tax increase, rather a reprioritization of existing budget.

https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2024/FinalBudget

That would make it more palatable for me if I were a resident as now it's a matter of what programs are getting less funding.  That's the way it should be done as most governments have enough money and it's a matter of prioritization and efficiency versus bloat.  I would never be in favor of any of these programs if it comes as part of a tax increase.

[Dizkneelande 1,101]

“Free”

So the crap food from multinationals like Sodexo will be donated? This is a classic example of poor decision making.  Free and reduced lunch is worthy but must be needs based.  Far too many programs under leftist’s administrations should be needs based, but aren't. See the student loan giveaways. They are totally wasteful of tax dollars and inefficient. My kids have never eaten a school lunch. Will those that opt out receive a credit? Of course not. 

[League Champion 1,911]

38 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

Eight states now have some form of this. The program is providing lunches to all kids at school with no tickets, punch cards, what have you. Just go to school and you can eat a meal at lunch time.

This should def be the plan in every state.

They do it here in SC for anyone who qualifies. Basically anyone can qualify if they apply. My kids school has breakfast and lunch. 

There's a lot of rural areas here where poorer, both white & black kids don't get 3 meals a day, barely 1 if they're lucky. 

[HellToupee 1,776]

It’s roughly 1% of the education budget which is no big deal. The downside is with MA  it will soon start to grow as the political thievery learns ways to exploit it. For now it’s a good thing

[Cdub100 3,908]

Michigan has this. Of all the stupid sh1t the government waste money on this isn't one of them.

In a perfect world kids who can pay pay and low income get it free. But whatever makes it free 

Also for those saying make it healthier the kids won't eat it. Michelle Obama tried this and the food sucked and the kids wasted most of it.

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

People like HT is why there is a stigma against conservatives.  They're pro-life and all talk about protecting the kids but then when it comes to issues like this, fock those kids.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

8 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

People like HT is why there is a stigma against conservatives.  They're pro-life and all talk about protecting the kids but then when it comes to issues like this, fock those kids.

I never said anything close to that, liar. If we were in the same space I’d give you a smack. 

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

7 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

I never said anything close to that, liar. If we were in the same space I’d give you a smack. 

You don't see how people would think this way about conservatives though?

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

3 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

You don't see how people would think this way about conservatives though?

Well, you said I think that way, and I never said anything like that. Keep my name out your mouf.  

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

1 hour ago, thegeneral said:

Sorry I misread your original post. Yes you are correct the program is to have all lunches free if you go to school. The stigma thing you described is probably the main reason why they are just making it the same.

Also like I said, that stigma is easily removed WITHOUT taxing people billions of dollars.  The funny thing about this, which is even funnier that no one appreantly realizes, is that the people who can't afford to feed their own kids, will be taxed extra to feed kids who's parents not only can afford to feed their kids, but also the kids who's parents are wealthy.  I can't believe there are people who think this even remotely to a good idea.

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

2 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Well, you said I think that way, and I never said anything like that. Keep my name out your mouf.  

Are you for or against providing free lunches for students?

[thegeneral 3,214]

2 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Also like I said, that stigma is easily removed WITHOUT taxing people billions of dollars.  The funny thing about this, which is even funnier that no one appreantly realizes, is that the people who can't afford to feed their own kids, will be taxed extra to feed kids who's parents not only can afford to feed their kids, but also the kids who's parents are wealthy.  I can't believe there are people who think this even remotely to a good idea.

I don’t know how every state is doing this but in MA case it was a new tax on millionaires.

 

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

4 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

Are you for or against providing free lunches for students?

Just the poor ones. 

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

2 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I don’t know how every state is doing this but in MA case it was a new tax on millionaires.

 

Didn't see that in the link.  Willing to bet that won't last.  Also, no way $56B is coming from the millionaires alone.

[Thornton Melon 620]

56 minutes ago, RogerDodger said:

Mass actually passed a 530 million tax relief package for 2024.  Half as much as the Republicans wanted, however, your taxes should be going down.  In other words the money for school lunch isn't being paid for in a tax increase, rather a reprioritization of existing budget.

https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2024/FinalBudget

That would make it more palatable for me if I were a resident as now it's a matter of what programs are getting less funding.  That's the way it should be done as most governments have enough money and it's a matter of prioritization and efficiency versus bloat.  I would never be in favor of any of these programs if it comes as part of a tax increase.

Our taxes are not going down, I can assure you that.

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

Just now, Hardcore troubadour said:

Just the poor ones. 

The poor ones shouldn't even be alive since their parents should never have had kids though.

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

2 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

The poor ones shouldn't even be alive since their parents should never have had kids though.

But they are.  And no one starves in my country.  Sorry you think they do. If you think there are starving kids in this country and you don’t find them and feed them you’re garbage. 

[RogerDodger 798]

3 minutes ago, Thornton Melon said:

Our taxes are not going down, I can assure you that.

Yeah well, probably hiding in there somewhere.  I would think that the Fair Share Tax, if passed this year should be listed under initiatives, but it's not, going to have to compare to 2023 so see the real budget changes.  Other states aren't so subtle about  it.

[Dizkneelande 1,101]

4 minutes ago, Thornton Melon said:

Our taxes are not going down, I can assure you that.

Come on Thornton this isn’t true just like they wouldn’t remove the tolls on the pike after it was completed or the big dig wouldn’t cost more than 2 billion. Oops. 

[Cdub100 3,908]

43 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

People like HT is why there is a stigma against conservatives.  They're pro-life and all talk about protecting the kids but then when it comes to issues like this, fock those kids.

I'm farther right than HT. See my post above

[edjr 6,592]

47 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

People like HT is why there is a stigma against conservatives.  They're pro-life and all talk about protecting the kids but then when it comes to issues like this, fock those kids.

Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're focked.”

― George Carlin

[Baker Boy 1,699]

Obesity is a major problem of America’s poor.

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

1 minute ago, edjr said:

Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're focked.”

― George Carlin

It's definitely not representative of all conservatives but they have earned that stereotype. 

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

4 minutes ago, edjr said:

Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're focked.”

― George Carlin

 

1 minute ago, Hawkeye21 said:

It's definitely not representative of all conservatives but they have earned that stereotype. 

I'm ok with the stereotype that I think people should be and act, in a responsible manner and be accountable for their actions.

[RogerDodger 798]

26 minutes ago, Thornton Melon said:

Our taxes are not going down, I can assure you that.

A little close look puts tax on sales revenue up 12% and Corporations up 9%. 

The tax relief directed at renters, seniors and parents.  And big breaks to Big Bank.  All offset by 4% tax on income over 1 million.  

Middleclass suffers again.

[thegeneral 3,214]

30 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Didn't see that in the link.  Willing to bet that won't last.  Also, no way $56B is coming from the millionaires alone.

This has the info for MA

[jerryskids 6,799]

I think I align with TBay here; feed the truly needy but don't do it for everyone.

Also I'm a little skeptical about the "stigma."  For some reasons adults think kids are stupid and don't know such stuff.  I remember our kids playing tee ball, where they didn't keep score so that nobody would feel bad.  After the game:

Me:  Hey son, great game!

Son:  Meh, we lost 15-13.

Me:  But they didn't keep score!

Son: [Looks at me with that "you taught me to count, stupid" look].

Long way of saying:  the kids know which other kids are poor and need free lunches, regardless of how you implement it.

But, in the interest of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, I support it with the above condition.   

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

2 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

This has the info for MA

LOL

"State House News Service, an independent news wire, reported that $1 billion of the state's record $56.2 billion fiscal budget for 2024 will be funded by its new 4% tax."

Where's the other $55.2B coming from?

[League Champion 1,911]

3 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

LOL

"State House News Service, an independent news wire, reported that $1 billion of the state's record $56.2 billion fiscal budget for 2024 will be funded by its new 4% tax."

Where's the other $55.2B coming from?

Uhhhhhh

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

2 minutes ago, League Champion said:

Uhhhhhh

Seriously... you think that $1B going to the school is going to stay there?  That other $55B is going to where ever it's going and they're going to find out they need more.  When that happens, they'll start taking money from that $1B and eventually wrap it all into one pot.  When that happens, that extra 4% is going to quietly go away, and you'll never hear about it.

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

15 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

 

I'm ok with the stereotype that I think people should be and act, in a responsible manner and be accountable for their actions.

I have always agreed with that.

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

Just now, Hawkeye21 said:

I have always agreed with that.

So you are a Republican then?  I thought you've always said you weren't.  

[League Champion 1,911]

2 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Seriously... you think that $1B going to the school is going to stay there?  That other $55B is going to where ever it's going and they're going to find out they need more.  When that happens, they'll start taking money from that $1B and eventually wrap it all into one pot.  When that happens, that extra 4% is going to quietly go away, and you'll never hear about it.

It's a mess 

[Hawkeye21 2,399]

1 minute ago, TBayXXXVII said:

So you are a Republican then?  I thought you've always said you weren't.  

That's something I agree with republicans on.  Same with the 2nd Amendment.

[TBayXXXVII 2,545]

1 minute ago, League Champion said:

It's a mess 

Agreed.  That's why nothing had to change.  It's simple, if you have people who need help, they apply for it.  No one needs to know.  It's all done between the parent and the school district.  No one has to physically pay for food at school, it can all be done behind the scenes... but the parents who can feed their kids, should be the ones paying.