Free Lunch

[gonefshn]

This whole thing is about feeding the kid who’s parents either aren’t responsible or really can’t pay even though “the formula“ says they can a shitty cold bag meal in front of their classmates to humiliate them so the parents will pay their bill. That’s the problem. Some schools actually do this. A kid who probably already has enough going against them is further humiliated because of it. What I’m told actually happens is many of those kids will skip lunch rather than be humiliated. All over a couple dollars. Our legislators could have easily fixed it by saying every kid gets the same hot meal and the schools have to take those not paying to court or by the state taking it from tax refunds like child support. But they didn’t and this is where we are.

 

[Jm1986]

Wow there are a lot of comments on this. And rightfully so. Nothing is free. Someone is going to wanna get paid somewhere. So where does the money come from? Of course our taxes. More taxes! It’s ridiculous. There are already programs in place for the families that cannot afford meals they are more than welcome to use those programs so their child can get meals while in school.
If the government didn’t nickle and dime us, most of these families wouldn’t have to even sign up for these programs. But true government fashion. Create a problem and then create a program to try and fix the problem they started. Completely ridiculous.

 

[savage270]

I've been rethinking this after reading all the comments and I think I can get on board with voting yes now, as long as we can get some Somali immigrants to run the program for the state.

 

[camper]

I've been rethinking this after reading all the comments and I think I can get on board with voting yes now, as long as we can get some Somali immigrants to run the program for the state.

And you think i post asinine posts. You need to grow up and give up the maga life. Hahaha

 

[wslayer]

3 days a week ?? thought school was 5 days a week must be new math now !!!

We didn't have gym 5 days a week either in the late 60's early 70's

 

[MSA]

I really am done with the "free" stuff, I don't care what kind of feel good label they put on it. I pay enough in taxes....sell that f___ing million dollar NBA regulation digital scoreboard in the gym them kids are playing dodgeball in to pay for lunches. I pay 5 grand a year in property taxes and about 4 of it goes to the schools, thats enough, I'm over it.

I don't give a shit about the price of gas, groceries, cars, etc I can regulate how much of that I buy... when are my taxes going to go down?

 

[1lessdog]

3 days a week ?? thought school was 5 days a week must be new math now !!!

I will spell it out for you. She has gym 3 day a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

 

[MSA]

And you think i post asinine posts. You need to grow up and give up the maga life. Hahaha

asinine? maybe, but what on earth would have put that thought in his head?

 

[johnr]

I really am done with the "free" stuff, I don't care what kind of feel good label they put on it. I pay enough in taxes....sell that f___ing million dollar NBA regulation digital scoreboard in the gym them kids are playing dodgeball in to pay for lunches. I pay 5 grand a year in property taxes and about 4 of it goes to the schools, thats enough, I'm over it.

I don't give a shit about the price of gas, groceries, cars, etc I can regulate how much of that I buy... when are my taxes going to go down?

100%

 

[Allen]

Using that logic, Why is that our legislators get three free meals every day of the legislative session?

Don't employees of private companies receive per diem when they travel for work?

 

[camper]

asinine? maybe, but what on earth would have put that thought in his head?

Stupidity.

 

[MSA]

Stupidity.

no, seriously...where would that thought have came from?

 

[camper]

no, seriously...where would that thought have came from?

You?

 

[savage270]

And you think i post asinine posts. You need to grow up and give up the maga life. Hahaha

98% of the users on this site can recognize sarcasm and comedic wit. I refuse to put a disclaimer on my posts for you and the other 1% if those concepts are beyond your comprehension .

 

[MSA]

You?

Oh, I'd venture to guess that thought came from the FACT that the vast majority of a specific demographic of people have defrauded, scammed, stolen, and leached off this country since the moment they got here.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Kids already get lunch, regardless if they are poor or rich, that passed a few years ago. If #2 passes, parents who do qualify for federal assistance will have no motivation to sign up for it anymore, thus the taxpayers of ND will pick up this entire burden unnecessarily.

those were the days of "lunch shaming" when kids were give a cold cheese sandwhich

 

[Obi-Wan]

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to catch his own fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke the rest of his life!

 

[Obi-Wan]

Sorry to defend our brilliant legislators and correct your post but only out of town legislators here on legislative work get a $45. per day allowance. Local legislators don't get reimbursed for meals. Besides the legislators are working and it's part of their expenses. School children with wealthy parents shouldn't get free taxpayer funded meals. Just another socialist program that will take us down the road to hell.

legislators are their by their own choice and pay 10s of thousands to be there. Kids are not there by their own choice and many if not forced would not be there.

 

[Obi-Wan]

It is part of their pay for doing the job. I have worked a few different careers in my life, most of them when on the road cover your meals away from home.

Its the benefit package that has been implemented for the job being done.

Feeding your kid who does not have an income is squarely the parents responsibility, plain and simple,

other than not quitting your job did you get to vote on whether the public gets has to pay for your meals and lodging ? No one in public office should get to vote themselves a raise or any other financial benefit that they themselves will benefit from. Let the public vote on where the legislators get free meals or not.

 

[SDMF]

I can't say I ever saw a kiddo refused a lunch in Bismarck Public School System from 1981-1993. I don't recall any "different" lunches for any kids either. In elementary and Jr. High you mostly knew where kids lived. There were houses, apartment buildings that even in elementary school we knew were for low-income households and we knew who lived there.

We had punch-cards. Mom or dad would send a check to school W/me and I'd stop @ the office and pay for the card. In elementary school, the office and lunch service staff kept the card. Jr high and High School, you managed the card yourself. To my recollection, there wasn't a different colored card, lack of card, or any other designator that would denote to other children you're receiving a free or reduced cost meal.

I can recall many times forgetting to tell mom or dad I needed a check for a new punch card. We'd tell the lady running the punch machine, "Charge". She'd write your name down on a sheet of paper in front of her and make a mark on the sheet until you paid for a new card. With the new card she'd punch it to catch you up on the charged lunches and that was that. Despite my frequent forgetfulness, I wasn't ever refused a lunch.

It's difficult for me to believe that any public school system/district in ND has become more stringent regarding not providing a meal for a child who can't pay for it. Nor would I think embarrassment or condemnation of the child or their parent's inability to pay is somehow now highlighted so other children and staff are made known of a child's family's non-payment/inability to pay. Seems like there's an awful lot MORE rules, regulations, and policies AGAINST that very thing. Punishments and penalties for bullying, picking on, or shaming children in that situation carries a significantly stiffer penalty than it did when I was in school.

Given the above, I'd call the current concern a "Manufactured Crisis". Manufactured Crisis' happen for 2 reasons and are NOT political-party specific when we're able to look @ them in hindsight IME.

1. Some organization/group of politicians has lost "grift money" and they were essentially blindsided by the loss and are now scrambling to make up the loss. However, the "behind the scenes" motive isn't ever what's being advertised, the motive it to be able to continue to wield enough influence to perpetuate "The Grift".

2. There has been a significant amount of new $$$ flowing in a way organizations/politicians didn't see coming and they need a "Manufactured Crisis" to install "The Grift". Like the 435 in Congress didn't have anything better to do than legislate on College NIL $$$ or the NBA shifting 3 Billion + to the WNBA and all of the sudden congress needs to be Interested in/involved in the workings of the WNBA specifically?

So, my particular question regarding measure 2 is:

ND passes measure 2. The need/incentive for eligible parents/caregivers to apply for federal aid disappears. A big tax burden shifts back to ND residents. Who benefits from this, and how do they benefit?

"Together for School Meals" debated their side vs. a Republican from Velva a month ago. Since Together for School Meals the entity debating for the issue I clicked onto their "Who We Are" tab. It's a "Who's Who" of people I've voted against and/or organizations I don't support as are the people I recognize running the supporting in-state organizations.

Here's a link to the Together for School Meals "Who We Are" tab from their website.

Together for School Meals Partners

Scrolling down to the "R" partners: "Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America" didn't strike me as an entity I'd like to support and I believe I can confidently say I'll agree with little to nothing folks who partner with them have to say either. Also, several "Partners" when I tried to get onto their website I was directed to the Great Plains Food Bank. I wonder how many 501c3's does GPFB have?

Best of luck to all seeking to form their own opinion, don't forget to exercise your right to GO VOTE!!