Free Lunch

ale

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Ale, I know I wont change your mind and I appreciate your comments, I guess we can agree to disagree.
I believe we are slowly moving to the left in ND, as evidence is measure 2, and to make constitution changes harder to implement will slow the move to the left, in my opinion.
US Constitution history
Here is what I posted on a different thread, seems like we have multiple threads going about the same thing:

Measure 1 > a constitutional amendment proposed by North Dakota’s Republican-led legislature that would require a 60% vote threshold to pass future constitutional ballot measures. Chief sponsor is Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield. Main opposition is the The Fairness Project, an progressive organization based in Washington, D.C. which has spent millions trying to defeat this measure, for many nefarious reasons.

Measure 2 > chief sponsor is Together for School Meals committee, headed Amy Jacobson. Jacobson is executive director of Prairie Action ND, a progressive policy group.
Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment that would provide free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students attending public schools and charter schools. The state would reimburse school districts for the cost of the meals and adjust the cost annually for inflation. This will cost an estimated $124.3 million to $134.3 million every two years, beginning in the 2027-29 budget cycle, according to analysis by the Department of Public Instruction. I believe this will be a low estimate, but since it will be part of our constitution it MUST and WILL be funded for all eternity. Repeal is historically and statistically unlikely.

As in both measures, it doesn't matter who sponsors or initiates a constitutional amendment, any amendment has to be approved by the voters. The legislature cannot pass an amendment on their own, they can only sponsor one and then get it on the ballot so we the people can decide. We the people decide every singe constitutional amendment.

That being said, in my opinion measure 2 is the exact reason we need measure 1. Free breakfast and lunch for kids has no business being part of our state constitution, and I believe the sponsors of measure 2 know it, and passage of measure 2 will lead to more ridiculous proposed amendments which could include free healthcare for all or select "groups", minimum wage increases, abortion rights, and even gun control rights. Its really just to easy to change our constitution.

I support a yes vote on measure 1, and a no vote on measure 2.

Either way, I hope everyone that is eligible to vote gets out and actually votes.
Absolutely, I never thought it was personal. And we do agree on measure 2 that’s a no. Though if it passes I guess the sky won’t fall and it’s hard to draw my line in the sand there when I see how many thousands I’m forced to donate to people who definitely don’t need it.

I don’t really think ND is moving to the left. I think what we have is a lot of people wearing the R brand who are doing a lot of greasy liberal shit and it’s getting tough to defend or support them.
 


SupressYourself

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Just remember: The kids of today will be caring for your ass in the retirement home. Hopefully their brains were fueled for their 16+ years of training and learning.

I suppose we could run our snowplows only half full of diesel all winter long, too. What could go wrong?
For the 84th time in this thread, no one has gone hungry under the current system. It does not happen.
And considering the downward trends in school discipline, accountability, teacher effectiveness, and so on, I think the amount of free nutrition given to an increasingly obese demographic is the least of our worries.
 


yakandfish

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So North Dakota farmers want to be known for "feeding the world" but they don't want their tax money going to feeding their own citizens?

But they go tax free on the buildings they put up don't they?

Lot of big houses and building going up isn't there? How about ranchers? Do they get tax cuts on buildings?
 

yakandfish

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yakandfish shows up a month ago just to post on this and a few other political threads........hmmmm something stinks and it smells like a fishyyak....

Well post some hunting fishing topics that are active and I'll respond to that. God you guys bitch about everything.

NDSportsman you sound like all the people I know around Mayville. 2B or not 2B?
 


yakandfish

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You go first since you are so into the outdoors and all....

Yep, you gotta be from Traill county or Cass with that defensive reply.

I suppose no matter what interests I have I probably wouldn't hold a candle to you.

My kayak smells like fish. Old Town Sportsman. I have my boat transducer on it so I can map small bodies of water and then on the hardwater I have custom maps. Want to talk Red River float trips? Ever sat in a kayak for 10 hours straight? Can your belly handle that? Pick a topic buddy I will do my best.
 

Colt45

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So North Dakota farmers want to be known for "feeding the world" but they don't want their tax money going to feeding their own citizens?

But they go tax free on the buildings they put up don't they?

Lot of big houses and building going up isn't there? How about ranchers? Do they get tax cuts on buildings?
Not sure what your argument here is........... that we need to give all kids free breakfast and lunch because farmers and ranchers and such get tax cuts on buildings?
 


Colt45

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Around 116,500 to 119,600 students are enrolled in North Dakota public schools (Pre-K through 12th grade).
There are more than 47,000 K-12 kids in North Dakota receive free or reduced-price meals through the
National School Lunch Program, according to data from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that comes out to about 40+ percent using round numbers.
So that means we will fund the other 60% even though those families dont currently need it, they
can support themselves.

Please explain how there is a problem that needs fixing, and I dont buy the "kids are traumatized if
they have to accept a free lunch" argument as I dont believe its true. I could be wrong but if there
are kids like that they have to be such a small minority that its just not a valid argument.

If you want to argue that we need to increase the threshold to qualify as "poor" then I would be
open for that. But to give everyone a free lunch regardless of ability to pay for it is
not good policy at all, especially if you are going to make it a constitutional change.
 

yakandfish

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Here's a related thought: k-12 students already get a portion of their meals paid for from the government. At our school an adult meal costs something like 4.50 a lunch. That's what we pay as a teacher. Damn good price to eat. Student prices are less than that. 2.50 - 3.50? I don't recall the exact price. Should we increase it to 4.50 like the adults? How dare THOSE kids get something given to them!!!??? Unfair!
 

Lycanthrope

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I guess we will find out soon, and it's only to restrict constitutional measures initiated by out of state special progressive groups, IE The Fairness Project.
that could easily be done without changing the percentages. Just limit funding sources for consitutional initiated measures, everyone would support that!
 

yakandfish

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By law kids are required to be in school. Give the parents one less thing to think about daily. I mean, you are already paying for all their lab supplies. 9 bucks a student PER YEAR! GASP!
 


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