Free lunches at school

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

maybe she does her own nails or has a friend who does them for her .. same with the hair...

Yeah right, and the set of wheels with the top-of-the-line stereo was home-made, too. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen it. Don't sit there and tell me that you haven't.

no one is denying that people take advantage of the system but you can't lump everyone together that uses food stamps or people who's kids get the free meals

I'm not lumping everyone together. I am just saying that quite obviously these programs are being abused. More and more so. That's gotta stop. If you are in favor of preserving the programs for the truly needy, then you ought to advocate the crackdown on the abuse. If that doesn't happen, the tide is gonna turn against them altogether before you know it.

[KarenCee 3]

I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

no it doesn't , but it damn well should be. when the people tsk-tsking are being taxed & the money is being spent for their benefit

....and that would be helpful to the poor in what way?

[rebeccajo 14]

I dunno, Big Dog. I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

Means-tested benefit means just that, though. I don't agree with people living large on my expense. When there are shiny Lexus' parked in subsidized housing complexes then something ain't right. Because the taxpayer helps funding those at the end of the day. That just stinks.

Just thought I'd throw in the little technical curve that school lunches are not a means tested benefit, and even USCIS says so on Page 6 of the I-864.

[Clarky and Tarah 0]

I went a couple times and had lunch with my 9 year old at her school.

WOW! Hi carb and grease. Very few vegies.

Healthier to brown bag it with PB and J and a apple like we did when we were kids.

Takes some effort but my kid has a lunch box now.

She has to take her own water anyway now as most public water systems are undrinkable.

Exactly! If you can feed your kid during the summer months, you can feed them during the school year. The program is BS

Actually, my county has a program that allows parents to bring children into the elementary schools over the summer so they can have free meals. Some people DO have trouble feeding their children and it doesn't mean they are lazy. Many of them do have jobs, they just don't make as much as others.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

*sarcastic remarks ahead*

The audacity of the poor wanting to actually treat themselves. GASP! What ARE they thinking! They're poor, they need to LOOK poor!

One can be poor and look decent. They can treat themselves all they want. They just need to support that themselves. As long as they're on public assistance, there shouldn't be room for anything beyond the necessities. If there is, then the taxpayer supports them too much. I am all for supporting needs. The wants, however, each of us has to afford for themselves.

[Nancy2015 2]

And good for you for having that job where you have the opportunity to make that kind of money. Not all of America is that fortunate.

The whole problem with the anti-welfare philosophy is that most people who are so against any kind of welfare make a lot of money, and believe that those who don't make that much should be punished for that.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I dunno, Big Dog. I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

Means-tested benefit means just that, though. I don't agree with people living large on my expense. When there are shiny Lexus' parked in subsidized housing complexes then something ain't right. Because the taxpayer helps funding those at the end of the day. That just stinks.

Just thought I'd throw in the little technical curve that school lunches are not a means tested benefit, and even USCIS says so on Page 6 of the I-864.

School lunches may not be. But we were talking about other programs as well.

[smoke20 0]

I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

no it doesn't , but it damn well should be. when the people tsk-tsking are being taxed & the money is being spent for their benefit

....and that would be helpful to the poor in what way?

it wouldn't be helpful to the poor. it would cut back on some of the 22" rims, boomin systems, & all the other BS the folks abusing assistance programs get away with.

i'm not against assistance for those truley in need or free lunches for poor kids. but to try & defend a $30-$40 manicure when they're getting assistance or someones kid is getting free lunches while they wear a $75 weave is ridiculous.

Edited August 25, 2007 by smoke20

[KarenCee 3]

*sarcastic remarks ahead*

The audacity of the poor wanting to actually treat themselves. GASP! What ARE they thinking! They're poor, they need to LOOK poor!

One can be poor and look decent. They can treat themselves all they want. They just need to support that themselves. As long as they're on public assistance, there shouldn't be room for anything beyond the necessities. If there is, then the taxpayer supports them too much. I am all for supporting needs. The wants, however, each of us has to afford for themselves.

But did you read the rest of what I posted? If your family were in tight circumstances and someone gave either of you something nice and then somewhere someone judged you because of it? I've heard it way too often..."Look at her, if she can afford to wear XYZ brands (or have her hair or nails done), then she doesn't need to be on assistance". That's what I'm referring to...the judgmental statements others make when they don't really know the whole shebang.

[Marilyn. 340]

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive food stamps?

Certain non-citizens, such as those admitted for humanitarian reasons, those admitted for permanent residence, many children, elderly immigrants and individuals who have been working in the United States for certain periods of time, are eligible for the Food Stamp Program. Eligible household members can get food stamps even if there are other members of the household who are not eligible.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/faqs.htm

[KarenCee 3]

I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

no it doesn't , but it damn well should be. when the people tsk-tsking are being taxed & the money is being spent for their benefit

....and that would be helpful to the poor in what way?

it wouldn't be helpful to the poor. it would cut back on some of the 22" rims, boomin systems, & all the other BS the folks abusing assistance programs get away with.

i'm not against assistance for those truley in need or free lunches for poor kids. but to try & defend a $30-$40 manicure when they're getting assistance or someones kid is getting free lunches while they wear a $75 weave is ridiculous.

Yet again you're lumping EVERYONE into that statement. Not every family in poor circumstances is doing what you suggest. I'm not trying to defend anything except these kids that can't help how they live. So take away free lunches for kids who truly need it just because their parents appear to be buying things they shouldn't since they're poor. That's still punishing the kids...they're still going to lose.

[rebeccajo 14]

Yes Charles, let's. Hows about you coming to volunteer for a week or so at my school.

Charles, are you listening?

I've BEEN a school volunteer. You would not believe what I have seen.

And our family qualified for free lunches at one point also. Because of a change in family circumstance.

Don't anybody go there with me about how the FEW little things our government does to support families are a drain on this nation.

If you as a government can take my son off to war, then you can damn bloody well feed him if we fall upon hard times.

i'll try to fit that into my busy schedule while working 40-91 hours a week

And good for you for having that job where you have the opportunity to make that kind of money. Not all of America is that fortunate.

For whatever it's worth, I did my volunteer time while my ex-husband was working 40-91 hours per week - which directly contributed to our divorce - which directly contributed to MY new household being eligible for free lunch.

###### has a way of happening Charles.

and at the same time, i'm working to help pay for all of that. so if i took off for a week to go to a school as you suggested, i'd not be paying my taxes due to no work and therefore stealing food from the kiddos, eh?

eta:

Charles, get over yourself.

For whatever it's worth, I never signed my son up for hot lunch. While it's true we qualified, his father was paying us child support and so I used that money to pay his monthly hot lunch bill. I could have used the 35-or-so bucks a month to help pay for his trombone lessons or other things he needed, but instead I went WITHOUT having my nails done or tanning sessions. I did what you think all the low-income single moms OUGHT to do. Does that make you feel better about yourself now?

All because a guy (his Dad) with a big job like you could crow loudly to his friends that he was paying his support on time and his kid was taken care of.

Right. Barely taken care of.

You need to thank God for the fortuitiousness of your circumstance instead of looking down on other people. I hope circumstance never rains on your parade. You may be standing in soup kitchen line someday eating more than your words.

[smoke20 0]

I don't think that being on public assistance means that you have to subject all of your spending to scrutiny by other people who are tsk-tsking.

no it doesn't , but it damn well should be. when the people tsk-tsking are being taxed & the money is being spent for their benefit

....and that would be helpful to the poor in what way?

it wouldn't be helpful to the poor. it would cut back on some of the 22" rims, boomin systems, & all the other BS the folks abusing assistance programs get away with.

i'm not against assistance for those truley in need or free lunches for poor kids. but to try & defend a $30-$40 manicure when they're getting assistance or someones kid is getting free lunches while they wear a $75 weave is ridiculous.

Yet again you're lumping EVERYONE into that statement. Not every family in poor circumstances is doing what you suggest. I'm not trying to defend anything except these kids that can't help how they live. So take away free lunches for kids who truly need it just because their parents appear to be buying things they shouldn't since they're poor. That's still punishing the kids...they're still going to lose.

no Karen i'm not lumping them together. scrutiny on some peoples spending, would cut down on some of the fraud. i never said take food away from kids. but, i do think some regulation & spot checks on peoples spending habits would be of some benefit........& if the food stamps etc. are cut because of it.....blame the parent, not society.

[rika60607 215]

This isn't even funny.

Just because someone can afford a certain expense 3 months a year (summer months), it does not mean they can afford it non-stop year-round. Did a simple explanation ever occur to you that those parents may be saving lunch money for 9 months so they could feed the children in the summer?

Or that those kids babysit younger kids in the summer to make their lunch money?

I think that if poor kids eat disgusting school food that is indication enough that they are needy. As well, it is wrong to judge that kids are "well-fed" just from their looks. They may very well be digging themselves early graves by eating cheap processed food and gaining extra weight that comes with it.

Your tax-money-saving-efforts would be better spent on something more expensive than kids lunches. Like, WAR in IRAQ?..

As for whether people should be allowed to have children if they can't afford to - well, set up a free abortion clinic in every county

Then watch how many people will want your head on the end of a spear

6, you havent even addressed the initial question. Who feeds these poor kids during the summer? Its a bullshite program. If the parents have the ability to feed the kids during summer break and all other holidays then they obviously can feed them year round. Answer it!

[Fandango 1,439]

Maybe she doesn't make enough money at her job to pay for all of the groceries but has $20 left over to treat herself once a month.