Is Free Lunch Program a Wonderful Idea or Another Wasteful Program?

by Chris D Posted 2012/07/05 17:00:00

Related Topics: Free Lunch, Wasteful Spending, Government programs, Camp, Lunch programs, School Lunch

818 votes
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	Free lunch, please!	404 votes	49%
	More wasteful spending...	258 votes	32%
	I think...	156 votes	19%

The free lunch program that is supposed to feed kids in need is really just a free lunch for anyone who shows up. Do you think it's a waste of tax payers' money?

FOXNEWS.COM reports:
Every summer across the country, more than 3 million children eat for free at more than 30,000 sites, from schools to recreation centers to migrant worker camps. It's a valuable resource for families who are struggling -- but, critics say, a convenient freebie for those who aren't.
migrant worker camps valuable resource families struggling critics convenient freebie

migrant worker camps valuable resource families struggling critics convenient freebie

+38

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Nick 2012/07/05 18:28:41

Free lunch, please!

+34
Hungry children can't learn well, and being hungry and broke is not their fault
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More polls by Chris D

Tastentier 2012/08/08 20:03:44

Free lunch, please!

Considering how much perfectly good food is thrown away in our Western societies, this could probably be organized for free with the help of volunteers. Even if it costs taxpayer money, I'd rather pay for children in need than for an overinflated military budget.

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Devil's Advocate 2012/07/10 13:04:50

I think...

Malnutrition in deprived areas is a very large problem and a lot of children who are in poverty may get their only nutritious meal at school. Considering how much of a blow to productivity poor health and malnutrition are, added to the desire to keep health costs down, I would say that nutritious school meals are vital and they should be free for children who live in households below the relative poverty line. It is a wise in vestment for the future.

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MrsB 2012/07/10 05:02:21

Free lunch, please!

I think the thought behind the free lunches is awesome. There are a lot of kids that their only meal is the one that they get at school. I don't mind paying a couple of cents more in taxes just so that these kids can eat. It's not their fault that their parents don't have enough money or in some cases, care more about buying drugs or whatever than feeding their children.

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Mike 2012/07/10 00:46:09

I think...

I'm not a real fan of how the Free lunch is given out...I would rather give it to ALL the kids.instead of having a select few not get it.....I mean really how much money do you think it would cost to just pay for everyone's lunch.....NOW this is a tax I would gladly pay to make sure EVERY kid could eat healthy and fresh...

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Joseph Mallery 2012/07/09 23:10:05

More wasteful spending...

Just because someone is unemployed, that doesn't mean that they CAN'T get any job at all. The kid's parents need to get a job so they can support themselves and their families.

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koja61 2012/07/09 21:07:00

I think...

There must be a way of finding out those who truly are in need and the free-loaders who should get their butts kicked

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Uranos7 2012/07/09 20:57:27

Free lunch, please!

It is a good Idea for those that need it. Lot's of good people hit rough spots in their life and their is nothing wrong with giving them a leg up. the problem is that someone will always find a way to take advantage of anything intended to help those struggling to not have to work themselves. Growing up my family hit a rough spot when my Mom was in school after being laid off and my Dad had lost his job and we recieved the lunch program for a while. We stopped recieving it once my Mom went back to work. If used as intended it is a good idea but abused it becomes detrimental.

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Beat Magnum True Hero 2012/07/09 20:53:00

Free lunch, please!

Only a sociopath would want kids to go hungry. They aren't responsible for their parent's choices.

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Jaiheena Star 2012/07/09 18:50:51
rdyjoe 2012/07/09 18:33:10

More wasteful spending...

What happened to lunch boxes and taking your lunch to school.

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lexi 2012/07/09 17:40:19

Free lunch, please!

some people dont not have enough money to pay for food fro them or even if they have a family so i think this is a good idea

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us 2012/07/09 16:03:36

I think...

I feel if GOvernment give out free lunches than they will dictate what you can eat.
Now, it has been done for low income people, but I believe if you have your pride some
won't take it.

DO i believe money that was met for school, children, to government and adminstrative
people over step and take that money for other things YES.

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asherbash 2012/07/09 15:12:55

I think...

Its sad that people take advantage of the program, because those that really need it will suffer. Children look to their parents to take care of all their needs, and when that is not possible, its great that there are programs in place that will help. Situations change. Layoffs happen. Even the most hardworking families need help sometimes. At least with this program, parents don't have to wonder if their child is hungry at school.

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mallobarb 2012/07/09 14:28:47

Free lunch, please!

free lunch? awesome!

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wgossett99 2012/07/09 14:04:11 (edited)

Free lunch, please!

One of the biggest problems in America is the large number of kids who come from single-parent households. These kids are disadvantaged to start with AND often go hungry thru no fault of their own. Feeding them a meal a day is the least we can do.

But shame on those people who take advantage of the gift when they can easily afford not to.

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Sebastianchocolatebeargiles 2012/07/09 05:47:35

I think...

+1
there are families who don't have enough money to even get their kids a good lunch so that's what the program is for.

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lmnlme10921 2012/07/09 05:32:00

Free lunch, please!

+2
At our school, they set limits on who can get free or reduced price lunches by your family's annual income. It's not a freebie for those of us who don't need it, and it's wonderful for those it can benefit.

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ttfndude 2012/07/09 03:48:21

Free lunch, please!

+1
In our school I have never seen it feed someone who "just showed up". These lunched feed those children who have no choice but to eat this free lunch, which by the way is sometimes the only food they get in a day worked as a school lunch aide for 2 yrs).

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~HopelessRomanticM17~ 2012/07/09 03:45:02

Free lunch, please!

+2
It's a great idea for those who TRULY NEED IT.

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JAA 2012/07/09 03:29:50

Free lunch, please!

+1
It's great for kids who would not eat otherwise. When my dad, who had us 6 kids, got very ill, we had to go on welfare for a few years. Were it not for the free lunch program, I would probably have been going through local garbage pails.

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wgossett99 to JAA 2012/07/09 14:12:08

+1
Glad it worked out for you.
My ex-wife and her daughter had to go on welfare a few years after leaving her first husband while ex-wife worked and got her masters degree in social work. It sure helped out my stepdaughter.

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Sterling 2012/07/09 03:20:28

I think...

+2
There's no such thing as a free lunch.

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sue 2012/07/09 01:37:17

More wasteful spending...

+3
well let see crack or food for the children I wonder how many say that

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sue to sue 2012/07/09 01:37:59

+2
or a beer or cig pack

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Karl 2012/07/09 01:07:31

I think...

+2
I think that it should continue, however like all welfare programs, they should be selective, and actually figure out if the help is needed.

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cnsharp 2012/07/08 23:50:17

Free lunch, please!

+1
Sometimes the only food a kid gets is the food from the free lunch program cause they don't have any at home.

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Bill 2012/07/08 23:46:30

More wasteful spending...

+3
It's another form of welfare. My parents had to feed me , I had to feed my kids . Why do I have to keep feeding someone else's kids?

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JAA to Bill 2012/07/09 03:31:06

Because you're not a jerk (or are you?).

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rdyjoe to JAA 2012/07/09 18:35:27

+1
very touchy feely response....but that is the way of a socialist.

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JAA to rdyjoe 2012/07/09 18:38:52

I responded as you did. Were you not meaning to be a jerk, or did I hit a nerve?

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rdyjoe to JAA 2012/07/09 18:41:59

+1
Apologies, I stand correct I responded to the wrong person.

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JAA to rdyjoe 2012/07/09 19:00:06 (edited)

Apology accepted. It happens.

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simplex5 2012/07/08 23:01:42

I think...

+1
I am not against it, beacuse thier are a lot of kids that don't eat at home and luch is their only meal at times. Sorry kids are have babies these days...Poor parenting.

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Bob DiN to simplex5 2012/07/09 14:07:31

+1
Exactly. If theses kids had responsible parents there would be no need for the lunch program.

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Bill to Bob DiN 2012/07/09 15:30:02

Thank you !! If the "parents " were responsible the 14 yr old "mommy" wouldn't have had the kid for the rest of us to support in the first place.

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Bob DiN to Bill 2012/07/09 15:56:09

+2
True. There is a lot of moral decay in America. Much of it can be blamed of liberal policies.

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gregory.ditzler 2012/07/08 23:01:03

Free lunch, please!

+1
Yes, anyone who is against this is a monster.

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Bob DiN to gregory... 2012/07/09 14:08:01

+3
I guess I'm a monster.

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Bill to Bob DiN 2012/07/09 15:28:26

+2
Bob ,This guy gregory is a commie . I have never seen any one so far to the left. He is a kid that is going to be a crusader until he gets his dick walked on by the very ones he
thinks he is helping.

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gregory... to Bob DiN 2012/07/09 18:55:59

Well I suppose you are if you are so selfish as to deny children food.

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