President Bush Makes Move to Streamline Free Lunch Programs

Monroe (LA) News-Star ^ | 02-04-03 | Wilson, Lynette

[Theodore R.]

There may be no free lunch for some.

A component of President George Bush's budget seeks more paperwork up front for children who want free or reduced breakfasts and lunches.

The administration contends too many children are getting free meals because school districts don't check them out enough.

[r_u_sirius]

So the kids should be stigmatized at school because their parents are shiftless?
How compassionate of you.

[jimt]

So the kids should be stigmatized at school because their parents are shiftless? How compassionate of you.

Let's try again. What I said was: "There SHOULD be a stigma associated with not feeding your child, and relying on everyone else to take care of your responsibilities. There are way, way too many parasites on this program. Certain "parents" need "freeloader" or "parasite" tattooed on their forehead."

Emphasis added. Note: PARENTS. I don't blame the kids.

[r_u_sirius]

My point is that if it's made harder for parents to do the paperwork, and I've heard of pages in triplicate etc needing details of assets and income, many people will not even try, because, unlike most people on this forum, they either don't have the cognition or the drive to get this paperwork done.
That's not the problem of the kids, but it will be when they don't get a free meal any more, (maybe the only [fairly decent] meal they get all day).
There's a huge problem with poverty in this country and it's a pity there is so little compaasion for those who are truly needy.

[Theodore R.]

We could catch people cheating on "free lunches" by putting "cell phone" on the application. Then when they give their cell phone numbers, we could call them and tell them that they do not qualify under the guidelines because one may not have a cell phone and draw benefits. Wonder how long it would take the "word" to spread around? Probably well over half of the applications would list cell phone numbers.