Do you care that your taxes pay for school lunches?

Question

My mother-in-law and I began to argue about her tax money paying for school lunch. Her kids went to private school, so she feels her money is wasted on kids who parents are irresponsibly enough to feed their kids. I feel that children should have lunch regardless of their parents’ level of responsibility. Furthermore, I would take a tax hike if it meant that every child in American can eat during and after school hours. I will not judge you if you feel different I just want to see other views.

Answer 1

Kids only get a free lunch if their family is low income.

I don't have kids in school any more, and when they were, they didn't get free lunches, but I think the school lunch program is one of the good uses of taxes.

Answer 2

So was she also pissed off that her tax dollars were educating all of those kids whose parents weren’t “responsible” enough to send them to private schools?  *eye roll*

I think we should all pay for public education because an educated society is a strong one, and children cannot learn properly if they’re hungry. As opposed as I am to most welfare programs, I have a tough time arguing against those that helps children.

It’s one thing to blame an adult for potentially irresponsible choices that may have put them in a bad financial situation. It’s another one entirely to blame children, who did not choose the circumstances into which they were born and are often powerless to change them, for needing help.

So no, I'm not at all bothered by paying for a child's school lunch.

Answer 3

Let me preface this by saying I am a teacher in a public school.  What makes me angry is that those kids that get free lunch don't appreciate the fact that someone has to pay for it.  I have seen students throw so much of it away.  Also, the schools don't have time in the day to give the kids enough time to eat and time to play, so a ton of the food you pay for is getting thrown in the trash. Your mother in law has a valid point.  Children need to be the parents responsibility.  If everyone else does the work, when are they going to pick up the slack?

Answer 4

She is wrong and is being selfish.

Answer 5

I wish that individuals could pay a higher tax than others if they wished to.

Our tax money is already paying for food stamps, welfare, medical and a number of other programs that support those that are irresponsible and have children when they can not afford them.

My wife and I had one kid, after we were married for 9 years because we wanted to get established and be able to financially support our family.

We should be supporting people that are down on the luck and getting them back on their feet to become a useful member of our society. Too many times, people do not want to work or worry about themselves because they know they government will take care of them.

I believe in helping people who help themselves. What was the saying, "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish ..."

Enough said.

Answer 6

No lunch is important.  I do not even have children in any school.  

Answer 7

She's wrong. That lunch may have kept a hungry child from mugging her in the Publix parking lot. That's her benefit. And additionally, there are some things we do because they are just right.

Edit- I have no kids either but I don't mind that my money goes to feed a child. Even the kids that get plenty to eat.

Answer 8

It is cheaper to use my tax dollars to subsidize lunches for poor children than to pay the costs of supporting them on welfare after they don't learn anything and drop out of school because of nutritional lethargy.  To borrow a spiritual analogy from William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, you can't reach the soul while the stomach is empty.