No more lunch bills.

[Der Nister]

.........Hmmmmmmmmmm.......it really bothers me that while this is going on to our nations children.......

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A cold cheese sandwich, fruit and a milk carton might not seem like much of a meal — but that's what's on the menu for students in New Mexico's largest school district without their lunch money.

Faced with mounting unpaid lunch charges in the economic downturn, Albuquerque Public Schools last month instituted a "cheese sandwich policy," serving the alternative meals to children whose parents are supposed to be able to pay for some or all of their regular meals but fail to pick up the tab.

Such policies have become a necessity for schools seeking to keep budgets in the black while ensuring children don't go hungry. School districts including those in Chula Vista, Calif.; Hillsborough County, Fla.; and Lynnwood, Wash.; have also taken to serving cheese sandwiches to children with delinquent lunch accounts.

Critics argue the cold meals are a form of punishment for children whose parents can't afford to pay. Parents who qualify for free meals are not affected.

"We've heard stories from moms coming in saying their child was pulled out of the lunch line and given a cheese sandwich," said Nancy Pope, director of the New Mexico Collaborative to End Hunger. "One woman said her daughter never wants to go back to school."

School Lunches Story.

...Things of this nature are still alive and well in Washington........

Today, Members of the United States Congress enjoy a vast web of perquisites that benefit them personally as well as professionally, including:

Comfortable salaries that are often determined through legislative sleight-of-hand. Contrary to the arguments of many Washington "insiders," the cost of living has rarely eroded the historical value of lawmakers' pay, which on a constant-dollar basis is hovering near the postwar high.

Pension benefits that are two to three times more generous than those offered in the private sector for similarly-salaried executives. Taxpayers directly cover at least 80 percent of this costly plan. Congressional pensions are also inflation-protected, a feature that fewer than 1 in 10 private plans offer.

Health and life insurance, approximately 3/4 and 1/3 of whose costs, respectively, are subsidized by taxpayers.

Wheeled perks, including limousines for senior Members, prized parking spaces on Capitol Hill, and choice spots at Washington's two major airports.

Travel to far-flung destinations as well as to home states and districts. Despite recent attempts to toughen gift and travel rules, "junkets" are still readily available prerogatives for many Members.

A wide range of smaller perks that have defied reform efforts, from cut-rate health clubs to fine furnishings.

..........My question is this..........

WHEN ARE WE AS A NATION GOING TO WAKE UP AND TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT AND MAKE IT WORK FOR WE THE PEOPLE AND NOT WE THE PRIVLAGED FEW?????

[Der Nister]

...oh and this part I absolutely love........

Health and life insurance, approximately 3/4 and 1/3 of whose costs, respectively, are subsidized by taxpayers.

........while people bitch about socialized medicine and how it's either a) terrible or b) will lead us to become a socialized/communist country or any number of accusations that are false. Just remember that those in Washington are enjoying socialized medicine/health care that we, are paying for.

...it is so beyond time to wake up.........

.....agree?????????????????

[Nightgaunt]

While I agree that we need to wake up to the realities of health care, I am staunchly opposed to any sort of "socialized" health care. The bulk of the problem lies with the insurance companies. Look at any other type of insurance...it exists to cover you financially should something unforeseen occur, like a car accident, a home invasion, a flood. Health insurance as we know it today exists to pay for things like regular check-ups and tests. That is an unworkable system, any way you look at it. The insurance companies and big pharma have turned "health care" into "disease management". Beauracracies have taken decision making away from doctors and patients and driven costs through the roof. We didn't get HMOs from a demand from the people or the free market, but from a government mandate that linked health care with employment. Companies, but not individuals can deduct the premiums from their taxes. It has put good health care beyond the reach of the un- and underemployed. Now we have a situation where even many who have full time jobs do not have health insurance as part of their benefits. Our health care system used to be the envy of the world. People paid cash for basic services and carried insurance only for major illnesses or accidents. Doctors had incentive to keep costs down and provide the absolute best care they could. We had thousands of private charities that filled in the gaps so that even the poor could obtain health care. Congress is ultimately responsible for the problems we have now and they want us to believe that more government programs are necessary to provide universal coverage. Government is already involved in two thirds of health care spending through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.

Enough is friggin' enough, I say.

[TitsMcGee]

While I agree that we need to wake up to the realities of health care, I am staunchly opposed to any sort of "socialized" health care. The bulk of the problem lies with the insurance companies. Look at any other type of insurance...it exists to cover you financially should something unforeseen occur, like a car accident, a home invasion, a flood. Health insurance as we know it today exists to pay for things like regular check-ups and tests. That is an unworkable system, any way you look at it. The insurance companies and big pharma have turned "health care" into "disease management". Beauracracies have taken decision making away from doctors and patients and driven costs through the roof. We didn't get HMOs from a demand from the people or the free market, but from a government mandate that linked health care with employment. Companies, but not individuals can deduct the premiums from their taxes. It has put good health care beyond the reach of the un- and underemployed. Now we have a situation where even many who have full time jobs do not have health insurance as part of their benefits. Our health care system used to be the envy of the world. People paid cash for basic services and carried insurance only for major illnesses or accidents. Doctors had incentive to keep costs down and provide the absolute best care they could. We had thousands of private charities that filled in the gaps so that even the poor could obtain health care. Congress is ultimately responsible for the problems we have now and they want us to believe that more government programs are necessary to provide universal coverage. Government is already involved in two thirds of health care spending through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.

Enough is friggin' enough, I say.

^ this is the reason why I think you're freaking awesome. I whole heartedly agree with everything you said.

[Destroit]

So wait...parents can technically afford the kids' lunch on the salary they make and yet owe tons of money on their kids' tab. Now, I'm not saying do something as brutal as hand a kid a cheese sandwich and tell him to get out of the lunch line, but no fucking way should the public be forced to foot the bill of the selfish spenders out there. You control your wallet, money, what you spend, period. I'm sick of everyone's sob excuses. If you're making enough money enough to support the following: Rent, car stuff and gas, utilities, and have some left over then you make more than enough.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

My question is this..........

WHEN ARE WE AS A NATION GOING TO WAKE UP AND TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT AND MAKE IT WORK FOR WE THE PEOPLE AND NOT WE THE PRIVLAGED FEW?????

When the vast majority of people let go of the fantasy that they will someday be among the privileged few.

[peelingchrome]

Funny statistic I heard from a friend recently: if you make enough money that you don't qualify for anything on the bridge card, you are among the top 3% wealthiest of the world. I didn't research to see if the numbers line up exactly, but from what I've heard from others it's at least close. WTF is wrong with this country that you are considered poor if you're not in the top 3-5% of the world financially?

Just peeking my head in. Sorry if it derailed the thread. Carry on.

[Rayne]

Funny statistic I heard from a friend recently: if you make enough money that you don't qualify for anything on the bridge card, you are among the top 3% wealthiest of the world.

I doubt that, seeing as we don't qualify with a family of 6 and we are FAR from wealthy.

[peelingchrome]

I doubt that, seeing as we don't qualify with a family of 6 and we are FAR from wealthy.

The statistic quoted to me was $35k/year as the breaking point. Like I said, I didn't check out the facts; I'm just repeating heresy.

[Rev.Reverence]

I doubt that, seeing as we don't qualify with a family of 6 and we are FAR from wealthy.

The point I believe.....is that peoples in Africa...live on PENNIES a week...

[Rev.Reverence]

So wait...parents can technically afford the kids' lunch on the salary they make and yet owe tons of money on their kids' tab. Now, I'm not saying do something as brutal as hand a kid a cheese sandwich and tell him to get out of the lunch line, but no fucking way should the public be forced to foot the bill of the selfish spenders out there. You control your wallet, money, what you spend, period. I'm sick of everyone's sob excuses. If you're making enough money enough to support the following: Rent, car stuff and gas, utilities, and have some left over then you make more than enough.

...Cheese sandwiches are not brutal...not at all...in MY day...they sent you home hungry.

[Destroit]

Funny statistic I heard from a friend recently: if you make enough money that you don't qualify for anything on the bridge card, you are among the top 3% wealthiest of the world. I didn't research to see if the numbers line up exactly, but from what I've heard from others it's at least close. WTF is wrong with this country that you are considered poor if you're not in the top 3-5% of the world financially?

Just peeking my head in. Sorry if it derailed the thread. Carry on.

Yay! Pest and I qualify! WE'RE POOR! Well, okay I only get like 75 a month and he gets 125 or so (I believe), but it keeps us from dying from no food .

[Destroit]

...Cheese sandwiches are not brutal...not at all...in MY day...they sent you home hungry.

No, the fact that they embarassingly pull the kids out of line and hand them a cheese sandwich as to say to the other children in line: "Hey, look, this kid has selfish pricks for parents that can afford to feed them but won't because they're too busy buying Hi-Def TVs and paying off credit cards with their home equity like the rest of America!"

Let everyone sink and drown, but they don't need to embarass kids like that. They need to have the selfish parents pay for it, not the children, it's not their fault their parents fucked up.

[Destroit]

The statistic quoted to me was $35k/year as the breaking point. Like I said, I didn't check out the facts; I'm just repeating heresy.

From how I was raised, $35,000 is FILTHY fucking rich, like you're set for life, can afford all food, housing, utilities, going up north every summer several times, Cedar Point every year, having a Super Nintendo, nice clothes, going to skate night every month, etc.

How do I know this? Because I got allllll the above shit and THEN some from my Boshy growing up...who never made more than $15,000-$18,000 gross a year.

[Rev.Reverence]

No, the fact that they embarassingly pull the kids out of line and hand them a cheese sandwich as to say to the other children in line: "Hey, look, this kid has selfish pricks for parents that can afford to feed them but won't because they're too busy buying Hi-Def TVs and paying off credit cards with their home equity like the rest of America!"

Let everyone sink and drown, but they don't need to embarass kids like that. They need to have the selfish parents pay for it, not the children, it's not their fault their parents fucked up.

In comparison...I'ld rather get a cheese sandwich & an apple then get to the lunch line & just be booted...then have NO food...I have seen this happen to peoples when I was growin' up...

I'll give in that this is brutal...but really..not as bad as back in the 80's...

....oh...& that shit never happened in the ghettoish schools I went to...just the partially posh ones...& that's where the kids will make the your to poor to buy lunch jokes.....not so much where the kids are mostly poor...the 2 rich kids are REALLY nice in that situation...

[taysteewonderbunny]

When the vast majority of people let go of the fantasy that they will someday be among the privileged few.

Agreed.

[LadyKay]

Well I guess a cheese sandwich is better then nothing. I remember when I was in school if you forgot or didn't have your lunch money you went without. Unless you could find a friend with some extra money you went without lunch.