Remember "If you build it, they will come"? Evidently, that's the case with free meals. More than 5000 sites across Texas are offering summer nutrition programs courtesy of the USDA. It's not enough that we feed kids on the taxpayer dime at school -- now we have to take care of them all summer. They don't have to apply or fill out any paperwork. Anybody up to 18 years old can come. What happened to kids 16 and over working during the summer? Especially if their families are so poor they can't afford to feed them?
Bryan Black, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Agriculture which administers the program in Texas says, "Clearly, we are seeing a trend of more children needing this assistance." That's debatable. Just because they come get a free meal doesn't mean they need it. If you offer it, they will come. In Garland, the number of kids participating doubled in three days. Word travels fast. "Hey, Pedro, there's free food down here, amigo!!!!" There are 954 sites in the Dallas area. Black says he hopes to see that number grow. Huh? He wants more needy kids so he can open more sites?
Dora Rivas, the Dallas school district's executive director of food and child nutrition services says, "It is not a welfare program." Well, excuse me, but just what is it? If you're taking tax dollars from one person to feed another person's kids, that sounds like welfare to me.
And as far as nutritious? The photo of the kid they ran with the article showed him eating pizza. Don't tell Michelle.
"The eat is on, and it's free." The Dallas Morning News; June 14, 2011; p. 1B.
1 comment:
You're exactly right, if you put out deer corn, Will the deer continue to fend for themselves or will they show up at the corn feeder when the timer goes off? Not only do the deer enjoy what's put there for them, but the raccoons, squirrels, wild pigs, etc., will show up too!
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