Joyce Park@killick @mekkaokereke I was just reading tweets from people who were complaining that free school meals were THEFT -- that is the word they used -- from middle class taxpayers because it's at least theoretically possible that a child of multimillionaires might also eat for free. This country can't even agree that there is no noble purpose to be served by forcing a child to go hungry at school.
Angry Centrist@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke So busy pretending not to hate on the poor they can't think logically, I suppose. I'm guessing that most "children of multimillionaires" aren't in public schools.
Bob Davidson
Dorie Apollonio@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke In class today I was talking about Henrietta Lacks and went to the Johns Hopkins webpage that claimed she "unknowingly donated" her cells (when that really was theft). Quite a contrast.
@apollonio @killick @mekkaokereke Mekka had a powerful thread this week where he discussed the social construction of crime. If a kid takes your wallet out of your hand, most people think you were the victim of a crime -- but if your boss cheats you out of overtime, most people think they just had an asshole boss. If someone steals your car, crime... but if a cop takes your car as "civil forfeiture", you're just unlucky?
Scott Feeney@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke The correct answer to this whole category of argument is that we should have steeply progressive taxation so that the rich are paying more to fund social programs than any one family could ever get out of them.
I don't mind if a billionaire's kid gets free school lunch costing $800/year if $800,000 of that same billionaire's yearly taxes go to support the school lunch program.
Ben@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke this is such an alien concept to me. Surely, that multimillionaire is also paying into the fund that pays for those meals; why should their child not receive meals from the same counter as others? It's the lack of compassion that's just baffling—what benefit is there to doing this to people?
@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke I should note, in high school they went from free breakfasts during exams to free breakfasts for everyone, all year 'round… and it definitely improved first period attendance. Digging around, the whole district has it now.
Andrew F@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke If the children of multimillionaires eat the same free lunch that other children eat, maybe they'll be a smidge more likely to be empathetic, well-adjusted people than if they had a private chef.
Etrigan@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke Modern American conservatism will proudly let 99 people go without something they need as long as they can keep 1 person who might not need it from getting it.
Suzanne Paley@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke Not to mention rich people get stuff for free all the time and no-one bats an eye...
Darnell Clayton 
@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke If kids do not eat at school then they will skip school out of hunger. Long term this hurts a society.
Funds to feed the child is a better investment than future jails for ignorant adults.
Ursidinoj/The Bjornsdottirs@darnell @troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke Skip school, or presenteeism (skipping while formally at class)?
@ellenor2000 @darnell @killick @mekkaokereke Right, I don't think anyone disagrees that children can't learn without eating. But our right wing believes that's somehow OK because poor people should be punished for having kids they can't afford or something equally wack.
(moved)Galbinus Caeli 🌯@troutgirl @killick @mekkaokereke you know that progressive tax structures ensure that the wealthy are putting more into the system so it's ok when they get just as much out.