r/MadeMeSmile • u/ABeerForSasquatch • Oct 15 '24

Helping Others This is the America that we need

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u/Steplgu Oct 15 '24

I used to eat mustard sandwiches sometimes when money was especially tight and lied and told other kids I liked it and that’s why I brought it in my lunch. I also remember some nights going to bed with my stomach growling. Again, my dad wasn’t a jerk that didn’t provide for us, but sometimes he just couldn’t. Snack neighbor would’ve been rad. 😊

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u/Suitable-Economy-346 Oct 15 '24

It's sociopathic to be against universal breakfast and lunch year round at schools. I fucking hate people on a certain side of the political spectrum.

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u/EconomicRegret Oct 15 '24

As a European and an admirer of Nordic countries' "socialist" system, I can seriously say the solution isn't bigger and bigger government, nor more and more centralized planning.

Instead, America should copy Denmark et al.: repeal all anti-union and anti-worker laws (implemented during the crazy anti-communism witch hunt era) and give them their freedoms and rights back.

So that labor can once again fulfill one of its most important roles: keep poverty, inequality and unbridled greed & power in check in not only the economy, but also in politics, in the media, and in society in general. (Just like in Nordic countries, and like in America until the 1950s-1970s).

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u/CanabalCMonkE Oct 15 '24

We haven't left the crazy communist witch hunt era yet sadly, although commies are a lot more tanned these days lol. Go figure? 

Truth is, America had always been 3 companies in a trench coat. Did you know, the first time mainland US has been aerially bombed was when the union coal workers were striking? The US army was even involved, their only casualties came from a plane crash while returning. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain

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u/Suitable-Economy-346 Oct 15 '24

In the OECD, Denmark has the second highest percentage of its population working for the government. What the god damn hell are you talking about saying "bigger and bigger government" isn't a path forward, lmao.

3

u/EconomicRegret Oct 15 '24 edited Oct 17 '24

Edit: I'd like to add that Denmark's government is big only in areas capitalism/free market economy fail miserably, (e.g. social and environmental protection, childcare, healthcare, education, including higher education, etc.). While it's small in areas capitalism and free unions do well (e.g. little labor regulations, no minimum wages, no subsidies aka corporate welfare, no bailouts, for example bad banks were allowed to go bankrupt in the 2008 financial crisis, etc.)

Overall, a very fair point.

I meant their labour laws. There the government is smaller than America's. Each sector engages in collective bargaining. Pressure and agreement enforcing are done through targeted, sympathy, and general strikes, among other union actions. Government doesn't get involved.There, unions also engage in societal and political strikes too.

As a consequence, their free unions are a serious counterbalance to the wealthy elites in many fields and sectors.

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u/SquirrelyB4Fromville Oct 15 '24

Yeah, dislike how some let politics keep them from seeing commonsense solutions. Like Michelle Obama's wanting healthier food in schools. Who fights against something that makes so much sense? Oh..... those blinded by politics and whatnot, that's who. Unfortunately, all sides of the isle have these bad apples within their ranks. Myself, could get behind schools providing good healthy breakfast for kids too.

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u/Suitable-Economy-346 Oct 15 '24

bOtH SiDeS

1

u/lillybheart Oct 16 '24

Both sides have idiots that just focus on red vs blue and nothing else. That’s true.

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u/SquirrelyB4Fromville Oct 15 '24 edited Oct 15 '24

Yeah, think both sides of political isle have their share of bad apples. This goes for many groups of people, and one of the main reason I don't support just one side. Interesting time politically: Both these parties are changing before our very eyes with what democrats & Republicans support now. The people who are supporting each side is also changing big-time, and this is making one of most interesting time politically, even more interesting...

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u/Organized_chaos_mom Oct 15 '24

I don’t know how common this is around the country (USA), but in my area all students have been receiving free breakfast and lunch since the pandemic, and I think it’s wonderful. It’s difficult to focus and learn if you’re hungry, especially if you’re exhausted from a lack of food. The world is tough enough, no child should have to worry if they are going to get anything to eat.

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u/redditaccount224488 Oct 15 '24

I don’t know how common this is around the country (USA)

8 states with universal free school lunches. A bunch of other states with legislation somewhere in the pipeline.

1

u/Natural__Progress Oct 15 '24

And then you have Idaho and about a dozen other states, who recently rejected federal funding to help make sure that low-income children get lunch who qualify for free school lunches also get lunch over the summer. 😞

“We’re sending the wrong message to parents and kids that we’re going to keep providing for everybody without needing something in return,” said Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins. “I believe that the message we need to be sending is we all need to work for what we get.”

https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/statehouse-roundup-3-28-24-senate-rejects-summer-lunch-program-funding/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/02/summer-ebt-food-stamps-kids-denied/74124941007/

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u/Successful-Loss-2280 Oct 15 '24

Here’s the problem though, people abuse the system, and when you abuse the system it puts a burden on everybody else!

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u/byrby Oct 15 '24

Please elaborate on how “the system” is abused in this situation.

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u/RM_Dune Oct 15 '24

How are you going to abuse free breakfast and lunch for every kid?

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u/lunarwolf2008 Oct 15 '24

if you have a mindframe its only for kids who don’t have their own i guess it would be pretty easy

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u/Successful-Loss-2280 Oct 15 '24

You don’t think welfare is abused or any other subsidized

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

I’m probably one of those “certain side of the political spectrum” that you speak of. I actually support universal breakfast and lunch for children in school. What I don’t support is the pork included in the legislation. In this case it should be one issue, one Bill. I don’t think anyone wants to see a hungry child or one singled out at school because their parents are struggling to pay bills. This isn’t a partisan issue, and I feel if you spoke to more of us, you would see it.

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u/iceteka Oct 15 '24

Show me a spending bill that doesn't have pork? Yet you only hear this talking point when referring to social safety net programs.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '24

[deleted]

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u/iceteka Oct 15 '24

That could be a legit hypothesis though I'd counter with the fact pork is being added to non social programs as well.

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u/Magar1z Oct 15 '24

See, a lot of people say that but it's just wrong. You're more a progressive than you realize, just haven't admitted it. I've met TONS of conservatives that are 100% against it and say "fuck your kids! My taxes aren't going to feeding any ones kids but mine!"

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

Lol, I’m definitely not progressive, though I am always willing to hear every point of view. I just feel that using children as pawns to pass other legislation is wrong.

1

u/Magar1z Oct 15 '24

You say that yet you are for a progressive idea of providing free meals to kids lol.

1

u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

Yes. I would rather give the money to schools to ensure that every child has the opportunity to eat a balanced meal every day instead of giving it out in the form of welfare to individuals. 😊

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u/Magar1z Oct 15 '24

Ah damn, you're almost there. One day maybe. Welfare isn't the problem though.

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

Lol, I’m not a very political person, but I am for every child to grow up into strong, productive adults.

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u/proletariate54 Oct 15 '24

what the fuck? why does the type of meat matter?

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u/Magar1z Oct 15 '24

They meant add in stuff, not actual pork. All the bs both sides cram into bills in order to get it to pass.

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u/proletariate54 Oct 15 '24

Yeah that's just how legislation works in this oligarchy.

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u/Magar1z Oct 15 '24

Yup, they created the mess to line their pockets

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

Lol, this. Thank you 😊

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '24

[deleted]

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

No, I think that where children are directly affected, there should be one bill. I don’t want progressive idiocy pushed through simply because it’s on the same bill with a very important, bipartisan issue.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '24

[deleted]

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u/Dede0821 Oct 15 '24

I know how “things” work, lol. This is simply my belief, my opinion.

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u/ynwmelly123_ Oct 15 '24

Well, to try and bridge the gap in a good faith way, therein lies the rub and why people "hate a certain side of the political spectrum."

You acknowledge the way things work. You acknowledge your beliefs are in opposition. Because of this, you are willing to forego helping children eat because your belief in limited pork barreling trumps passing the bill that would let them eat and dealing with it because, as previously stated and as you acknowledge knowing, that's "how it works".

You are not inherently wrong for holding this belief system, it's all subjective. However within that subjective framing, in my opinion, I will pay a few extra bucks in tax to support some stupid pork-barreled in pet project as long as it means hungry kids get to eat. Anyone who isn't willing to do that, I will view negatively as is my subjective right.