First lady's school lunch plan will cost $4.5 billion

fortwane.com ^ | 11/15/10 | editor

[Nachum]

The question is — be honest — where will the money come from?

Government is chock-full of programs many people view as worthwhile — until the cost is added up. Then, many taxpayers decide priorities need to be set.

That is why liberals in government have become adept at concealing the cost of social programs. One example is currently in the news.

First lady Michelle Obama insists that healthier foods should be served in public school lunches. That will require a new $4.5 billion program, say the program's proponents. The federally funded school-lunch program feeds 31 million low-income American children a year and provides many with the bulk of the calories they consume each day.

[riri]

Nah, it is all processed crap these days. My kids don't typically buy the lunch but for one day a week to break it up.

My kids went to an international school in Sweden last year. There they had hot lunches, home made from all different cultures. They were served with all sorts of brown breads, grain rolls, etc. and yogurt. It was great and I think the cost was less than $1000 a year on top of tuition for each child. (that's with the weak dollar and insane Swedish prices to boot)

This crap, if I bought it everyday, would cost about the same. But, ofcourse, I am subsidizing the non-payers.

[RobRoy]

What does the Federal Government have to do with school lunches?

This is insanity.

[nolongerademocrat]

“Odds are if it’s “healthier” 50% more will go in the garbage. More enterprising kids will sell junk food out of their locker, a mini black market so to speak.”

Unintended consequences, their own liberal policies create mini-capitalists!

[RobRoy]

I pay 49 cents a pound for coarse rolled oats. You know, the kind that trendy bed and breakfasts sell in a little tin for $8 as “old fashioned rolled oats”? A minute in the microwave and it’s ready. And it tastes delicious.

It is also VERY nutritios.

It also costs about 5-10 cents per breakfast - in 2010 dollars.

You can get them in the bulk section of all sorts of grocery stores from Fred Meyer, to Wal-Mart, QFC, Winco, you name it.

[RobRoy]

I pay 49 cents a pound for coarse rolled oats. You know, the kind that trendy bed and breakfasts sell in a little tin for $8 as “old fashioned rolled oats”? A minute in the microwave and it’s ready. And it tastes delicious.

It is also VERY nutritious.

It also costs about 5-10 cents per breakfast - in 2010 dollars.

You can get them in the bulk section of all sorts of grocery stores from Fred Meyer, to Wal-Mart, QFC, Winco, you name it.

[DannyTN]

I would expect it to cost something. Meat and Vegetables cost more than breads and pastas. $0.50 more for a healthy school lunch than an unhealthy one is probably reasonable.

The First question is whether they are getting good value for the money they are spending now. I make myself spectacular lunches for $1-$2.00 a main course and $0.30 a vegetable. But that doesn't include labor.

The second question is whether the government knows what is healthy. Given the food pyramid and lobbyist influence that is very doubtful.

[DannyTN]

I question the stat 31 million low income children a year. There are only 380 million Americans.

Are 8% of all Americans really low income children?

Of course the 12 million illegal immigrants may have brought 24 million hungry kids with them.

[Lonely Bull]

An organic money tree, no less.

We'll soon find out what happens when a money tree meets sludge.

[ronnyquest]

Ah, but remember that there now need to be many new levels of bureaucracy in place to “administer” this program. There's your cost. Also, television advertising (MO was on Nickelodeon recently pushing her agenda) and such to get the word out.

By the way, is this really the woman who needs to be in charge of “healthy” school lunches? Have you seen her ass lately? Those expensive White House dinners are not chock full of lentils and beans.

[jmacusa]

Mrs. Obama is an ad hominem in and of herself. And , point of fact, the womans back-side is so large it should have it’s own zip code. But yes, in any other kind of reasonable debate there is no place for ad hominems. Ad hominems are not an argument.