Oh Boy I am loading wrote on Jun 27, 2008 1:12 PM:up the sprinter with school kids from Escondido for free eats. C'mon kids free lunch and remember to tell your parents to vote for me!

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Jun 27, 2008 3:54 PM:This begs the questions; what kind of nutrition are these kids (and families) getting during the school year? Why can't these families provide the same food during the summer? How did it become the responsibility of the schools and ultimately the taxpayer to feed these children? In my culture, we take responsibility for the children we bring into this world and don't expect the taxpayer to take care of them. So, for the millions the State of California spends on these free food giveaways, we could have kept some teachers in the classroom.

paul wrote on Jun 27, 2008 5:29 PM:Right on Greg.

Umm.. wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:07 PM:LOL. $4 (Soon to be $5) round trip and then a couple of NCTD lame circling routes to get a 'free' lunch.. You would have to leave Escondido at 9:30AM and be back by 3:30 PM just for that 'free' lunch.

Oh, and if the school district makes money off it, more power to 'em! Lunch for $3 isn't a bad deal. Unspent Federal money means money you don't get later. Might as well do something good with it.

if ya cant afford kids... wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:15 PM:please don't have 'em. I pay for mine.. ( I only have ONE) Why do I have to pay for your 4 or FIVE? Why does NCT publish articles like this anyway ?

so wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:38 PM:can't help but notice the common denominator here...always falls to the taxpayers

Remember there are wrote on Jun 27, 2008 6:45 PM:no free lunches. Someone always pays. People who cannot feed and clothe their children are irresponsible. No excuses. If you are poor, lay off the Viagra.

What about the homeless wrote on Jun 27, 2008 7:10 PM:I would expect that the school district could find a better way to pass out these free lunches. Give them to the homeless and homeless families instead! The homeless do not have the means in which to prepare their own meals and in distributing the meals to them would be a God send!

Joe lunch bucket wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:07 PM:This the liberal mafia showing their true colors in the school government. They claim this is about the "children" and school programs are supposed to help the less fortunate. The problem is they are causing people to be more and more dependent on the system..hey that's the liberal way. Hand outs to the "less" fortunate make organizations appear to be doing their part for society. The only thing they are teaching the next generation of these people is how to bleed off the system and pass it on to the next generation.

leucadiadel wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:09 PM:San Marcos is passing out free lunches to the community, too.

freebies wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:20 PM:san marcos unified and vista unified are also passing out free breakfast and lunch..........tax payers pay up!

Lisa wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:39 PM:Since when does a two year go to school and be known as a student.
Another program that let's people (freeloaders) depend on the taxpayers, instead of taking care of their responsibilities on their own.
I just can't get that old saying out of my head "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and he'll feed himself for life".
Also teaching families to only have children that they can afford would also help relieve the devastation on us taxpayers.

Jerry wrote on Jun 27, 2008 8:51 PM:Talk about a slap in the face. It was a party atmosphere as they played spanish music in the park.
I am sick and tired of paying for families that don't want to pay their own way.
When is our government going to wake up and see that they are playing us for fools. This freeloading crap has got to stop, NOW!

Dude wrote on Jun 27, 2008 9:12 PM:Free lunches from the school district that was crying foul that they have no $$$ because of State $$$ cuts. Why would believe anything these people tell us in the future. Isn't this a good reason for why we need school vouchers.

Bro Rufus wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:23 AM:Whe was the NUMBSKULL who thought of this stupid plan? Why should I be forced to help feed these brats? I WANT OUT!!! Let their parents feed 'em!!

Roberto wrote on Jun 28, 2008 3:23 AM:Screw the poor people...let them work and quit popping out babies....If you don't work, the giverment should find you a job you can preform...on another note, train those who want to work....No free welfare for anyone or WIC....time to insure the xenophobes quit whining about the illegals who do work.

If you cant feed em wrote on Jun 28, 2008 6:29 AM:don't breed them.

taxpayer wrote on Jun 28, 2008 8:14 AM:Greg and the other hard working taxpayers are so-o-o-o right. More give-aways, unbelieveable. Sometimes I think quitting work and taking advantage of all the free stuff might not be so bad. Think about, picnic in the park, sunshine, warm breezes, etc. Oh yeah, I forgot. I have ambition, integrity, pride, and most importantly a conscience.

P wrote on Jun 28, 2008 9:09 AM:Did anyone besides me do a search on the sites of these give aways? Take a look and see where they all are. I'm sure you won't be surprised. There's nothing in my neighborhood.

taxpayer too wrote on Jun 28, 2008 9:37 AM:To Dude: This is a FEDERALLY funded program that is actually MAKING money for the districts. It has nothing to do with the educational programs, budget cuts, or telling the truth. Read the article, Dude!

To Taxpayer Too wrote on Jun 28, 2008 10:25 AM:Your right, the federally funded programs don't require taxes do they. I guess the $$$ just grows on trees. Oh yeah, and I just figured out how giving away free lunches increases tax revenues. We should use the method to balance the 2 trillion $$$ federal deficit. In fact, the State can do the same thing to balance their budget. In between complaining about being a victim, why don't you learn how the government gets revenue

Compassionate One wrote on Jun 28, 2008 10:39 AM:These poor kids have to eat. Thank God Obama will win this upcomming election and start taxing the rich more to give to all the poor. They don't have all the fortunes in life that most of you have. Help them by keeping them fed and healthy and one day they might help you!
God Bless

Conundrum wrote on Jun 28, 2008 11:51 AM:I think it's interesting that so many conservatives profess to be Christians and think liberals are less "godly". Yet, here is a program that puts into practice the words Jesus spoke when he said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."
This program is intended to provide sound nutrition, which prevents health problems and allows children to grow and develop, creating better chances for learning in school. The federal govt pays for it. Oside makes money that can be spent on other school expenses and doesn't ask anything from locals. Why is this bad? Would you rather turn the money back and have the govt give it to Blackwater for overpriced mercenaries?

Raul wrote on Jun 28, 2008 12:20 PM:Want a free lunch? No problem. Parents on welfare must first take urinalysis for drug screening AFTER an immigration verification. And my friends wonder why I send my kids to private school!

Joe wrote on Jun 28, 2008 12:37 PM:Yeah Compassionate One, that's just what we need, the rich to be taxed more so the welfare recipients can irresponsibly keep having babies that they can't afford, that will really solve the problem won't it?
Raul, I like your thinking, I bet a whole lot of them wouldn't be receiving the free lunch after that.

Obama wrote on Jun 28, 2008 12:48 PM:is an "empty" suit. He knows nothing. Remember the movie "Manchurian Candidate"? If not, rent it. Thats B. Hussein Obama. Has anyone actually certified his birth certificate? He may not even qualify to be President. Start asking the difficult questions and quit looking for some empty promise from the empty suit.

Obama PLEASE wrote on Jun 28, 2008 1:05 PM:NOT! Yes, let's tax the RICH so they don't have the money to put into the economy. Don't you people know, if you don't make any money, you aren't taxed. Look at your tax bracket. The wealthy are already taxed enough. Don't add more.

I pay 50k a year in taxes just to feed these free-loaders. If you can't feed, don't breed is right.

The government shouldn't have to find you a job, it's your duty and OBLIGATION to find your own job Roberto. Has nothing to do with xenophiles.

BTW, dump the free lunches and bring back the trades to the high schools -- auto shop, woodshop, etc. We don't NEED any more nano-geeks.

CANTV wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:10 PM:If I had read this article a year ago, I would have agreed with most of the posters regarding the government enabling the poor. Well, I have a different opinion now as an unemployed, college-educated SINGLE man with no children.

I was laid off about ten months ago and after the proverbial job search from business to food service, have still yet to find a job. My unemployment benefits have run out, I'm living in my car, and now rely on food stamps ($162/month) to eat. I can totally appreciate the government benefits provided to me as a former taxpayer.

Let me tell ya, skirting homelessness is no joke! And those of you who think that government benefits are a pot of gold should readjust your thinking. Contrary to the 'welfare queen' stories the media hypes, benefits are very, very minimal--as they should be and there are very stringent guidelines as to whom can be recipients.

With 250,000 people put out of work in CA since last year, the competition for jobs (even the most entry) is fierce! And it is taking longer for educated and experienced people to find work. I'm thankful that I only have myself to worry about. Keep in mind, alot of the people who take advantage of programs like this DO work, but the high cost in CA forces the working poor to seek additional resources in order to make ends meet.

For the record, I am white and have seen just as many of us in the food stamp/welfare office and food banks as I do of hispanics or blacks. I hope that those of you who think you can't end up in a situation similar to those who rely on help like this really take a minute to be thankful for being able to take a shower in your own bathroom and sleep in a warm bed at night!

Albert wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:18 PM:To Conundrum – You said “I think it's interesting that so many conservatives profess to be Christians and think liberals are less "godly". Yet, here is a program that puts into practice the words Jesus spoke when he said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

That’s an interesting, albeit twisted, view of Christians. Christians give a percent of what they earn to churches, non-Christian charities and their community events because their book tells them that’s God’s will.

Liberals don’t like this. Liberals want to take everyone’s money and distribute it to those in need so those in need will come to believe liberals are God. Don’t get up in the morning, pray about being of service and do the best you can. Liberals say, just give us your money and we’ll take care of your souls.

I think someone should start the “Liberal Religion” and just get it over with. Pray to Bill, Hill and Obama and all will be well.

Glad to be Gone from Oside wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:18 PM:To Taxpayer Too: Hello! Nobody makes a profit off the federal money. The feds have NO MONEY OF THEIR OWN ... all the federal money comes from the taxes they levy on the working stiffs either directly or from the profit-making, capitalistic enterprises that keep this country afloat. These school idiots are trying to perpetuate the myth that we can tax ourselves into prosperity. This is just another of their redistribution of wealth schemes.

James wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:23 PM:Oh Compassionate One - Tell us, did you scrape your John Kerry bumper sticker off first, or did you just put your Obama bumper sticker right over it?

Free Gas and Rent wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:37 PM:Why can't they fill up my car and pay my rent too...

Santos wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:45 PM:The program ends on Aug. 1st??? What will the poor little kiddies do after that? Starve? Now that I think of it...what do they do for food on weekends and during Christmas break and Spring break? Sayyyy...this isn't some sort of scam is it?

CMartel wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:53 PM:The question needs to be asked: what are food stamps for, then? Decorative purposes? I thought taxpayers were already paying for these bums to get "free" food. Now we're paying for them to get more free food?

And what is this talk of "sound nutrition" when these kids gobbling down a diet of pizza, burritos, and hamburgers. Ever know a kid who stayed thin on that diet?

And again, if you can't afford to live in Oceanside, California, the rest of the country should be your oyster. It's far more affordable and the jobs far more plentiful in the breadbasket of this nation. These government programs deprive our nation of able-bodied employees when others can just leach off of society's productive members and drag the whole system down.

KansasGirl wrote on Jun 28, 2008 4:06 PM:So during the school year, the taxpayers "have" to pay for their daily bread. Now we're told to pay for the food over the summer months. Exactly when do the biological parents start supporting their children?"

Me thinks wrote on Jun 28, 2008 4:45 PM:It is a good idea to starve children in order to teach their parents a lesson - how else are these terrible parents going to learn! Shame on them if they already have to many mouths to feed - I am thinking that they should just give them away to somone who can feed them - I think they can even turn them in at the hospital. Why are poor people allowed to have kids anyway? We should put those birth control implants in every woman in the country. Only when they can show that the adjusted gross income on their tax return is above a certain limit should they be allowed to petition to have the implant removed. That would solve half of our problems. If we put a little sensor in with the birth control device we will also be able to walk around poor neighborhoods and find women without sensors, likely undocumented migrants, who are just here so thy can have babies and get them fed for free. If a woman happens to slip through the cracks as soon as she shows-up at a hospital or school with her child she should be arrested and deported. That would end all of our problems right there. I bet that even gas prices would go down because the immigrants would not be driving their children around so there would be less demand. It will be a great Christams for all Americans!

Oceanside Lady wrote on Jun 28, 2008 5:16 PM:Just thinking: in China they have the one kid per family rule... Maybe we can adopt some of those strategies: Either you try to integrate and learn English, get an education and then we will help you. If you don't want to learn English, don't expect to have more than one person of the family subsidized. Besides the Budget problems, I feel that my middle school and highschool kids are not getting the education they deserve because so many big poor families are being subsidized. I'm a European lady, we have lots of help for people in Europe, but everybody in Europe makes an effort to speak the country's language. It took me years to speak 4 languages...and I'm very proud of it. I made and effort.... That's all I'm asking for. Make an effort. Nobody gave me anything for free in the US and I would not ask for it unless some horrible catastrophe would hit me or my family. If I could not afford to have children, I would not make them.

To CANTV wrote on Jun 28, 2008 9:14 PM:Homeless with a computer in your car???

KansasGirl wrote on Jun 28, 2008 11:24 PM:The school districts "always" need more funds. Guess this is one reason why.

Neighbor wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:11 AM:I live a few yards from Libby Lake Park. I am 100% against this free lunch program for several reasons. One, these lunches are not nutritious! Pizza! Hamburgers! Chocolate milk loaded with sugar! These lunches will send the kids down the street to the free community clinic to treat their obesity and diabetes. Kids don't eat enough fruits and vegetables (no, pizza sauce doesn't count). Want to help them? Have a free fruit and vegetable truck. Most of the parents I see lining up with the kids are obese. Many of the kids are obese too. They don't need free pizza and hamburgers.

The second reason I'm against it is the trash. Libby Lake is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife, and now the lake and wetlands are even more littered with trash from these lunches. There are trashcans everyone, yet most people prefer to just leave their trash on the grass where it blows into the lake.

I am a liberal democrat for the most part, but I don't think anyone should get something without working for it. If people are really too poor to eat, then I agree with an earlier poster--put them to work. I also believe in securing our boarders and enforcing our immigration laws.

jvc wrote on Jul 2, 2008 12:12 PM:How could you dare call yourself a Liberal Democrat? Your comments have disowned you from the Party!Your comments have mimic a Republican
ideology!

Neighbor wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:13 PM:jvc - I'm sure they'll take my vote whether I agree with handing out free junkfood or not

jvc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:43 AM:Yes, the Republicans really need your vote!