There's No Such Thing As A . . .

This morning's Anderson newspaper contained a feature article about the summer lunch program being provided in Anderson county schools. (It was actually the headline article with a full-page photograph on the front page of the new tabloid-style newspaper - feature articles are now the primary source of attraction to make folks buy the paper. But that's another subject.)

Anyone who wants - no income requirements - anyone can go to the half-dozen schools in the area that serve free breakfast and lunch. Adults have to pay something like $1.75 for breakfast and $3.00 for lunch. But anyone under 18 eats for free.

People interviewed for the article gushed about how wonderful this is. A home daycare provider plans to take her entire brood each day. A couple of kids are making plans to ride on their bikes to the school each day. And the lunchroom ladies pointed out how several children came in on Monday, having not been fed since they left the cafeteria from lunch the previous Friday.

I'm certainly not against finding ways to help hungry children. But, contrary to the article, this is not a free program. I am paying for it, as are you, whether we want to or not. I would much prefer to donate to the charities of my choice, rather than be forced to pay through taxes.

And, this completely removes responsibility from parents. If a child has not been fed from a Friday to a Monday, proactive action needs to be taken to get those parents to face up to responsibilities, even if the children have to be removed from the home.

Nothing in particular will happen, however. There is such a huge underbelly of people depending on the government for their provision in many areas, even in towns like Anderson, that the problem will just get larger and larger. People like being provided for. They don't think - or care- about the fact that provision means control.