America provides food stamps that provide groceries to those who need it.
However, I'm not sure it is the responsibility of a "decent modern society" to provide free quality meals to the populace. How far does this go? Does the government need to run restaurants? Vouchers to use at restaurants? I'm not convinced restaurants are even serving necessarily "quality meals".
I think a program providing groceries is a good idea, with some additional support for the rare cases of people who are completely unable to prepare meals from groceries.
I didn't say free restaurants for everyone, that's a ridiculous extrapolation.
But it is the responsibility of a decent modern society to ensure kids get at least a basic level of care and education. Morally, and in fact in the interests of having a decently educated and functional society.
For foodstamp groceries, are you expecting the kids to prepare their own lunch?
It seems like another callous 'personal responsibility' argument.
Our "decent modern society" already does this, because the government SNAP program guarantees that anyone for whom the standard food budget is not met by their income receives government support.
Groceries, however, are expected to be bought by parents and then meals prepared for their children. I don't expect children to prepare their own lunch, but I do expect their parents to - and the same for breakfast, dinner, and snacks. I consider not doing this to be a rather serious form of child neglect. Correcting this problem would be another responsibility of a "decent, modern society", although usually the best way to do that is to require parents to go to parenting classes and get help to overcome their neglect.
Again, just provide the kids themselves with decent (not stratified) meals, rather than tying it to parental responsibility or otherwise. It's like you're trying to make a mean society.
How are children in such situations supposed to get breakfast and dinner?
I'm not arguing against universal school lunches here. I am arguing against the idea society should somehow be providing prepared meals, unless "society" includes "children's parents".
However, I'm not sure it is the responsibility of a "decent modern society" to provide free quality meals to the populace. How far does this go? Does the government need to run restaurants? Vouchers to use at restaurants? I'm not convinced restaurants are even serving necessarily "quality meals".
I think a program providing groceries is a good idea, with some additional support for the rare cases of people who are completely unable to prepare meals from groceries.