@Cville Eye

“isn’t there a blog name for somebody who tries to change the topic of the thread?”

Rob Schilling?

“Now, let’s be honest — a stretch, I know.”

Hi Eric (aka proac aka antiboyd),

If you truly are interested in being “honest,” why don’t you post under your real name?

Glad to have you participating on the blog and in the The Schilling Show’s radio listening audience.

I realize that this may be curiously out of place, but I’d like to push back a bit.

You (and Uncle Milty) are right — TANSTAAFL. If I had not learned that at my father’s knee, I had a second opportunity when I attended the venerable Darden GSBA. (For the record, I actually worked my way through school — doable in 1981-1983.)

And, right again, this “free” lunch being provided to children is the result of Federal funding, which trickles down from taxpayers (and, more appropriately, IOU’s which may be honored by future generations).

I could point out the obvious: that to the children recieving the eats, they are provided at no cost (therefore free) to them. I assure you that no child’s dignity is stolen from them, unless, of course, they allow some pinhead to steal it from them. There is no dignity in going hungry (and I do not mean that in the casual sense your fanbase sees the word). And, speaking for myself, there is no civic pride felt here when we have children going hungry.

Now, let’s be honest — a stretch, I know.

Half (more or less) of American taxpayers are already getting what is tantamount to a free lunch — paying no Federal Income tax. Of the half (or so) who do pay something, their contribution is, shall we say, a pittance. In fact, I’ll bet that the 80-20 rule applies — 20 percent of the folks pay 80 percent of the freight.

I’ll also bet — dollars to donuts — 20 percent of the populace logs 80 percent of the complaints. And that 80 percent of the complainers contribute 20% of the taxes paid. Moral of the story: earn just enough to pay some taxes — any amount — to feel justified in beating down the least among us — aka, the “other guy”.

Now, let’s put this into some perspective. $360 million is not chump change. Exactly how many days of warfare in Iraq does $360 million cover?

Now, if you gave me a choice, between leveling a piece of the dessert and spilling American (not to mention non-American) blood — for what? a day? — and feeding hungry children (even at the risk of injuring their fragile dignity)… can you guess where I am headed here?

Just some food for thought. Apologies in advance for an indigestion it may cause your readers.

Seriously, find out what is on the menu. The children are stirring….