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Thread ID: 126780	2012-09-18 00:23:00	Hungry school kids	rob_on_guitar (4196)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1301779	2012-09-18 20:40:00	What is required is a new system. It is clear the the left method was a total disaster, the right has been largely brilliant, but it is failing at the moment and all the experts are flailing in the dark, just look at Europe and USA.:waughh:	Cicero (40)
1301780	2012-09-18 21:11:00	Left wing LITP people do not concern themselves with such trivial questions. Living in the past. Sometimes it is of value to learn what has happened in the past, and also to see what other countries are doing, the naysayers should read this, but they probably wont. en.wikipedia.org	Terry Porritt (14)
1301781	2012-09-18 21:22:00	Sometimes it is of value to learn what has happened in the past, and also to see what other countries are doing, the naysayers should read this, but they probably wont. en.wikipedia.org All that was after a war, we are talking 2012. I can't help feeling that government interference in a free market is the problem. Criminally so, as with the bankers in USA getting away Scot free. If you think we live in a free market society, try setting up a restaurant or similar.	Cicero (40)
1301782	2012-09-18 21:44:00	Personally I blame the lazy parents. And likely their habits too I don't mean lazy because they can't find a job; but lazy with their groceries and budget.. "oh we'll buy our kids 6 bags of chips for their lunches with powerade; rather than a loaf of bread and I'll make their lunch" I will concede their are likely some worthy causes which do need help, and for these kids I do feel sorry. How to help them?? Throwing money at the parents does not necessarily feed the kids... I felt the same. The school principal talks about "Oh try living on the minimum wage", yeah sure that's tough, but you also qualify for WFF Tax Credits amongst other things which help. However, as mentioned, throwing raw money at the situation doesn't seem like a brilliant idea. For the cost of one of those bags of chips vs the cost of actually making a healthy lunch, the key differences are simply: 1) Taking the time to prepare your childs lunch, or at least teach them how to do it. I was making my own lunches well and truly by that age. Most kids can happily do it around the age of 5-6 without much hassle, it's pretty easy to put marmite on a piece of bread, so this is mostly just laziness on the parents behalf! 2) Taking the time to spend money wisely on food in advance. Unfortunately this has to be taught, throwing additional money at the situation won't make bad choices by parents go away. So I did a quick test myself! Two weeks worth of food (To average things out a bit better), lets see how much it costs: 1KG of Apples for $2.50 = 10 apples, one a day (Average apple being 100 grams according to answers.yahoo.com ) shop.countdown.co.nz 2x loaves of bread for $1.50ea ($3 total), provides enough for roughly two sandwiches a day (4x slices), maybe one for lunch and one for when the kid gets home shop.countdown.co.nz 1x jar of Vegemite (Or Marmite I prefer personally, but you take what you get right?) for $3.20. I checked our 150g Marmite jar, serves 25, so thats enough for a child for a 4 weeks worth and then some. We'll round this down to half the price at $1.60 for a fortnight. shop.countdown.co.nz 1x Choc Mint Slice Biscuits (Coz you're a high roller 9yr old) for $2. Contains ballpark 12 biscuits, so one a day for two weeks, and one for mum or dad once a week as they're making the kids lunch perhaps? Or for an afternoon snack? shop.countdown.co.nz 1x Home Brand Crackers for $2.30. Enough for 3-4 each day for two weeks (I'm not able to find an accurate review of the contents) but I believe there's over 40 of the small crackers in a bag shop.countdown.co.nz It's not a *massive* lunch, the kid is gonna have to survive off water (Heck I didn't ever take anything, I just used the water fountains at school) but it's certainly the basics to get a child through the day. Grand whopping total per-fortnight: $9.90 There are most certainly more ways to be cheaper on the food too if you replace the choc mint biscuits with something else like a mandarin or a banana for example. It's not rocket science if you ask me :-/ EDIT: Forgot to mention, that I can do all of the above for TWO weeks for the same price as the cost of *one* Cookie Time Cookie per-day for a week... Think about it: 5x Cookie Time Cookies, lunch for a week vs A significantly more satisfying lunch for two weeks	Chilling_Silence (9)
1301783	2012-09-18 22:01:00	All the above is true, but is the effect, the cause is the system.	Cicero (40)
1301784	2012-09-18 22:22:00	1 biscuit a day, come on really? Apart from that looks good	Gobe1 (6290)
1301785	2012-09-18 22:24:00	All you said is true Chill, but could be improved even more. Take away the crackers and biscuits and the marmite, pick up two packs of ham for $5, a and a vege depending on price - cucumber can often be had for a couple of dollars, a lettuce isn't usually that bad. That shouldn't cost a lot more, if any, and I know I'd prefer a ham and lettuce sandwich than a marmite sandwich with a biscuit and a couple of crackers.	Nick G (16709)
1301786	2012-09-18 22:28:00	1 biscuit a day, come on really? Apart from that looks good One biscuit and 4 crackers, combined with two basic sandwiches and an apple. I know which I'd prefer out of the aforementioned or a Cookie Time Cookie ;) All you said is true Chill, but could be improved even more. Take away the crackers and biscuits and the marmite, pick up two packs of ham for $5, a and a vege depending on price - cucumber can often be had for a couple of dollars, a lettuce isn't usually that bad. That shouldn't cost a lot more, if any, and I know I'd prefer a ham and lettuce sandwich than a marmite sandwich with a biscuit and a couple of crackers. Yeah exactly, the point being though it's *real* easy to whip together something, while staying on budget. A lettuce might be $2-ish ... A slice of ham isn't much either if you're not getting the mint biscuits. But I rest my case. I buy snacks to supplement my own lunches rather than making sandwiches for myself every morning. Why? I'm lazy and happy with spending a little extra for something I can whip up at work quickly. Same goes for these parents, for the better part, it's laziness. As mentioned it's not hard to show a child how to make their own if you just get them the ingredients.	Chilling_Silence (9)
1301787	2012-09-18 22:35:00	In a world where parents took responsibility for their children, they would have veges in the garden (assuming room for a garden) Nothing is simpler than growing lettuces, toms etc. Unfortunately we have a world where many do not take responsibility for their children. That does not mean that we as a humane society should allow those children to attend school on an empty stomach. Aside from anything else they will be unable to learn much without some nutrition.	KarameaDave (15222)
1301788	2012-09-19 00:18:00	That does not mean that we as a humane society should allow those children to attend school on an empty stomach. Aside from anything else they will be unable to learn much without some nutrition. True, but I think we owe it to those children to be responsible in how we resolve their situation. Throwing money at the parents isn't a good idea, and while having the government feed them is a "band-aid solution" it's not an ideal fix, nor a good long-term solution. You're simply saying "Yeah you can do whatever the hell you like, treat your kids like dirt, the Govt will pick up the pieces, it's OK, don't worry about it, go have another child even, we don't mind..."	Chilling_Silence (9)
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