Time to get really mad!!

Like Jim Sullivan and Paul Green, fellow FOHOBOHists, I"m mad as hell- I heard a brief comment on CNN this morning that was about opponents of the new stimulus package, complaining that it was a terrible "giveaway" because it includes billions of dollars for schools.

Schools! That means some of the money in that package may benefit the nation's youth - the future of our country. Wow - isn't that terrible!

School foodservice in many schools across the U.S. deal every day with equipment that dates back as much as 30 or 40 years. One school foodservice operator told me they discontinued salad bars because their equipment could not assure them the level of safety they felt was necessary.

The new package has language that would provide $100 million for foodservice equipment in schools, with the funds administered at the state level and targeting those schools with 50% free or reduced meal students. In other words, our neediest school systems would receive long needed help in producing safe, healthy, well prepared food for our children and grandchildren and our nation's future citizens. Isn't that bad news!

I find it very difficult and totally abhorrent when I hear remarks like this - "it's a giveaway" - Color me crazy but it's time to stand up and say this is WRONG - it's not a giveaway - it's a much needed update that's long overdue.

Tags: Foodservice, School, equipment, federal, foodservice, grants, lunch, school

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Non-Operator Comment by Pat Jack on March 6, 2009 at 7:07pm: I think I like you people!

:-)

Comment by susan holaday on March 4, 2009 at 3:12pm: I really disagree - to be an American is the work together for the common good - something both parties have failed at wretchedly the past 8 years. Another part of it, I believe, is helping each other. I am tired of the moaning about the mess this country is in today when so many of our problems stem from corporate greed.

Comment by susan holaday on March 4, 2009 at 3:09pm: It has always been my understanding that part of being an American is to work together - one of the things our two political parties seem to have failed at miserably the past eight years. Another is to help each other in times of need. I do not view a spending package as the fiasco you apparently see it as.

Non-Operator Comment by Pat Jack on March 4, 2009 at 8:25am: If we trust the same people, (politicians and wealthy elite corporate rulers), to divy up OUR money to THEIR friends, the same people who got U.S. into this mess then we deserve what we get. The time to be concerned and angry is far, far past due.

What has been done has been done and no amount of spending, (or talk of spending), is going to change anything. The economy has been dealt a mortal blow, more horrible economic news and announcements await, that is reality.

If you hold out your hand ... to the hand that has beaten you down, then you deserve to lie at the bottom of the barrel, broken and ruined as they wished.

It is TO LATE to moan and groan about anything and popping your eyes open at some wonderous spending package is just another nail in our collective coffins.

Don't be naieve, don't be a sucker, be an American.

Comment by susan holaday on February 18, 2009 at 10:06am: The question seems to come down to what "to provide for the common good means." The ideological divide that seems to grow deeper each day in our country, which we ALL want to survive and prosper, is making it virtually impossible, I think, for our elected representatives to do just that. Perhaps if our political parties could put aside these ideological differences to focus on "the common good," we'd make more progress and have a better world too.

Comment by Doug Golden on February 18, 2009 at 9:42am: John Kennedy once said to a assembled group of scholars in the White House " I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

The quotes below could prove his point.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall
become as corrupt as Europe
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle
which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too
much government.
Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson

Very Interesting Quote :

In light of the present financial crisis, it's interesting to read what
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802 :

Banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing
armies . If the American people ever allow private banks to control the
issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and
corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all
property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers
conquered.

Doesn't this sound eerily familiar?

Comment by susan holaday on February 17, 2009 at 11:45am: Stiff penalties and more frequent inspections would be a step in the right direction. But tell me what is right about a school that has an oven for 38 years, gets it fixed somehow each time it breaks down and has a car mechanic to gerry-rig parts for it? " Everyday we use this oven and we pray each day it continues to work it is in such bad shape. We have to turn the product several time because it burns on the outside and is doughy on the middle we do the best we can do with what over used equipment we have," says the foodservice director who describes her efforts as Bandaids. Her mixer has fallen off the counter and broken several times and is taped together. When a freezer's condensing unit's welds sprung and sprayed all over the kitchen, the school had no choice but to replace the unit. The kitchen roof leaks and the FSD is concerned about mold. This is a foodservice program with problems collecting money from non-paid lunches. "It is hard for the people of this community to pay for lunches when they are allready struggling with food, utilities heat and lights, gas prices to travel to and from a job if you are lucky to have a job. We have over 50% free and reduced with a large group of native americans and Mexicans that live in our school district. The farmers in our area are struggling and the very small businesses in our area are struggling to stay open," the FSD says. It's stories like these that make me glad this bill is doing something - anything - to help operators such as these.

Non-Operator Comment by Mark Frank on February 17, 2009 at 11:23am: The question is, can government solve problems? The answer is no. If the government with the most inspectors had the lowest incidence of food related issues it would be the Russian or Chinese government. Both countries have legions of inspectors for virtually everything, yet I can tell you from personal experience there are few large governments less efficient than Russia. The answer is not more government, but in allowing the market to work without excessive government intervention. We are not different in our desire, only in the method by which it can be accomplished.

We live in an imperfect world with imperfect systems and while everyone wishes to have safe food, I’m certainly in that camp, I am also a realist, no system regardless of government or number of inspectors can be completely safe. This country has the most sophisticated food production and import and export methods in the world and given sheer numbers we are far and away the safest. I’m for safe food, who isn’t but I also do not think government can guarantee it.

What government can guarantee is stiff penalties for those who violate laws and make sure officers and boards-of-directors are held criminally responsible for actions like those we have recently witnessed.

Comment by Steve Paterson on February 16, 2009 at 2:39pm: You are correct and I apologize for getting off topic.
I guess I was just sharing something that bothers me about the bill.
Any money thrown at the school system, be it books, kitchen equipment or better food ingredients is okay by me.

Comment by susan holaday on February 16, 2009 at 2:33pm: As I read what you sent from Reuters, this is referring to public works and building projects and says nothing about foodservice equipment.