Optimist Economy

Aren’t Free School Meals a Conservative's Dream Policy?


Listen Later

Free breakfast and lunch for every public school student — an idea associated more with countries like Sweden and Finland — should instead be viewed as a truly American policy that liberals and conservatives can both love. Want complete meritocracy? Then you should be furious that some kids can't focus in class or during tests because they're hungry. Want to compete globally? Eating better raises student test scores. Want to make America healthy again? Professional kitchen staff serving nutritionally balanced meals to everyone actually beats harried parents trying to cobble together a lunch sack. Want less government interference? Universal programs eliminate the invasive bureaucratic hassle of asking every student’s family about their income. School meal programs have even been found to lower grocery prices in local communities. Nine states have made free meals universal, and others have expanded access, so this ball is rolling.

Read more:

  • Solutions: Free School Meals - by Kathryn Anne Edwards [2024]
  • How Free School Meals Went Mainstream - The New York Times [2024]
  • School Lunch Debt Statistics: Total + Costs per Student [2025]

    Brown paper bags and ketchup as a Vegetable

    • A story too good to check: Paul Ryan and the tale of the brown paper bag - The Washington Post [2014]
    • Why Michelle Obama Is Wrong on School Lunches | The Heritage Foundation [2014]
    • U.S. Holds The Ketchup In Schools - The Washington Post [1981]
    • U.S. Federal Register from 1981 [see page 49]
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Optimist EconomyBy Kathryn Anne Edwards and Robin Rauzi

      • 5
      • 5
      • 5
      • 5
      • 5

      5

      683 ratings


      More shows like Optimist Economy

      View all
      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

      3,528 Listeners

      Pivot by New York Magazine

      Pivot

      9,737 Listeners

      Pod Save America by Pod Save America

      Pod Save America

      87,927 Listeners

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

      7,246 Listeners

      The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

      The Bulwark Podcast

      12,744 Listeners

      Strict Scrutiny by Strict Scrutiny

      Strict Scrutiny

      5,822 Listeners

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

      5,629 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      16,510 Listeners

      The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

      The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

      11,004 Listeners

      The Money with Katie Show by Morning Brew

      The Money with Katie Show

      1,542 Listeners

      Offline with Jon Favreau by Crooked Media

      Offline with Jon Favreau

      2,327 Listeners

      On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

      On with Kara Swisher

      3,530 Listeners

      Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson

      Letters from an American

      6,289 Listeners

      Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

      Prof G Markets

      1,473 Listeners

      Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov by Vox Media Podcast Network

      Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov

      1,522 Listeners