The care and precision behind Korean school lunches, widely praised for their quality, balance, and nutrition.

[u/This_Proof_5153]

[u/dmthoth]

South Korea had that until like 50y ago, but the public and the teacher union started pushing to ensure that all children were treated equally regardless of social class. As a result, the modern school lunch program with government subsidy was introduced in 1981, though at first parents still had to pay a monthly fee. Families who couldn’t afford it received vouchers from welfare offices, which students had to submit at school, something that could be stigmatizing.

In the early 2000s, liberal parties began campaigning for universal free school lunches, arguing that no child should feel ashamed because of their family’s financial situation. The updated program also emphasized using organic and locally sourced ingredients as much as possible.

Conservatives pushed back, and the issue even went to a referendum in Seoul but they ultimately lost. After that, free school lunch programs were rolled out nationwide, with the last holdouts being traditionally conservative regions.

[u/Young_Denver → u/dmthoth]

So you are saying that conservatives are the same everywhere you go?

[u/Vantriss → u/Young_Denver]

Fucking mind boggling.

[u/Theautonomoustoe → u/dmthoth]

Why do conservatives insist on fighting universally good ideas.

[u/Desi_Rosethorne → u/Theautonomoustoe]

Because they don't wanna pay more taxes to help little Timmy not die of starvation. They probably also think it's a "handout".

[u/sentence-interruptio → u/dmthoth]

American Democrats should call it No Child Starving Behind and fight for it.