Suffer little children

I understand that it is the responsibility of the parents to feed their children. I totally get that. What I don’t understand is how we can have 1.4 million children relying on school meals.

In truth, I do understand. Our system is totally broken, a system in which people in work can’t earn enough to provide the basic necessities of life, a system that allows us to judge those less fortunate than us as untermenschen, a scourge on society and totally responsible for their circumstances. A system where there are successful people and wasters.

I’m not religious but there but for the grace of God go I.

Let’s get one thing straight. When it comes to being hungry it is never the child’s fault. They don’t ask to be born, they don’t have a choice over their parents and they can’t change their minds should things go wrong. Can you imagine what it is like to be hungry, not for one day but for days in a row. If you can’t imagine it then try it. 

Despite some unease on the Tory benches, a motion on providing 1.4m disadvantaged children in England with £15-a-week food vouchers during holidays until Easter 2021 was voted down. [from voxpoliticalonline.com]

So why does the government insist on trying to punish the children? 

Despite the moral outrage it is shooting itself in the foot. It makes economic sense to pay the money. It should be seen as an investment in a better future.

Hungry children have lower levels of academic achievment than the well-fed. Lower levels of attainment lead to lower skills and lower job opportunities leading to reduced taxation and a higher reliance on the welfare system. If you don’t believe me then read The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone: by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.

Not coming forward with the relatively small amount of money makes the government look churlish, mean and prepared to put ideology before the needs of the vulnerable. Not paying is a false economy.

It is also morally wrong.