Food vs. Principals urge to look good in time for retirement

I think the term "Liberal" is used very different in Europe vs the US. In Norway, for instance, the two parties that consider themselves real liberals, the Left Party and the Progress Party, are located in the middle and to the right, respectively.

The Progress Party are in favour of lowering taxes and reducing government control - at the same time they are quite populistic and often incorporate social-democrat (aka Labour) ideas in their retorics. At the same time they have a tradition for being the most restrictive party regarding immigration - earlier they were playing the xenophobia card often, they have moderated themselves on that. One could say, like the Republican party in the US, they are liberal in economics, but conservative in "value questions". For instance, they are for more restrictive abortion laws than today. They are now the second largest party in Norway (around 20 %) but are isolating themselves and are not very likely to end up in a government in 2009.

The Left Party (the name comes from the first years of parliamentarism in Norway, when there were only two parties, the Left party and the Right party. The Right are also still active and have traditionally been the second largest party in Norway, after the Labour party. They are comparable to the Torys in England). The Left was the liberal party back then, nowadays they label themselves "social liberalists" meaning they are supporting a strong public welfare service while also being for strong individual rights. They are a quite small party (usually 4-6 % of the votes in parliamentary elections).

I think that these parties really do not compare to the Democrat/Republican parties in the US. I'd say that the Democrat party involves people spanning from the Norwegian Labour party to our Right Party, and that the Republicans could compare to a mixture of the Right party, the Progress party and the Christian People's Party (the latter being comparable to the German Christian Democrats, Helmut Kohl's party). Economically, they share views with the Right party, while their conservative view on morality match the two others.

As far as I understand, the term "Liberal" in the US would compare to a crossover between Labour and Tory in England. Anything to the left of that would be considered communism in the US  :P
 
As far as I understand, the term "Liberal" in the US would compare to a crossover between Labour and Tory in England. Anything to the left of that would be considered communism in the US 
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I think you're right on that comparison; and yes any further left would be considered just that. Can't have any "Reds" here.......
 
Yax said:
Now, if that was directed at me, let me explain further: It isn't really about the food quality, but about our principals moronic decision to make cutbacks JUST BECAUSE SHE WANT THE FINANCES TO LOOK GOOD WHEN SHE RETIRES. It's so damn egoistic, plus the fact that she wants to turn my class and the paralellclass into one class with 35 students. All in the name of her savings.
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My remark was more directed at that freefood-system, but I indeed understand that her (probable) motives cause this anger.
 
I know I entered this one late, but here are my two cents. Here public schools offer breakfast and lunches for free for students who qualify (aka are poor enough). However, here is what pisses me off. These are GOOD lunches, fruit, veggies, etc. They may not be the best tasting, but fuck man you are getting them for free and what happens? Students usually eat the main course (a pizza slice, a burrito, etc.) The "dessert" and THROW AWAY THE REST! When I asked the cafeteria staff why don't they just serve what the student WANTS and that way it doesn't get wasted there answer was, each student is allocated a FULL tray, that is how they are budgeted and kept track of. So the entire tray HAS to be given out... talk about a fucking waste of food. THAT pisses me off.
 
That pisses me off too. I feel like strangling my own kids when they give me shit about eating this or that. I wish they could see some of the things I have.
 
Forostar said:
My remark was more directed at that freefood-system, but I indeed understand that her (probable) motives cause this anger.
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Yes, very true.  But there are two reasons for this, which Deano highlighted, and each showcases an interesting issue with the USA (and to a lesser extent, Canada, though we don't see this to the extent).  The first, of course, is that there are families out there without the money to provide an adequate lunch or breakfast meal for their children.  I think this is rather self-explanatory on why that's bad.

The second is that the responsibility for properly feeding a child is slowly shifting over to the state.  And this is bad.  I'm all in favour of equality on many things, but for parenting?  Parents need to be responsible.  The state should not be feeding children breakfast when their parents are capable of doing it - the state should never replace the parent.
 
This freefood system exists in the Netherlands as well, but as far as I'm aware not for "normal" schools.
Only for youngsters @ expensive private schools.
 
I don't know know if the same is true for other nations but I suspect its close. There is now a necessity for both parents to work. Period. I know how hard it is to get several children off to school and then go to work (most of you don't but that's OK, I envy you). Schools providing meals for my children is great! Simple math: I pay taxes, my roads are shitty, parks are infested with drug-addicts, gas is expensive and the air is polluted. At least I know my children get a morning meal, it is somewhat comforting.)

P.S. I know gas is more expensive in other nations, I'm not trying to sound like a baby. We're all hurting.
 
Forostar said:
This freefood system exists in the Netherlands as well, but as far as I'm aware not for "normal" schools.
Only for youngsters @ expensive private schools.
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I send my kids to a private school and pay for their lunches.  However, there are those that cannot pay for them.  Free lunch (or breakfast) isn't something that just happens if you are a resident of the US.  Most of the meals are paid for by the parents.

And, like Deano, I am happy to have my kids have a good meal, cause I'm a single parent, and its all I can do to get the three of them up and out the door in the morning.  As stated before, its just a difference in society. 
 
Maybe in America a lunch and breakfast are very heavy big expensive meals?

Just a few slices of bread makes a good breakfast and/or lunch.

Here another "principle" put to the test: people who can afford internet and gas (cars), surely must be able to buy food? Just a matter of priorities, isn't it?
 
In most areas of the USA, a car isn't a luxury, it's a necessity.  Same with Canada.
 
Forostar said:
Maybe in America a lunch and breakfast are very heavy big expensive meals?

Just a few slices of bread makes a good breakfast and/or lunch.

Here another "principle" put to the test: people who can afford internet and gas (cars), surely must be able to buy food? Just a matter of priorities, isn't it?
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No, the meals arent that expensive, really.  I feed my kids a bowl of cereal or some cinnamon rolls in the morning.  They eat the school food at lunch, but are hungry when i pick them up from school. 

As far as the car, like LC said, it is a necessity.  For me, I have to drive for my job, to see clients.  Before I had to drive to my job.  There is no public transit available for me, period.  If I don't drive, I have no real work options.
 
Forostar said:
Maybe in America a lunch and breakfast are very heavy big expensive meals?
Just a few slices of bread makes a good breakfast and/or lunch.
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You call that breakfast?! The most important meal of the day?! I don't even do that now that I'm older. As a teen I used to have two eggs (whichever way really), two slices of buttered toast, yogurt with honey, glass of orange juice and glass of milk, sliced papaya with lime and salt... god now I'm hungry. Now I usually have two quesadillas with four cheeses, ham, beans and hot sauce :D (My own concoction), and a two egg shake.
 
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