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

Optimist Economy

Kathryn Anne Edwards and Robin Rauzi

Public Policy, Economics, Government, Economy

4.9 • 829 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	And let's do a moment of silence for all of the...
0:03.3	I walk two miles to school in the snow.
0:04.9	All the moms and grandmas and grandads and dads out there who walked 40 miles to the school.
0:11.1	I didn't walk 40 miles. I did walk to school.
0:14.0	Uphill both ways, y'all.
0:16.2	In the snow.
0:26.7	Hello and welcome to Optimist Economy. I'm Catherine. I'm Robin.
0:32.1	On this show, we believe the U.S. economy can be better, and we talk about how to get there, one problem and solution at a time. I like that you don't have that memorized, that you're actually donated.
0:42.7	No, I have to put it on the, I'd put it on every time.
0:46.3	There'd be like, hello, welcome to Catherine Optimist, I'm Economy.
0:52.6	Nothing about me is good for radio, is all I'm going to say.
0:57.4	Okay.
0:58.4	At the top of our show, we make a few announcements.
1:01.7	Can I go first?
1:02.6	Yeah, you wait.
1:03.0	Okay.
1:06.3	So in a few weeks, we will be recording another Q&A episode.
1:13.4	So if you have a question for the Economist on this podcast, send it to us. Send it to us by email at optimist.com.
1:20.0	Wait, they can ask you a question too, though, right?
1:23.6	I don't know what they would. Ask me a question about, but they can, sure. Or you can call us and
1:29.1	leave us a voicemail and we will play it on the podcast. Now, I know you're driving or you're off
1:35.2	gardening. We will also put this phone number in our newsletter, but it is 202-643-0-295. Over to you. Okay, great. We also have a website, optimist economy.com,
	...

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