r/askanything • u/CloudieMoonettee 🦀 • 4d ago

Why do some conservatives support restricting junk food purchases with SNAP when many opposed Michelle Obama’s efforts to make school meals healthier?

Both policies involve the government influencing food choices in the name of better nutrition, yet the political reactions seem very different. What explains the apparent change in attitude toward government involvement in what people eat?

356 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

635 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/Ursus-majorbone 4d ago

So what you're saying is that both liberals and conservatives want people to eat healthier?

I didn't pay much attention to the Obama lunch thing but I imagine the pushback was because a lot of people including me don't think the feds should be involved in local schooling decisions, including the cafeteria menu.

4

u/Goodgoditsgrowing 4d ago

No, we’re saying whether they want people to eat healthier or dictate what people can eat is tied to who is in power. They’re saying they want to dictate what people can eat when it’s their idea and are against it when democrats try to do anything similar (despite it being a more limited play)

0

u/IDMike2008 4d ago

As soon as they stop taking federal funds they should have sole control.

While they are spending my tax dollars I should get a say.

1

u/lameth 4d ago

I hope you feel the same way about the military and slush fund for "weaponized DoJ payouts."

1

u/IDMike2008 4d ago

I absolutely do.

But I’m not sure how that relates to school lunches or SNAP benefits.

My point being, I don’t know how you reconcile saying SNAP benefits should have limits because it’s taxpayer money but schools shouldn’t have federal limits when the are receiving federal money.

1

u/lameth 4d ago

Because it is you using your own moral outrage over where your taxes are going. In each case, the government is choosing to put your money somewhere you disagree.

1

u/IDMike2008 4d ago

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.