The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland Tennessee (TN) and Bradley County Tennessee (Tn).





Of Bradley County Tn.


OCTOBER    2006

                            The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland and Bradley County Tn.

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You Might Be A Deadbeat - -

by Joe Kirkpatrick

Today, we live in a country filled with deadbeats and parasites. Normally when we hear the word "parasite", we think of nasty little creatures like ticks and mosquitoes. Unfortunately, many humans have learned from those nasty little creatures, and have turned into parasites themselves. "Parasite" is such a harsh word to call a human, so someone along the way came up with a word that is more socially acceptable: DEADBEAT!

Deadbeats come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but all share a common trait: they feed off of others. "Others" might be family, friends, strangers, or the all time favorite, the government.  One of my favorite types of Deadbeats are those who have their kids on free lunch at school. Now, let me say, in a few cases, a family genuinely is really struggling and cannot afford lunch for their children, and are justified in taking free lunch.. Also, many people who don't take from the system do not realize if a child is on the free lunch program, their fees for all other school activities are waived as well. Lets look at my top ten list for being a free lunch DEADBEAT:

1. If you smoke, and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

2. If you can afford a cell phone, and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

Joe Kirkpatrick


3. If you have cable or a dish and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

4. If you can afford to get your nails done every week and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

5. If you drive a nice enough car that you have full coverage insurance on and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

6. If you rent two or more DVDs a week and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

7. If you have enough money for gas to pick your child up from school everyday instead of them riding the bus and your child is on free lunch,  you are a DEADBEAT!

8. If you can afford for the family to eat out at least once a week and your child is on free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

9. If you misstate your income on the free lunch application so your child can get free lunch, you are a DEADBEAT!

10. Folks - I am not kidding - this is a true story that happened in a  Cleveland city school several years ago: A child was asked by their  teacher what they wanted to do when they grow up. The child replied, "draw." The teacher said, "Oh - so you want to be an artist?" "No" the child replied, "I

want to draw a check like my daddy and momma does." If this was your child, you are definitely a DEADBEAT!

Any of the free lunch DEADBEAT parents you question about doing any of the above things I'm sure would be able to offer a reasonable explanation. The only real explanation is they don't care enough about their children to buy their lunch - period!
.

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