MINOT — A ballot measure to require the state to cover meal costs at North Dakota's public schools will be circulating for petition signatures soon.

It's already drawing some heated debate, with many critics claiming that it's an abdication of parental responsibilities, at best, and socialism, at worst. Let's address that.

The socialism claim is the more risible of the two. Much like fascism, socialism has become a pejorative in politics meaning "a thing I disagree with." Which is unfortunate, because the term is meant to describe a real ideology that's really dangerous when earnestly implemented. When used incorrectly by some Facebook dingus, all socialism means is the existence of government, which is not only absurd but harmful to the conservative cause, because it positions us to be

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