More than half of all meals in the U.S. are taken outside the home, often in institutional settings--schools, universities, hospitals, nursing homes, stadiums, convention centers, recreational venues, correctional facilities, mess halls and private companies. We need to know that these places are healthy and clean, and that the food served is safe and nutritious. Here are eight reasons why quality public services matter:

1. Because We Love Our Kids

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, serve nearly 50 million children each year. Healthy foods enhance learning and reduce behavior problems, hunger, and obesity. Safe foods thwart bacterial foodborne illnesses, which are particularly dangerous for children. Quality services matter to kids--and their parents.

2. Because For Patients Food Safety Can Be Life or Death

Salmonella is a scary proposition for anyone but for the elderly and chronically ill it can be life threatening. Food safety in nursing homes and hospitals is critical because the elderly and the sick are among the most vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.

Healthcare facilities need to maintain strict standards to safeguard the health of high-risk populations including pregnant women, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS patients.

3. Because College Costs A Lot of Money

Whether you're a frat boy, sorority girl, student activist, or a commuter student, you know that with tuition, transportation, and room and board, college is costing you and your family a bundle. Shouldn't that meal plan you bought work for you?

4. Because We Gotta Root, Root, Root For the Home Team

According to "Fan Cost Index," maintained by the sports industry publication Team Marketing Report, a trip to the ballpark averaged $191.92 for a family of four in 2008. For that kind of money, you need to make sure you take home memories--not e-coli.

5. Because More Americans Are Behind Bars Than Ever

The United States has the highest documented total documented prison population in the world. As of year-end 2006, a record 7.2 million people were behind bars, on probation or on parole. What some call the "prison-industrial complex" is big business--supported by taxpayer dollars throughout the country. Let's avoid "The Big Heist" by keeping a close watch on the food service industry to guarantee transparency and accountability to taxpayers.

6. Because We Don't Have Time to Pack Our Lunch

Between long hours of work, superhuman commutes, and commitments to our families, we're busy. Who has time to make lunch? That's why more and more employees are eating in the company cafeteria. Ideally, lunch time is an opportunity for quality food, office gossip, and shop talk. But sometimes we wished we stayed at the desk with a cup of yogurt and a plastic spoon.

7. Because Our Troops Deserve The Best

Gone are the days when the lowly--and perhaps wayward--private was forced to peel potatoes on "KP duty." Today's military installations are run like other large institutions, where outsourcing is increasingly the norm. Our nation's School Lunch Program was born in 1946 out of concern for military readiness. Harry Truman made sure that budding soldiers grew up strong so they could fight to keep us free. Today those who put on our country's uniform deserve the best.

8. Because It's Time to Rebuild the Economy

An economy built on financial speculation has come down in flames. In recent years there has been an explosion of poverty-wage, no-benefit, no-future jobs in America. Most of these jobs have been in the service sector, which now accounts for 80% of economic activity in the United States. If the American economy is to be robust, American working families need good jobs with health care so they can pay the bills, visit the doctor, save for college, buy a house, and have a dignified retirement. Quality services require quality workers in quality jobs. Let's rebuild the economy on the solid rock of real wage growth, not on some Ponzi scheme.