I share many of your sentiments but because those programs are poorly run that mainly benefit the employees and private businesses supplying services and products. But, that is not going to happen. The social programs in this country will continue to increase and expand. There will be 50 million more over-65 citizens by 2060 and that will mushroom the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. The president and Congress just agreed to raise the debt ceiling by $320 billion so the expansion continues under both parties despite those claims Republicans are "cutting" social programs. Total spending for domestic programs continues to increase.
Those school districts with lunch programs with no students are not running it poorly, they are getting federal grants and they want that money because it pays employees, administrators, and provides overhead expenses for the district. They get those benefits whether they ever serve a single student. So, it is a poorly run program, but from the district's point of view it is spending money that would otherwise go to some other district.