Do you think someone receiving assistance should continue to have children?

[freckles and boo]

Do you really think anyone is going to answer "yes" to this?

Don't debates like this always end terribly on the DIS?

Didn't the government cap the amount of time that someone can receive public assistance? Thus making it not possible for someone to keep having children and keep getting money (although I thought they did away with the money thing).

It isn't a simple problem to solve but instead of addressing the cultural issues that keep people in these situations we would rather complain about it. Just cutting off the assistance won't do it. Those babies will still be born but they will be growing up in deep, deep poverty. I DETEST paying people for making bad choices but if it were as simple as cutting off aid, it would be fixed by now.

 

[Luv'sTink]

So who gets to decide who is worthy of having children? The government? I think the system is definitely flawed, but dictating to people when they can and cannot have children is one of the scariest attitudes I have seen.

OP said....
continuing to have children while receiving assistance of any kind is completely irresponsible IMO.

She didn't say they shouldn't be allowed any children.

No they should not continue to have children until they can afford to take care of said children without on going assistance.

 

[disneyjunkie]

no
and I also don't think that people capable of working should receive assistance for very long if they aren't working at all -- 6 months to a year. Get up off your couch and go get a job.

I also don't think people who have money for non-essential items such as vacations or cigarettes should receive food or housing assistance.
I personally would be quite ashamed to accept charity from somebody else for something like food or housing, and then turn around and spend my money on a trip.

There are a lot of things that I think that piss people off.

ITA

Do you really think anyone is going to answer "yes" to this?

Hold on a minute while I zip up my flame resistant suite.

Have you been to the budget board lately? There are several DISers there receiving WIC.

If I'm not mistaking, one of them is heading down to WDW this fall.

I believe WIC is a form of assistance. Yes, the income limit is much higher for WIC and it's better controlled than the foodstamp program, but it's still assistance.

If you have one child that you need assistance feeding,(milk, cheese, cereal...) why should we pay to feed more?

If a family decides both parents shouldn't work, then I don't think they should be able to apply for WIC.

I don't think it's ok for a single, inner city mom to have additional kids while receiving foodstamps. I feel the same way about the family living in the suburbs have more kids while receiving WIC.

 

[CEDmom]

So who gets to decide who is worthy of having children? The government? I think the system is definitely flawed, but dictating to people when they can and cannot have children is one of the scariest attitudes I have seen.

I have no problem with anyone having children as long as they can afford to feed, clothe and shelter them without gov't assistance. Once they start getting some of my hard earned tax $ I think I have a right to express my opinion. And I'm not talking about people who are on for a short period of time but those that are already receiving assistance and choose to have more children. If you can't afford the one(s) you already have what business do you have bringing more into the world? That borders on abuse.

As far as whether I think anyone will answer yes, well that's to be seen. I know there are many people who receive assistance (WIC is one that comes to mind) and continue to have children. It's likely some may be on these boards but whether they'll come on this thread is anyone's guess.

 

[PattnFmly]

I'll give anyone one mistake. And time/assistance to get past it and figure out how live by your own means and not by my taxes. But I think there ought to be a rule: if you have a 2nd child while on the dole you have to have the birth control shot to get your money. It would be a lot more cost effective, could by underwritten by the drug companies and would keep the "dole" population down. Don't mail their checks, don't direct deposit, don't debit card it. Make them come in and pick the money up, and get their bc shot at the same time. If they are a no show, no money. Plain and simple.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

OP said....
continuing to have children while receiving assistance of any kind is completely irresponsible IMO.

She didn't say they shouldn't be allowed any children.

No they should not continue to have children until they can afford to take care of said children without on going assistance.

I understand where you all are coming from. I really do. The clientele I work with are either on Medicaid or receive free services from our clinic due to low income. I just bristle at the attitude that some are more deserving to be born than others - which is what I read out of it, not necessarily what the intent was.

I work with a family that is a single mom with 3 children. She doesn't like children. Hasn't bonded with any of them. She doesn't even call her son by his name, she calls him "The boy". If one doesn't like kids, why would one continue to have them? I have no idea. But he's here, and he deserves a shot at life. Should she continue to have kids? Who's to say?

I know that taxpayer money goes toward these families, and it's frustrating for some people to appear to get a free ride. The ride ain't so grand - let me tell ya. The neighborhoods where people live for "free" are horrendous. They are drug ridden, gang ridden, and most of us wouldn't leave our family pet in an environment such as that. The culture of poverty is so incomprehensible to most people, no one can imagine not trying to get out of it. But if you grew up that way, and the only real skills you have are working the system, that's what you do. As I said before, I believe that education is key. IMVHO.

 

[PattnFmly]

Education is important. But so is birth control. Very important. It doesn't have to be permanent. There's lots of bc that can be reversed once someone gets their life together and figures out what they really want.

 

[hentob]

I know that taxpayer money goes toward these families, and it's frustrating for some people to appear to get a free ride. The ride ain't so grand - let me tell ya.

The taxes RIPPED from our paychecks to fund many of these social programs ain't so grand either

 

[Acklander]

It's one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations.
If someone gets pregnant while on assistance, do you think they should be required to have abortions on demand because they can't afford more children? Should they be forced to turn the babies over to the state or for adoption once born? Should sterilization be required of anyone on assistance? Should we just let the additional children go without food?
How about the working parents that are in low income jobs? They work, but only make minimum wage so they recieve food stamps or WIC to offset the cost of food? Should they not be allowed to have anymore children because they're working class poor? And for those working class poor, who work for corporations where the CEO's get 20 million dollar bonuses for being sucessful at keeping the wages down for those who work under them. Should they be allowed as many children as they want? Does this seem fair?
Personally, I think that those on assistance, should either have jobs or volunteer in exchange for that assistance. Everyone contributes to society, everyone is entitled to have food/shelter/healthcare and an education. There shouldn't be any free rides. But then again, I've always been a bit of a socialist so what do I know.

 

[hentob]

I'll give anyone one mistake. And time/assistance to get past it and figure out how live by your own means and not by my taxes. But I think there ought to be a rule: if you have a 2nd child while on the dole you have to have the birth control shot to get your money. It would be a lot more cost effective, could by underwritten by the drug companies and would keep the "dole" population down. Don't mail their checks, don't direct deposit, don't debit card it. Make them come in and pick the money up, and get their bc shot at the same time. If they are a no show, no money. Plain and simple.

Bravo!!! I agree with EVERYTHING you wrote

Nobody is FORCING you to be on b.c., but if you want "our" money--You need to take it.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Any solution to this problem would have to ensure that the children wouldn't suffer for their parents poor choices. Taking them away from the parents isn't an answer, as the system is overwhelmed as it is. I would just want to make sure that no child in this country goes to bed hungry if we can help it. Maybe it means more reform in the food stamp system. Maybe it means we need to provide three meals a day for low income kids at school (they already provide breakfast and lunch). That way we wouldn't have to provide assistance for food directly to the parents of school aged children. I really don't know what the ultimate solution is.

 

[CEDmom]

I understand where you all are coming from. I really do. The clientele I work with are either on Medicaid or receive free services from our clinic due to low income. I just bristle at the attitude that some are more deserving to be born than others - which is what I read out of it, not necessarily what the intent was.

I work with a family that is a single mom with 3 children. She doesn't like children. Hasn't bonded with any of them. She doesn't even call her son by his name, she calls him "The boy". If one doesn't like kids, why would one continue to have them? I have no idea. But he's here, and he deserves a shot at life. Should she continue to have kids? Who's to say?

I know that taxpayer money goes toward these families, and it's frustrating for some people to appear to get a free ride. The ride ain't so grand - let me tell ya. The neighborhoods where people live for "free" are horrendous. They are drug ridden, gang ridden, and most of us wouldn't leave our family pet in an environment such as that. The culture of poverty is so incomprehensible to most people, no one can imagine not trying to get out of it. But if you grew up that way, and the only real skills you have are working the system, that's what you do. As I said before, I believe that education is key. IMVHO.

Who's to say ? She doesn't love or care for the children she has but she should be free to have more ? Obviously I don't know all the facts about this person but I have to wonder why she's allowed to keep her children with that kind of attitude. Becoming a parent is a privledge not a God given right .

 

[taximomfor4]

I received WIC when I was pregnant with my youngest dd (and for a couple of months afterward). I was sick. VERY sick. My already limited hours at work were even more limited...I was so sick, our foreign exchange student was sent to go places/do things with friends and relatives. My hours at work became very few, as my hospital visits became more frequent. Financially, it took a while after she was born to put it all back together, then I called WIC and withdrew. I will say that they tried to get me to stay on the program, because people using it keeps it available, or something like that. They explained that it is less a "financial help" and more a "nutrition help."

Anyway, I will not have any more pregnancies. That one nearly killed me, and also nearly sunk us financially.

So in a roundabout way, no people on public assistance shouldn't keep having kids. However, as others have stated, there is no quick/easy answer.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

Who's to say ? She doesn't love or care for the children she has but she should be free to have more ? Obviously I don't know all the facts about this person but I have to wonder why she's allowed to keep her children with that kind of attitude. Becoming a parent is a privledge not a God given right .

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think it is a right. I don't think I have any more right to impose my values on this family than she has to impose her values on mine. I meet with this family every week to make sure that these kids are ok. I have also linked them with resources to for these kids to get the nurturing that they don't get from their mom. I would never ever tell her or anyone else that I don't think that they should have children because they don't have the same beliefs and practices as I do.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

The taxes RIPPED from our paychecks to fund many of these social programs ain't so grand either

True, so what are you doing to change that?

 

[summerrluvv]

a

 

[hentob]

I work with a family that is a single mom with 3 children. She doesn't like children. Hasn't bonded with any of them. She doesn't even call her son by his name, she calls him "The boy". If one doesn't like kids, why would one continue to have them? I have no idea. But he's here, and he deserves a shot at life. Should she continue to have kids? Who's to say?

I am "to say"::HELL no! This woman should NOT have anymore children I don't care what her values or beliefs are. I really could care less. She can't care and love the ones that she has. She is not WORTHY of bring another one into this world.

Harsh. Yes. Don't care. I am so sick of catering to "people's wants" at the cost of my tax dollars and, more importantly, at the cost of innocent, damaged children

 

[SharkyGoddess]

What about the immigrants that come here, work for cash, contribute nothing to taxes for (I believe I was told) several years and receive everything from free housing, medical, food and even car assistance all at our expense? I was told by a friend in the medical field that there is one such individual here, 5 kids, driving a Lexus, owns a business and brags about her food stamps, free medical and housing AND she owns a business she is not required to claim taxes on. What do you all think about this type?

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I am "to say"::HELL no! This woman should NOT have anymore children I don't care what her values or beliefs are. I really could care less. She can't care and love the ones that she has. She is not WORTHY of bring another one into this world.

Harsh. Yes. Don't care. I am so sick of catering to "people's wants" at the cost of my tax dollars and, more importantly, at the cost of innocent, damaged children

Well, since you said.......

 

[Hannathy]

No they shouldn't. And they shouldn't get more aid for additional kids. And the aid should be very limited and for a very short period.