Inspired by the Pregnancy threads-Should states offer $$ for sterilization?

[Cindyluwho]

I remember not too long ago that there was a big broohaha because someone was offering money to women who chose to be sterilized. I know it sounds harsh but I'm beginning to think this is a very good idea. There are folks who will see at as a bribe to get poor folks from having any more kids but there's cases where I think it would be very useful. Drug addicts come to mind, for starters.
What do you think? Should states go ahead with this idea to save money in the long run?

 

[mylilnikita]

No, I wouldn't want the state to offer money for that. First, it takes 2 to get pregnant and I know many guys out there who think too much with their "little friend" instead of using their brain who have several baby mamas out there. But I also think that money shouldn't be given to someone because they did the deed and weren't responsible. To me, giving money to them for extra kids just promotes it I say stop it and tell them so sorry about their bad luck, or bad choice. Let's say if they did offer for sterilzation, what is to say after some time, they would try to sue because of some crap or another.
BTW: I love your kitchen!!!

 

[Cindyluwho]

No, I wouldn't want the state to offer money for that. First, it takes 2 to get pregnant and I know many guys out there who think too much with their "little friend" instead of using their brain who have several baby mamas out there. BTW: I love your kitchen!!!

I hadn't thought of the "male" side of the equation. Perhaps they could offer it to the men as well? There's definately no easy answer for this one, it just seems like there should be something out there to stop unwanted pregnancies. Oh, that's right, there's already birth control but obviously that's not working. I gotta stop thinking out loud....
Thank you for the compliment on my kitchen. I posted that pic last week during the "kitchen counter top" thread to show off my copper countertops.

 

[sajetto]

But I also think that money shouldn't be given to someone because they did the deed and weren't responsible. To me, giving money to them for extra kids just promotes it I say stop it and tell them so sorry about their bad luck, or bad choice. Let's say if they did offer for sterilzation, what is to say after some time, they would try to sue because of some crap or another.

I agree, if the state would stop shelling out money for all the extra kids that they keep popping out that might fix the problem

 

[KelNottAt]

I don't think sterilization is the answer. That "punishment" is way too severe for the "crime" of mooching off the state. Plus, being pro-choice, I can't agree to having the government decide how many children a woman can have...then they perform invasive surgery on her body in order to enforce it.

I'm much more in favor of reducing, or better yet, eliminating public assistance for women who repeatedly have babies just to collect a check. Simultaneously, we'd have to make birth control free and super-simple to obtain. I mean really really simple, like shots from the school nurse and/or the local pharmacy. Pregnancy prevention costs virtually nothing compared to supporting a child on the public rolls for 18 years.

But, both of my ideas are doomed as long as society doesn't believe in holding people responsible for their own actions. That's the sad reality in our courts, schools, workplaces.....

 

[Cindyluwho]

Simultaneously, we'd have to make birth control free and super-simple to obtain. I mean really really simple, like shots from the school nurse and/or the local pharmacy. Pregnancy prevention costs virtually nothing compared to supporting a child on the public rolls for 18 years.
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That's a great idea!! To be able to just walk into a pharmacy or the school nurse's office for a free shot every 3 months would be the way to go! Talk about saving $$ !!

 

[Galahad]

just contact your friendly neighborhood eugenics officer......

 

[poohandwendy]

No. IMO, there is already widely accessable FREE birth control, family planning education, etc available to those who need it and I do not think the govt should be in the business of giving women incentives to not have children.

The incentive should be that the govt will not take care of your mistakes, ie welfare reform (a whole other debate, LOL)

 

[Cindyluwho]

just contact your friendly neighborhood eugenics officer......

I wouldn't consider it "eugenics" simply because the intelligent ones would be the ones getting the birth control shots. The less intelligent would still be out there having babies. It would definately be eugenics if we forced all those with lower IQs to get the shots or be sterilized.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I don't know what the best solution is for having babies that some cannot afford. When a government continually pays for non working moms to basically live off the tax dollars of all Americans it becomes a joke. I may come across heartless but really I am not, I just like to pick out the charities I give to each year, and hate the thought of the government to tell me I must pay for all of these children over, and over again.

I do remember a charitable trust offering sterilization to drug addicted mothers for money and wonder if they had a lot of people sign up. After seeing babies left at hospitals by drug addicted moms I just can't fathom how we would choose to continually pay for them to do that. Those poor babies.

Good topic of discussion.