Who will support the babies? - government vs. personal responsibility

[peacetraveler22]

For some people, having a child seems to be the only purpose in life, regardless of whether you can financially care for this creation, or provide a stable environment in which they can develop as a human being. I began to have an interesting discussion with a reader. He grew upset that I made a comment about a young Native American woman who kept having one baby after the other, when she did not have the financial capacity to care for them.

"Why do you feel sad about it? These kids are healthy (because their mom was young when she gave birth). They have enough food. They can play with each other. Why do you think elderly deserve welfare benefits, but children do not?"

First, the kids are not healthy because the mom was young when she gave birth. They are healthy because fellow citizens. and the government, foot the bill for their survival. We have no choice as to whether we are brought into this world, and I agree no child deserves to suffer because of negligent or poor parents. But my focus was not on the children! It was on the parents, who refuse to use any type of birth control and keep breeding like rabbits - with no stable income, future, or job.

In the reader's view, such behavior is perfectly acceptable. It's the government's responsibility to care for these children, and provide for them if the parents can't. Of course, the government does. In the U.S., and I assume in a lot of other countries. I have no idea how these public assistance programs work in Russia, or other ex-USSR countries. And I want to emphasize that I'm not against public or social benefits, as we never know when we ourselves may have to rely on them in the event we lose our job, become disabled, or face countless other hardships that can suddenly greet us in life. However, abuse of such benefits is unacceptable in my view, and rampant in my country. There is no excuse that you "can't afford" birth control, as there are numerous organizations in the U.S. that provide free contraception. If you're against condoms, birth control pills, or other protective measures for religious reasons - well, I don't know the answer to this dilemma quite honestly.

This attitude that "the government will support me", even when I act in a reckless manner, is a totally foreign mentality to me. Such people - leeches in my view. And, no, I do not believe having a child is the only way to contribute to the greater good of humanity, or future of the world. Accidents and unexpected pregnancies happen, of course. But after six or seven children, it can hardly be an "accident." I believe in personal responsibility, utilization of resources, and not sucking off the government's tit for an entire lifetime, contributing very little to society in return.

What do you think? Is it okay to keep having babies, and expect the government to pay for them? This is a completely irrational view from my perspective, on multiple levels! How do these social programs work in Russia, or the country in which you live?

Comments

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

I would call it immature. But don't worry even this type of thinking is normal. Most regular people can't understand or accept some things. In 17th century people didn't think about the right to life and killed millions of native americans. Nowadays in some countries people don't want to accept the right of guys to love each other. You, just as most regular people in our time, doesn't accept the right of people to satisfy their basic needs irregardless of their contribution. And here's where the government comes in - to guarantee the rights and to collect taxes. And one more thing - things are gonna change and in the future your words would sound very tough something like - the only good slacker is a dead slacker. but I say again - most people of your generation can't understand this thing. the same was in 17th century when people, wich were mostly good people, were killing indians and were angry when someone was trying to say something about rights.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't advocate killing slackers. They are free to exist, but I don't wish to support them. Not in dating relationships, or with my tax dollars.

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

It doesn't matter what you wish. The only thing that matters is what you have to do and now you have to support slackers. Look, here's Karl Marx's special formula - "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs". Yes. We used to call it communism.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're right. It does not matter what I wish. I do not rule the world, or even a small part of it. :) Only myself.

[just1user.livejournal.com]

If you relocate to Georgia, the problem with supporting them with your taxes will be solved unless you earn there more than $95K/year.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Who earns more than 95K in Georgia? :) I didn't even know this was possible.