Does the evidence show that happens, sixty years in to the welfare state? Now that you've anointed yourself with the beauty of your intentions and decried mine, let's wade into the waters of the numbers and take a look around. 1/2 of all babies are born into single family homes. Half. That's insanity. You want to tell me 1/2 of all babies are conceived with the expectation that they'll be born into a stable household with two providing parents, but 50% of the time that well-intended, well-resourced plan jumps the record and gets derailed into a single-parent home during gestation? Since we both know that's not the case, it seems we'd have to at least allow for the possibility that a good portion of those children are conceived with the expectation that somebody other than the father would be a provider for that child. Enter, the State.
#1: Is that a good plan?
#2: Where does the expectation of third-party support come from?
#3: What were the single-parent numbers before the welfare state?
#4: Is that a good enough plan for your children?
#5: If not, shouldn't we do something other than subsidize that continued insanity?
eta: While I enjoy our weekly game of ulterior motive accusation air hockey, can you take a step back and see this from my perspective of viewing the problem at the macro level? I'm not trying to run you down, I get it, but I view this as a systemic problem with an aggravating non-remedy masquerading as a solution. Please tell me what I'm missing in the big picture. I don't think you're a bad guy, I think your solution is a short term fix for each microsituation. My problem is that the mosaic is an ugly, ugly picture. Tell me how your solution to the micro is a long term solution in the macro. I honestly need to know how it "lifts them up" when the problem keeps getting worse?
jhmd, you are obsessed with single-parent families and the notion that the existence of finical aid is a motivator for women to have babies. Fine. it's your cause. But when I ask you for the raw numbers for how many Americans are doing this you say it can't be known, yet you drag out the statistics about how many babies are born into single-family homes with ease. How much of a burden this is on our society, and how it compares to other points in this country's history, depends on these numbers. Please produce them. It's the cornerstone of your socio-econo-political existence, you look a little foolish not knowing this. I think you are a good dude too, I want to see you do well with this.
#1 - On whose part, the receiver or giver of aid? If you mean the giver, I think it is good to feed babies and their mothers, so, yes.
#2 - The expectation of third-party support for a hungry baby comes from Judeo-Christian ethics, I suppose. As a civilized society, we are appalled by innocents suffering from preventable ailments such as malnutrition and disease.
#3 - I don't know, why don't you enlighten us.
#4 - I don't have children. If I did, and I was unable to provide for them, it would have to suffice. Like it did for Ronald Reagan and MItt Romney when they were children.
#5 - I would love for all people to have a job and for their children to be cared for, but I am not in favor of cutting aid to women and children. If the church or private organizations or wealthy philanthropists want to step in and devise a private plan to do the job then I welcome them, but they do not that I can tell, so the best we can do is provide for them and push policies that improve upon this model as best we can. We can also promote policies that ease the jarring lows inherent in the capitalist cycle which impact the poor much more than they middle and upper class. We can also agree to provide basic healthcare - including preventative care - to all Americans. This will help reduce the effect illness/injury has on the household finances and the adults ability to work - which impact the poor to a greater degree than the middle or upper class, and often devastate their savings etc.
eta: In the "good ole days" when women became pregnant out of wedlock, please tell us what happened to those women and those babies. Also, explain to us what happened to babies/people born with mental disabilities and physical disabilities. I know, but I want to hear your version of the good ole days when girls were girls and men were men.....
