I have to disagree — if entitlement was restricted or abolished for welfare babies, and in no way am I suggesting it should be, then women just might have fewer children. That’s not a judgement call, but rather goes to the point that financial help may not be the answer if many are already complacent with their situation.

Really, are these middle-class girls from educated parents? If so, then maybe this is a new trend that I’m unaware of and maybe Juno and Jamie Lynn Spears are fueling something bad. But, my experience with educated middle-class adults is that really like their lifestyles and aren’t going to tolerate rampant breeding of their own children. The glory days of that kind of fad would die young. Plus, I’m not sure for how long a girl from that kind of home life would be able to hold on to government benefits.

But, if you’re talking about poor young girls multiplying like crazy, then that’s old news and more of an anthropological curiosity than a drain on the welfare system. Those girls won’t be swayed either way by whatever people in movies or on TV are doing, because this has been the habit of their people for generations.

And they’re in the minority. MOST women who carry their babies and bear them act responsibly. The huge, vast majority do.

If you guys want to concern yourselves with the tiny blip of people who abuse the system, take advantage of handouts, and who neglect their children and get away with it, then so be it. But, whining about it on some blog doesn’t change anything. Volunteer for social services, actually get out there and HELP some people instead of wallowing in false paranoia about someone somewhere maybe gettin’ something they don’t deserve.

Rita, I think we’ve been respectful to your opinion. We all come from different places and times — and have all seen different things. Your experiences haven’t been the same as mine, or anyone else commenting. You have dealt with the social services system and teen pregnancy on one level, me on another.

But it is rude and unnecessary for you to declare that everyone else is whining and wallowing if our views do not match yours.

Some teens/women don’t see a child as having to give up because the sad truth is, some teens/women don’t give up a darn thing. The ones that sacrifice for their children are the ones that put a child’s best interest first. We cannot assume that all kids who have babies are willing to do this.

And they’re in the minority. MOST women who carry their babies and bear them act responsibly. The huge, vast majority do.

If you guys want to concern yourselves with the tiny blip of people who abuse the system, take advantage of handouts, and who neglect their children and get away with it, then so be it. But, whining about it on some blog doesn’t change anything. Volunteer for social services, actually get out there and HELP some people instead of wallowing in false paranoia about someone somewhere maybe gettin’ something they don’t deserve.

The “punishment” that these girls get for their teen pregnancy is having to carry and care for an infant at such a young age. It also wreaks havoc on one’s body to be pregnant and give birth. These girls are tossing it all in at such an early age. Regardless of the freebies and assistance they’re getting, I would NEVER trade the life I had from the age of 16 to 25 (when I had my first kid) in exchange for what they’re “getting.” The glamor of being a teen mom is very quickly tarnished when the reality of it sets in.

That’s assuming that all teens or women who get knocked up are acting in the best interest of the baby. Some teens/women don’t see a child as having to give up because the sad truth is, some teens/women don’t give up a darn thing. The ones that sacrifice for their children are the ones that put a child’s best interest first. We cannot assume that all kids who have babies are willing to do this.

But, I think that you’re really coming from a weird angle with this. The “punishment” that these girls get for their teen pregnancy is having to carry and care for an infant at such a young age. It also wreaks havoc on one’s body to be pregnant and give birth. These girls are tossing it all in at such an early age. Regardless of the freebies and assistance they’re getting, I would NEVER trade the life I had from the age of 16 to 25 (when I had my first kid) in exchange for what they’re “getting.” The glamor of being a teen mom is very quickly tarnished when the reality of it sets in.

But, it does seem your bigger issue is with the welfare system itself, and I am not going to argue with that. I’ve gone round and round with those debates before and I’ll never get you to change your mind about it, so I’m not going to bother.

You say you’re not talking about abortion, but then you say “But lets not make it so easy for young men and women to bring kids into this world when they are not ready and able.” and if you’re not talking about aborting, then I don’t know what you are talking about.

Nobody. NOBODY reproduces young for the profit of it. It just does not happen. Besides, you’re really just talking about the young women here. The men don’t receive benefits. They’re pretty much off the hook.

What I am talking about is NOT MAKING IT EASY! Again, talking about where I am from. Many of the young girls that I see getting pregnant at a young age think it’s cool — and they know they’ll receive plenty of support.

Then you see movies like Juno, Jamie Lynn Spears, and other movies and programs that make teen pregnancy look ok — doable. These movies about teen pregnancy, the shock, the struggle, but in the end all is good! The daddy is around, your family is excited — please!

The boys are an entirely other story — the state should make these young men get jobs — assist them in getting jobs for all I care — and dock their pay for child support. As for the girls — you get six weeks on full assistance — then the state should help them find a job. You can get daycare assistance, AS LONG AS YOU ARE WORKING.
If a lot of these teens knew that 1 - they’ll HAVE TO GET A JOB and 2 - they WOULDN’T get so much assistance — they might think twice about putting on a condom — which is what I am talking about Rita.

Let’s stress birth control and condoms — which are readily available for free or low cost at Planned Parenthood or other clinics.

I am sick of the state of welfare in NY, the assistance that is handed out — but above that, lets not make teen pregnancy look good or easy.

Rita, I’m not sure where you are from, but the urban legend that you speak of is alive and well in my hometown. Sad, but true.

It’s an illusion. Where am I from? Chicago, originally. But, I practiced social work in Cleveland Ohio and Austin Texas, then I lived outside Boston and am now in the midwest. I assure you, I am very well versed in the ins and outs of public aid and it is NOT profitable for a person to have a baby for the welfare checks. You can look up the numbers and crunch them yourself. People in certain areas breed wildly because of ignorance and tradition. Yes, tradition. There is a cultural aspect to having lots of babies and having them young and it is a predominant concern in poverty stricken areas of all colors and races. There are huge tomes of studies about the psychology and social issues behind this, but believe me, “for the welfare checks” isn’t one of them.