Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

I am reminded of something my mother told me frequently as a kid "life isn't fair" and really if you're looking at fair in a balance the scales everyone gets the Exact same, it isn't (and maybe it shouldn't be)

[JBinKC]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

Not at all it is not fair to the child or to the general public because ultimately the taxpayer subsidizes them through all of the tax credits and earned income credits.

[cercis]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

Perky, I hated that phrase. It was usually used to excuse a particularly egregious discrimination (like, I don't know, two kids doing the exact same thing and one kid being punished and the other not).

My stock response was (and is) "no but that's no reason why we can't work to be more fair" (now it's "more just").

[lrjohnson]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

OK, a little off topic but....talking to a new co-worker about how things aren't fair, I picked an off the wall example-"You know, a kid might want to be a jockey, and just grow too much." What were the odds that his brother had wanted to be a jockey all his youth and was crushed when he ended up not small enough? I mean, really, the odds.... (He works with horses now, as a ranch hand or something.)

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

Heh, that is ironic, poor kid.

But yeah so we can try to make it a bit more fair, but you can't get it perfect, and no one should expect us to.

On welfare, no that isn't fair, but I don't use it, I might be poor but I do not need welfare. (no offense to anyone who does, if it is your kids health at stake go for it, if it is your cable bill, then offense IS intended)

[mccartygirl]

Re: Is it fair to have a child if you're poor?

Perky - you made me chuckle out loud. My mom was a social worker for 18 years, she got the job when I was 16. Anyways, she would always tell me about people coming in who made 6 figures asking for assistance. Not to mention the people who showed up to pick up their food stamps in leather head to toe with their expensive Coach - Vuitton bags, etc. I agree completely - make sure your kid has health care but get job if it is for extras and such.