Are children a right?
Replies
-
I don't think it's anybody's business what I do with my body. Whether it's to choose to have children, or to choose to not have children.0
-
I doubt I would ever need government assistance if I lost my job because I have savings (specifically for the unlikely event that I lose my job). I also have family and friends who would help me out. That's the way it used to be in this country. Reaching into the pockets of taxpayers was the last resort, not the first one.
That is exactly how I was brought up.0 -
I think it is irresponsible and extremely unfair to the children when parents decide they want a child they know they cannot afford. I say this as a married 25 year old stay at home mother of four little ones ages 7 and under. My husband and I can afford our children though. We do not go pay check to pay check. We also do not use government assistance. We have in the past for a short time when we had our first child at 18 years old. We scrambled to make ends meet that first year or two while we put ourselves together and started making money and then dropped the assistance. It was afterwords when we were self sufficient we choose to have three more little ones. We also have decided we are finished having children because we can live comfortably with the four we have. Would I like more? Sure. I would love to have one or two more. We could probably afford it too if we tighten our belts and go pay check to pay check. However, we don't think that's fair to the children we have now. We have a five bedroom house and if we had more we would have to start stacking them on top of each other. We have plenty of groceries and never go without BUT if we had more that stockpile would diminish along with their quality of life. .. since we would struggle. It's about being responsible and not selfish.0
-
Do you think people should be able to have as many children as they want regardless of if they can afford them or not? This is hypothetical so I am not talking about situations where people had their children when they could afford them and then lost their jobs. I mean a situation where you want to have a child or children that you know you can't afford and you will need assistance. To me a lot of people feel it's their right to have children whether they can take care of them or not. Thoughts? lets keep this a civil debate, all opinions welcome.
If they can support them financially and morally then sure have as many as you want. But if you are on welfare/don't care about parenting your children/ are a complete mess then no you shouldn't have the right to keep breeding and popping them out like they are free popsicle!!!0 -
If you can't feed...don't breed.0
-
Rights, Ethics, and Morals are not interchangeable... just sayin.0
-
If you can't feed...don't breed.
Agreed.....I am so sick of people who have children just to stay on welfare, then refuse to take care of their children with the money they receive.0 -
it is definantly a right to have as many children as you want, but it is not your right to then have others support you in that journey. I think that if there was not so much money, food and health care given to others from my packets from uncle sam people would not continue to have kids and expect others to support them! i am so sick of people sitting around popping out kids and living off my tax dollars, while my husband and i work our butts off, pay taxes, own a home and feed and cloth our kids with just making ends meet. no one wants to help me pay off college loans by i know someone who has been given a free education for 4 different degrees that has never finished since she and her husband were at poverty level with three kids. to this day she does not have a degree in anything but taking what everyone will give her and doing nothing for herself or doing anything to financially support her family. it disgusts me!!0
-
To help make ends meet, my mother took a job at a convenience store working both the lottery machine and cash register. On a daily basis, she would encounter people dropping $20, $40, $50+ on the lottery then using their food stamps to buy a candy bar, chips, soda, etc.0
-
ThisNo I absolutely do not think they have that right.
But I also don't think I have the right to say who can and can't have children, or how many.
So I'm stuck as far as this one goes.0 -
Okay, here's food for thought-- what about generational poverty/cyclical poverty?
-‘‘Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes.’’ McGraw Hill publishing. 4th editionThe cycle of poverty has been defined as a phenomenon where poor families become trapped in poverty for at least three generations. These families have either limited or no resources. There are many disadvantages that collectively work in a circular process making it virtually impossible for individuals to break the cycle. Examples of these disadvantages working in a circular process would be: economic decline, low personal income, no funds for school, which leads to lack of education. The lack of education results in unemployment and lastly low national productivity.
So, yes, we have established that some people make no efforts to get out of poverty and off govt assistance-- but I'm not talking about these people right now. But, sometimes there are a lot of factors making this process VERY difficult.. For someone who is TRYING to make it, someone who does not want to have to rely on assistance, and yet it still is not working out--- what do you think about a person like this having kids?
No attacks please... but rationally, what do you think? I'm curious.
0 -
(double post)0
-
I don't think it's anybody's business what I do with my body. Whether it's to choose to have children, or to choose to not have children.
you are absolutely correct.........just dont ask me to work my butt off, do the right thing by my family and then have to have my tax dollars support you and yours!!!0 -
I absolutely do not think having children is a right. It is a privilege, one that comes with many responsibilities too few take into account.
Agreed!
Now, I was no where NEAR ready to have a kid when I did. (21) She changed my life and straightened me out real quick like. Im glad I didnt have to prove myself to have her or Im not sure where Id be now.0 -
I doubt I would ever need government assistance if I lost my job because I have savings (specifically for the unlikely event that I lose my job). I also have family and friends who would help me out. That's the way it used to be in this country. Reaching into the pockets of taxpayers was the last resort, not the first one.
That is exactly how I was brought up.
I agree. But I find that friends and family, community, and the general population are less likely to help someone in need nowadays. We are too focused on ourselves, besides "it's not our problem".0 -
Of course if the government were to shut off the money faucet to those WHO ABUSE the system, crime would just go up. Those who knowingly abuse the system have no intention of ever working to support theirselves or their family. If it is not given to them, they will take it. Some already do both.0
-
I doubt I would ever need government assistance if I lost my job because I have savings (specifically for the unlikely event that I lose my job). I also have family and friends who would help me out. That's the way it used to be in this country. Reaching into the pockets of taxpayers was the last resort, not the first one.
That is exactly how I was brought up.
I agree. But I find that friends and family, community, and the general population are less likely to help someone in need nowadays. We are too focused on ourselves, besides "it's not our problem".
I completely agree there has been a shift, which is unfortunate.0 -
I have one word: Octo-Mom...and now look at her...the children are the ones who end up suffering.
But what really grinds my gears is this...I am a single mom with 2 kids and because I have a job, I make TOO much money to get any kind of assistance; but I don't make enough to survive...I have to rely on my tax refund as a cushion every year...and that is WITH a pretty tight budget. Yet, if I quit my job & lived off the gov't, I'd have funds up the yin-yang!
We are in the same boat. It really gets me too. I know people living on public aid.. 4 kids, 2 different fathers.. child support from both fathers... 1 child is only there part of the time, the other lives under another roof. They have internet at home (i don't), they have smart phones, some even have govmt funded cell phones, and I heard the mother (who doesn't work at all) talk about tanning to name a few things...
Life isn't fair.. that's all I know. No one said it would be... that's the part that stinks.0 -
Are children a right? ...no.
But just like that size M black leggings on your XXL butt, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.0 -
I absolutely do not think having children is a right. It is a privilege, one that comes with many responsibilities too few take into account.
Agreed!
Now, I was no where NEAR ready to have a kid when I did. (21) She changed my life and straightened me out real quick like. Im glad I didnt have to prove myself to have her or Im not sure where Id be now.
I agree with you. I was 20 and single when I had my daughter and I believe she (in a sense) saved me from a self-destructive life. There were certain things that I would not do because I had her that, who knows, I very likely may have done if it had just been me to take care of and support.0 -
Sure, you all have the RIGHT to have children, that's what's beautiful about America...we have the right to do pretty much anything we want (within legal limits). However, with that comes the RESPONSIBILITY to take care of the children you create. Just because you want them, or are too lazy to prevent unplanned pregnancy, doesn't mean the government should be obligated to take care of them....plain & simple. I don't have (and don't want) kids, so I've been on b/c for a long, long time, and when used properly, its pretty dang effective. I've always been responsible about using it, and have never had a scare...not once.0
-
Some poor people are really excellent parents even though they have to be on welfare, and some really rich people are crappy parents and I don't think THEY should be having children.
+1
If only perfect people were allowed to procreate, none of us would be here.
^^^^THIS. Aside from the fact that unless you are super wealthy you're never really financially prepared to have kids. Yes, they can be supported until 18 without using benefits but there's so much more financially to having children than being able to provide food, clothes, and shelter. I want kids. My husband and I decided that we would wait until we were stable. That does NOT mean that we will be fully financially able. It also does NOT mean that I'm going to apply for or receive benefits. It does mean that we will be in a better situation (i.e. I was not going to have a kid while my husband was unemployed) and that we will do everything in our power to provide for our kids and provide them with a warm and loving home. I can say this...my parents were never financially ready to have kids but if they had waited until they were then I wouldn't be here, neither would my brother, and I'm willing to bet many of you or someone you know. My parents did provide us with food, shelter, and clothing in a loving home. Yes, my mom was on WIC with both my brother and I and no my parents didn't help with our college bills or my wedding but I'm grateful my parents had kids even on their lower income because it meant I got a chance at life.0 -
My parents did provide us with food, shelter, and clothing in a loving home. Yes, my mom was on WIC with both my brother and I and no my parents didn't help with our college bills or my wedding but I'm grateful my parents had kids even on their lower income because it meant I got a chance at life.
Good point. Thanks for sharing this perspective. 0 -
No. Children are not a right.0
-
Sure, you all have the RIGHT to have children, that's what's beautiful about America...we have the right to do pretty much anything we want (within legal limits). However, with that comes the RESPONSIBILITY to take care of the children you create. Just because you want them, or are too lazy to prevent unplanned pregnancy, doesn't mean the government should be obligated to take care of them....plain & simple. I don't have (and don't want) kids, so I've been on b/c for a long, long time, and when used properly, its pretty dang effective. I've always been responsible about using it, and have never had a scare...not once.
Not everybody who gets pregnant unexpectedly does so because they're too lazy to prevent it. I was very conscientious about using birth control when I got pregnant with my daughter. I'll admit not so much with my son but in both cases I accepted responsibility for my actions and raised my kids to the best of my ability. Congratulations to you for not getting pregnant. I hope for your sake it doesn't happen since you don't want kids. I'm sorry to anyone who in the past had to support my kids with their tax dollars. Unfortunately there are lots of things my tax dollars get used for that I don't like but I have no choice about. If I did have a choice I'd rather my tax dollars go to support children on assistance and not to some other things.0 -
Sure, you all have the RIGHT to have children, that's what's beautiful about America...we have the right to do pretty much anything we want (within legal limits). However, with that comes the RESPONSIBILITY to take care of the children you create. Just because you want them, or are too lazy to prevent unplanned pregnancy, doesn't mean the government should be obligated to take care of them....plain & simple. I don't have (and don't want) kids, so I've been on b/c for a long, long time, and when used properly, its pretty dang effective. I've always been responsible about using it, and have never had a scare...not once.
Not everybody who gets pregnant unexpectedly does so because they're too lazy to prevent it. I was very conscientious about using birth control when I got pregnant with my daughter. I'll admit not so much with my son but in both cases I accepted responsibility for my actions and raised my kids to the best of my ability. Congratulations to you for not getting pregnant. I hope for your sake it doesn't happen since you don't want kids. I'm sorry to anyone who in the past had to support my kids with their tax dollars. Unfortunately there are lots of things my tax dollars get used for that I don't like but I have to choice about. If I did have a choice I'd rather my tax dollars go to support children on assistance.
OK, sorry if you took this personally. I never said ALL people with kids on welfare were 'too lazy" (but you can't deny that a lot of people are careless and have kids without considering the cost to raise and support them). The point I'm trying to make is that people should be responsible for their own actions and lifestyle choices, and having children is a lifestyle choice.0 -
My 2 cents?
I think having children is a privilege. If it was a right, everyone would be able to, right? Yet many couples continue to struggle to have a family (PCOS, infertility, homosexual couples, etc).
People shouldn't take it for granted.0 -
YES. This is my point. I'm in the same situation as you, and it SUCKS. Honestly, I wish I could "afford" kids. I wish my husband hadn't gotten laid off, and I wish his Bachelor's degree was worth the tuition he paid for it... but for the time being, we're broke.
And as a side note, just to put my business out there even more, I'm on BC-- but if that were to fail, I'd have my kid and apply for WIC to hold us over until he could get a job again... All a person can do is try their best to get by. The situation may not be ideal, but it is what it is.
I'm sorry for your circumstances, unfortunately a lot of people are going through this :frown:
but the OP said NOT in cases such as yours....the example was people who have more kids to receive or stay on assistance, which is a huge difference from the situation you are in. I don't mean this negatively, but there is a difference between keeping a child if an accident were to happen while taking BC, and NOT taking BC at all and "hoping for the best" when you already can't support the children you do have.
My parents would have loved to have more children, but after I was born my dad lost his job (my mom wasn't working, she was a SAHM for both me and my brother), so they decided they just couldn't have anymore. As much as I'd love a little sister, I think that was the right decision, times were already tough enough as it is.0 -
Okay, here's food for thought-- what about generational poverty/cyclical poverty?
-‘‘Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes.’’ McGraw Hill publishing. 4th editionThe cycle of poverty has been defined as a phenomenon where poor families become trapped in poverty for at least three generations. These families have either limited or no resources. There are many disadvantages that collectively work in a circular process making it virtually impossible for individuals to break the cycle. Examples of these disadvantages working in a circular process would be: economic decline, low personal income, no funds for school, which leads to lack of education. The lack of education results in unemployment and lastly low national productivity.
So, yes, we have established that some people make no efforts to get out of poverty and off govt assistance-- but I'm not talking about these people right now. But, sometimes there are a lot of factors making this process VERY difficult.. For someone who is TRYING to make it, someone who does not want to have to rely on assistance, and yet it still is not working out--- what do you think about a person like this having kids?
No attacks please... but rationally, what do you think? I'm curious.
If you have to go on public assistance, I think any attempt to get pregnant should cease immediately. The money you are receiving is not yours. It was earned by other people through hard work and time away from their families and their friends and their homes and their hobbies. To take the position that it's okay for you to grab even MORE of their money because you want another kid is incredibly selfish. How much you hate being on said assistance really doesn't factor into the discussion. If you hated it that badly, you wouldn't be making your financial position WORSE OFF by having another kid.0 -
My 2 cents?
I think having children is a priveledge. If it was a right, everyone would be able to, right? Yet many couples continue to struggle to have a family (PCOS, infertility, homosexual couples, etc).
People shouldn't take it for granted.
I agree, they're a privilege.
except i'm sotired i read that as homosexual cripples....
but in any case, who are we to decide? why should we/government/society try and play god?
Eugenics is scary0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.8K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions