> Just a side note, but why do people have
> children if they can't afford to raise them?
> That makes me so angry!

I'm not going to say anything about any of the educational issues anyone's debating here*, but I would just like to say that this is the silliest thing I've heard all day.

Having a child isn't like buying a car. There's no way of knowing how much it will cost. Furthermore (and this is the key part), IT IS NOT ALWAYS EXPECTED. Sometimes kids weren't planned (not that this takes away from the parents' ability to love and take care of them).

Another reason people without a lot of money have kids is because they like kids or want to bring a new life into the world, which is a significant event. They want to be a part in the shaping and molding of a human being. Children, whether I personally enjoy being around them or not, are very important and special. I don't think it's OK to say that someone's not allowed to take part in any of this because he's a bit short on cash.

Yet another principle involved in this is financial unconstancy (I hope that's a real word). Sometimes people will have loads of money, have a kid, and then run out of money later for whatever reason.

Why do people say things without thinking them through? That makes me so angry!

-eric "I hope to have a child some day whether I have a lot of money or not" sleator
Mon 13 Nov A.D. 2000
*Not a guarantee.