> > Just a side note, but why do people have children if they can't afford to raise them? That makes me so angry!
>
> It always annoys me when people say things like this. It's such an uneducated, blanket statement. There are so many different situations, and it frustrates me when people lump all poor people into one category and blame them for their own problems and for the problems of those around them. Actually, I think I'll stop here before I get even more agitated.
>
> Ell"If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem"myruh

This also serves as a response to eric sleator's post (but I had to pick one to respond to, so I picked the shorter one. :-)

I agree that there are too many situations out there for such a blanket statement to be useful. I do have a problem with one situation which I have observed, and it sickens me to see it. I have known families where the birth of new children occurred for the sole purpose of getting more money (through tax breaks or the welfare system.) What would then happen was the worst part: The money would be spent on alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling, and the children would be supported by friendly neighbours and well-meaning charities. I have seen families who had up to eight children living in squalor, some of which could be attributed to the low funds available from welfare, but much of which could be attributed to the chain smoking parents. I guess my problem is not with people who have children when they can't afford them (because I agree that there are just too many reasons why this happens), my problem is with people who have children so that they /can/ afford their expensive habits. The worst part is, these children often grow up with little hope of accomplishing anything in life greater than their parents. It becomes a system of state-sponsored over-population... And as for the "not part of the solution, part of the problem" thing, I try to do my part by supporting charities I trust and specifying (when possible) that my money go to programs supporting youth. At the stage of life I'm at, it's all I feel I can do to be part of the solution... If anyone else has suggestions on how to do more, I would welcome them. I guess that's about all I have to say on the subject...

Don "The Monkey'Sad to see such a downward spiral'man" Jackson