In order to control population growth in the US, should the number of children people can have be limited?

I'm more in line with reducing the number of people hopping the fence and comming here. That in itself would make the problem self resolving. In fact, it would make a lot of problems self resolving.

And sterilize extreme right wing republicans!

LOL. The left wing doesn't need sterilization. They are emasculated by their political stance.
Even better after your third year on welfare you get an automatic vasectomy or fallopian ligature.

Aunty

Not sure if you meant this as a joke or were serious but the more I see of peoples parenting skills lately I couldn’t agree more with you. This would mean however that my nephews would have never been born.

I think AuntyM is on the right track and agree that borders need to be fixed...

We need to make adoption much easier and afordable - it is literally a crime how they are doing it now days... 2 kids of your own, and then you should be STRONGLY encouraged to adopt if you want more kids (and can show that your family is stable and can afford them...). I don't think it should be 'forced', but it should be practically free and come with increased tax cuts...

Marriage AND Divorce should be taken more seriously. A marriage license should be required and given after a simple class or counciling session (no more vegas style weddings between to drunks who don't even know eachothers real names ). Then to have a baby, the process should be similar.

Not sure how this could be enforced though. I think the best approach is to offer insentives. In a sense, offer money, tax cutts, etc for 'doing the right thing'. Trying to force this kind of thing on people just won't work - invasion of privacy, religious freedom, etc etc.

Now the idea of mandatory birth control while you are on Welfare sounds good to me. When you go to pick up your monthly check, they give you a birth control shot that lasts a month... Probably not realistic though... (PS, this goes for men too. Guys who live off the gov't wagon shouldn't be making babies all over the state that they can't afford to pay child support for...)

I know 3 people that are going to China in the next two weeks to pick up babies. Much easier than doing it here.

Well, China can be easier, and cheaper - especially for the girls who are litteraly dumped on the street because the value boy babies much more and are limitted to how many they can have (one or 2 I think).

It can get ugly though. I've heard of horror stories about couples finding a baby, then it takes 2 years of back and forth traveling, paper work, gov't beaurocracy (sp?) etc. Then when you are so far into it emotionally and financially and just want to get your now 2-3 yr old child home - you have to fork out even more money on bribes or force more 'delays'....

Aunty

Your not bitter, just wise to the having baby's for the welfare check game.

Yea, Aunty M!

A loving God would never have made viable gonads the sole requirement of parenthood.

If I had my ruthless way, there'd be no simple monthly check for welfare mothers. Pregnant moms who want society to pick up the tab would have to check in to a gov't institution, giving up most of their personal freedom, especially freedom of further reproduction. While there, they get good housing, education, job training, and pre and post natal care. Sort of a boot camp for pregnant idiots.

Then a gov't goon squad would make sure the dads contribute $ support for the system. Those who don't volunteer are hunt down as dead beat dads as get their nads whacked to prevent repeat offenses.

We can't make people make good decisions, but we can create disincentives for bad ones and incentives for making good ones.

Children should not be born into poverty and condemed to be "raised" by parent(s) not up to the task.

Gee, did ya' think I had a strong opinion on a matter like that?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

How do these dad's get away with out paying child support?

I know they do but where does the system fall short of them having to actually pay?

AM,

I agree with what you say but the men are not victims but willing participants. I feel no sorrow for men in this situation. I only feel for the kids.

LT,

I think the cost of hunting down dead beat dads is pretty high. Many move out of state and make it hard for the originating state to find them and then shake them for the support they owe. There was federal legislation I believe that facilitates inter-state cooperation on that. I know of a Nevada dad getting his check garnisheed by WA, but it took so long that he only ended up paying like 3 out of 18 years of child support.

That's why I propose a goon squad. Some of these dimbulbs can't read letters on state agency letterhead, but they get a clear understanding of broken bones and how to prevent repeat breakage.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

SG

I'm all for the goon squad, my tax $$ could be put to better use then paying for someone else's children because they are too irresponsible.

Funny how the government (IRS) has no problem tracking people down to get the money owed to them but will do little to help the average citizen. Heck even the local gov has a good system for collecting money. Many people are arrested for not paying parking tickets but the wellfare of a child means nothing.

It would seem that tracking down the non paying dad’s would be cheaper then forking out well fair for years.

Sorry to hear about that AM. At 17 the big brain does not listen to the little brain. But number child nuber two what was he thinking?
Is it hard as a GP not to want to go after the kids?

I could imagine it is hard for parents not to blame themselves. I am not in that position with just young kids. I have always manintained that at about the age of 16 one is responsible for ones own life as by then you really know right from wrong. You can only take them so far.

"A loving God would never have made viable gonads the sole requirement of parenthood."

Hmmm, interesting perspective... kinda.

So if Salmo was 'god' for a day (think Jim Carey's recent movie...), how would you create the human body differently?

Keep in mind that you have to allow for 'free will'.

You don't have any control of Gov't - so making laws won't cut it - and even then you need to think internationally- laws\rules would need to apply world wide.. A huge percetage won't believe you even exist and many who do don't really listen to you anyway...

Keep in mind the history of man (let's just say the last 10,000 years for grins....). At times, people's life expectancy was 30-35yrs of age. Getting married as early teens was \ had to be common practice. If you didn't start a family young, you wouldn't survive...

I'm sure there are many other factors, but i'm curious as to how our bodies could have been designed better to match the demands of human history, cultures, etc.


Something else to ponder - why isn't teen pregnancy and 'welfare queen' syndrome pretty much unique to the the US and really only in the last 30yrs? (not that there haven't always been problems with sex\pregnancy throughout history of mankind - but not nearly as widespread as today in the US and I think some African nations)


Also, consider this from God's perspective (assuming that there is one at this point - just for conversation)...

Let's say God is like a auto manufacturer. He designs the 'perfect car'. It has manufacturers guidlines of operation and is intended for commuting on paved roads - a Honda Accord if you will... So some dude takes this Accord offroading, doesn't read the owners manual, never maintains the car other than give it gas - then acts suprised and complains to his friends when the car breaks down on him... Should we blame God when the result of a person's 'free will' basically ruins what should have been a 'good thing' if it was just used as it was designed?

(I didn't really think that through, so not sure how good of a metaphor it is...)

"but I would create one that doesn't wear out, doesn't need replacement, and doesn't need me (God) as a crutch."

Well, that is exactly what he did if you believe what the Bible says about Heaven.

Who needs God as a 'crutch'? Is a child's parent a 'crutch' to him\her? I guess some kids do use their parents in that way (as some use the gov't that way too) - but with God and with a healthy family, the relationship is based on love.

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You can do better than that--next time have God manufacturing Harley Davidsons.

"Unless God suffers from some sort of self esteem issues, why does he create man so that man can shower love and devotion on him?"

Why do most (healthy) parents have kids? If love isn't part of it, I can see where a lot of problems are stemming from...
But anyway, do parents have kids so they can force them to love, respect, admire, and just like to be with them? Forcing them to do this would defeat the whole point. But when you show your kids love and they freely give love back - that is a big part of what life is all about and a model of what God wants our relationship with Him to be like... Love has everything to do with it. Unless of course you just enjoy bitterness, lonliness, etc