Government Shutdown

[neurosis]

or perhaps the government should just not subsidize poor personal choices.

They don't seem to have a problem forcing people to have children they can't afford.

Children are who pay the price for their parents "poor personal choices"? What about the elderly and the disabled?  Do you think that private charities could make up the difference if all government assistance were to be cut off? Local food banks are struggling right now because food prices are so high. When people are barely getting by themselves, they rarely contribute to charities. 

[Jeff]

There are already limitations on government assistance programs.

And those limitations need to be refined. They're set by the state I believe, but federally funded.
My argument is that there are far too many people that receive it that should not.
I think you're a little naive as to some of those who are on it as a way of life and culture because that's how they were raised.

[JParis]

They don't seem to have a problem forcing people to have children they can't afford.

Who is forcing anyone to have sex?  Last I checked, that's how children were made.

Don't conflate them all as they same issue becasue they most certainly are NOT

[neurosis]

I think you're a little naive as to some of those who are on it as a way of life and culture because that's how they were raised.

I was raised that way. lol My mom was a single mother who worked her entire life (still works at 70) and has never made enough money to support herself and her kids.

I lived with 5 different families growing up. All but one of them received some kind of government assistance at some point. If they hadn't, the kids wouldn't have had healthcare or food. 

[neurosis]

Who is forcing anyone to have sex? 

Yes, of course. Poor people shouldn't have sex. It all makes perfect sense now.

[Jeff]

I was raised that way. lol My mom was a single mother who worked her entire life (still works at 70) and has never made enough money to support herself and her kids.

I lived with 5 different families growing up. All but one of them received some kind of government assistance at some point. If they hadn't, the kids wouldn't have had healthcare or food. 

You're missing my point completely.

[JParis]

Yes, of course. Poor people shouldn't have sex. It all makes perfect sense now.

Dave...how can you possibly make the mental leap from you stating people being forced to have kids, to my statement of question asking who'e forcing anyone to have sex?

To whatever that swerve is?

[neurosis]

Dave...how can you possibly make the mental leap from you stating people being forced to have kids, to my statement of question asking who'e forcing anyone to have sex?

To whatever that swerve is?

I don't know how that is a swerve. The right actively works toward removing the availability of reproductive health for people, more specifically, women, who can't afford it. In some States, that includes contraceptives. "As of late 2025, 16 states are classified as actively restricting access to contraception". We know how everyone feels about abortion, so I'm not going to open that can of worms. 

Maybe I'm being too vague with my sarcasm? Or maybe I'm not understanding what you mean when you say "Who is forcing anyone to have sex?". Thinking that people aren't going to have sex because they can't afford to raise a child, just isn't realistic?

[beej]

Thinking that people aren't going to have sex because they can't afford to raise a child, just isn't realistic?

that is one of the saddest statements I have ever heard. God forgive us.

[gcode]

The point is, most of the benefits go to children, elderly, or the disabled.

and a whole lot of it goes to fraud

example.. SNAP recipients buy dozens of cases of soda with their SNAP cards
then sell it back local stores for cash at discounted price.

The SNAP recipients get cash for dope and party time.. the store owners get to sell the same item twice.

[Elmer Fudd]

How many times have you had sex because you wanted a kid? And why did you have it all the other times?

[beej]

They don't seem to have a problem forcing people to have children they can't afford.

Children are who pay the price for their parents "poor personal choices"?

So the answer then, is put the children out of their misery, while in the darkness of the womb, I guess.

people keep trying to tell me there is no God, but they have made self-satisfaction into their God, and the consequences can go to hell. that is where we are right now.

[neurosis]

So the answer then, is put the children out of their misery, while in the darkness of the womb, I guess.

Or, if you're going to support forcing people to have children, also support making sure those children have healthcare and food?

[neurosis]

that is one of the saddest statements I have ever heard. God forgive us.

Make a poll on the forum asking how many people here have had sex out of wedlock. Or when they were too young to raise children.

Something tells me that you're about to get a LOT sadder. 

[beej]

Or, if you're going to support forcing people to have children, also support making sure those children have healthcare and food?

yes. and one of the best ways for us to do that is to make sure that people who should not be abusing that support are not syphoning money from those who need it. do we agree on that at all?