From Harford County Public Schools:
Harford County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services are participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that helps children receive the nutrition they need to thrive throughout the summer months.
During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may make children more prone to illness and other health issues and may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. The SFSP fills the gap while children are out of school.
Meals will be provided to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. This summer, meals will be provided in Harford County at the following sites and times:
Trinise Jones Summer Day Camp, Aberdeen
June 18 – August 1
Breakfast: 9:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m.
Zion Temple Church, Havre de Grace
June 18 – August 17
Breakfast: 9:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m.
Magnolia Elementary School
July 30 – August 10
Breakfast only: 9:00 a.m.
Havre de Grace Middle School
July 30 – August 10
Breakfast only: 9:00 a.m.
George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
July 30 – August 10
Breakfast only: 9:00 a.m.
According to a teacher that I know during the school year some also receive weekend food assistance from local private sector organizations thru things like Blessings in a Backpack. Thank you, whoever you are out there that support that program and others like it.
July 30 to August 10? If the kids are so needy they require free breakfast, how will they survive the next six weeks?
Where my daddy?
Where my meals?
Where my social worker?
Where my check?
Where my parole officer?
Where my “Independence” card
Where my….?
Where my heart? You are an ass.
If the parent(s) are receiving food stamps and otherwise non-productive (plenty of time to make a couple eggs or pour cereal); and the taxpayers have to further subsidize meals on weekends, at school and through summer by all means yank the food stamps. We shouldn’t have to pay for all this twice. Somebody needs to do a study on the effect of having a lazy, loser slob for a parent and role model as opposed to poor nutrition – which is worse?
There are many children who go hungry in this country and Harford County. Since it has been accepted pedagogy for almost 70 yrs. that children must first have their physiological and dependent needs met before they can have an ability to learn; it seems logical and economically sound to provide kids with access to free food.
If we’re feeding the kids anyway there’s no reason to fund food stamps. An obvious example would be a family of three, an unemployed adult female qualifying for various forms of assistance including a food stamp stipend that factors in healthy meals for the 2 school age kids – if the kids are eating elsewhere the taxpayer has a right to expect 2/3 of the stipend to be reduced. Jeez…this “parent” has plenty of time to get thier butt out of bed and pour cereal and if they chose not too something’s got to give.
See Ryan? Wrong again! Already a bunch of “thumbs down” for you. Know why? Because kids don’t need food to learn! What they need is for MONEY TREE to decide what’s best for them, and it sure isn’t all this feasting they seem to be doing on the taxpayers dime! All that talk of physiological and dependent needs…they wouldn’t need anything if they had any good teachers! Logical and economically sound??? I think it’s been pretty well established that what is logical and economically sound is whatever keeps MONEY TREE’s tax bill the lowest. So what if a kid doesn’t get a sangwich for lunch??? That’s his dope smokin’ parents fault…right MONEY TREE?
I have an example of what can be worse: When you have a mother taking her Independence Card and supplementing her income by letting other people buy groceries, so you can subsidize your abusive husband’s drug problem, on probation, while she defrauds the state of $20,000 in unemployment benefits, while he doesn’t work and the other two fathers of two of her four children are not required to provide child support. The terrible part is I asked the court to intervene last year but no one sees this as a threat or a cry for help.
It’s rampant – the folks that qualify for these programs share scam methods with each other and the best way to game the system. I have almost zero sympathy any longer because we can’t seem to separate the deserving from the scam artist because the pin-headed, hand wringers are sure everyone is honest.
I’m with you there, Money Tree. NO more sympathy for these kids who are born into horrible families. They should have been born into GOOD families, you know, the kind that have parents with jobs and benefits, (but not teachers, because they are bad examples because they suck up tax dollars and give nothing in return). Time to stop assuming everyone is honest and start assuming everyone is lying, cheating and stealing! Guilty until proven innocent, right MT?
I’m sure you cheat on your taxes. But that’s “working the system,” right?
Care much?
@Watcher
Liberals and progressives are statistically cheat more frequently on their taxes and take advantage of programs that the do not qualify for as opposed to conservatives and libertarians.
If you’re referring to me you absolutely couldn’t be more wrong.
David Porter,
I see it as a cry for help. A cry for help in fixing the welfare and food stamp and court system. But this is Maryland, sir. And our leaders only have ears for more taxes and bigger budgets and more government programs like the ones that already don’t work and casinos in their own backyard. That’s when they are here and not absent trying to get more Lib/Dems elected in other parts of the country. At our expense. Your example perfectly illustrates how the children still suffer because the programs we were already sold as being “for the children” have given us exactly what you describe.
What, sir, do you propose that we actually do about it?
Kids can’t help the families that they were born into. We need to help them all that we can.
We’re helping; apparently twice. I have to assume the lazy bum of a parent takes the excess on the food stamp card that has to occur when we feed the kids outside the bums home and buys drugs or otherwise uses the excess for something not intended.
Yeah, we’re helping twice! Giving food stamps and a free bowl of cereal to kids. Can you believe these people think they deserve three meals a day??? And those lazy bum parents…you are so right to assume that ALL of them, each and every one of them that have the gall to scam the system of food stamps and free meals for their kids…they are all out buying drugs!!! It’s time to stop this outrage! I say no more food stamps OR free meals…starve ’em enough and the last thing they’ll want is all those drugs they are spending their food stamps on!
Money Tree,
Maybe I have a lttle credibility here because you know that hardly anyone on The Dagger is more conservative than I am. And hardly anyone criticizes waste, fraud and abuse more than I do.
Are they parents lazy bums? Probably some are and we can address that issue thru welform reform and more jobs in the private sector. And we should. Are some buying drugs rather than feeding their kids enough healthy food. Some are and we can address that by coming down like 100 tons of bricks on the drug dealers and the court system that treats them so leniently. Are some scamming the food stamp program? No doubt and let’s fix that as well. All of this ‘fixing’ requires the Lib/Dems to either help us or to be the minority. Frankly, you and I both prefer the latter.
Meanwhile we have kids that are suffering. And, Money Tree, in the long run you and I will suffer also because the cycle of poverty and lack of a good education continues. I don’t mind giving them some food that I can watch go in their mouth and KNOW for sure that it wasn’t wasted. We waste enough food in this country to feed many millions. Maybe we can put a little in our own kids mouths while we try to fixe big mess created by the Dem/Libs.
Can you explain to me how someone uses an independence card to buy drugs rather than food? Perhaps, some of those who also receive cash assistance might fall into this category but certainly food does not.
The conversion of independence card funds to cash for drugs, booze, etc.. is facilitated by a second party to the crime. I’ve been approached by a young man in a grocery store who asked if he could pay for my food with his card and then I’d give him 50% of the cost in cash. Discount for me, cash for him. Of course I told him to fu@# off but I’m sure he finally found someone to do the deed.
Years ago in the days of paper food stamps I was working as a clerk at a dairy store and someone was trying to sell me stamps for cash in the register. Some stores do this. It can be done with the cards as well.
There are ways to defraud the system as long as someone is complicit in helping.
So what you are saying is that some of these overly taxed conservatives are facilitating fraud…The hell you say! Prosecute the fraud. Monitor and categorize the food purchases. Make folks volunteer to show responsibility. However, don’t take food from kids because people are dishonest. Besides, in the grand scope of things food stamps and this summer program are a very small budgetary number. Check that very, very small…
I have been approached to do this as well. This is a fairly common practice with both Independence cards and stolen credit cards. My purse was stolen once. Within 30 minutes (the time it took for me to get home and call to cancel the card), the card had been used to purchase 3 tankfuls of gas at a gas station down the street from where it was stolen. The police officer I worked with said that this was how the thief is able to turn a stolen card into quick money. Tell someone that you will pump a full tank ($50) for them for 10 or 20 bucks. The card is used a couple times, then discarded. Same concept with the Independence card.
My comments have nothing to do with abuse of the independence card. I’m talking about feeding kids breakfast, lunch and apparently now other meals through summer outside of the use of the card. I’d assume when they provide a food card they ask how many members in the family and adjust the stipend based upon an estimate of need. This is pretty simple and it isn’t the least bit cruel – if the kids are being primarily fed elsewhere then reduce the independence card stipend. There is no reason the taxpayers have to support overlapping and nearly identical entitlements. 15 trillion in debt with a T means somebody needs to care about how the money is spent.
The worst part is families who qualify for free lunch, qualify for food stamps. So we are giving the parents money for food and buying the kids lunch? Why are we buying them food twice?
Yeah, that’s right. No doubling up on all these luxurious benefits, kids. Food stamps AND those awesome school lunches for free???? They’re living high on the hog with ALL that great stuff! Money Tree…you’ve got to find a way to stop all this! First the teachers are ripping you off and now all these scammers getting free cheese and peanut butter. Where does it end???
The sad story is that many of our teachers would qualify for free cheese and peanut butter if they didn’t work another job.
The truth of it is that they would qualify for assistance. The other truth is that all one has to do is say so and they can get all the free food they want from any number of food give away points throughout the county. They would not, however, qualify for an Independence card unless they have a very large number of dependents. At the same time a large number of our active duty military qualify for independence cards, so what?
So we should pay them more or should re-install commissaries which are not outsourced and run as for profit enterprises.
At a much tougher time in my life, I regularly went to the food pantry and my son got WIC. I din’t want to take the assistance but I needed it. Being a site coordinator for the YMCA only paid about $19,000 a year. I couldn’t take care of my son and work a second job and go to classes to be a teacher. So, I took the aid. I strongly believe that most of the folks who take aid, need the aid. Most would rather they did not need the aid but find themselves in a situation which is insurmountable without help.
Ryan:
“So, I took the aid. I strongly believe that most of the folks who take aid, need the aid.”
I think a better perspective is “Most of those that take the aid do not know how to live without it.” We’re now on fifth-generation welfare families who have not had a productive, tax-paying wage earner in their collective memory, eating the free govt cheese, leasing nice cars (a leased car counts as a liability, a car with a loan counts as an asset while determining welfare payments), watching 65″ TVs and talking on iPhones, yet they demand public assistance.
Welfare, daycare and SSDI scams are huge money makers. If someone on welfare claims they’re paying a neighbor to watch their kids, the neighbor gets a govt check for providing daycare to the disadvantaged. The neighbor then says they’re paying the first person to watch her kids, and the first person then gets a check. Everyone in the ghetto knows how to scam SSDI, during IEP meetings parents will demand their kids be labeled retarded (or whatever the PC buzzword is this week) because that classification (vs autistic, learning disabled or just plain slow) includes a big chunk of govt money every month.
WIC is practically the only assistance program that works, because not many people are interested in plain Cheerios or grape Juicy-Juice. It restricts food choices to only the flagship flavor so the kids can get healthy meals while the parents can’t go shopping for a third party or sell the card for much money.
Where is the ghetto in Harford County?
Ryan; You had best stick to teaching english. Let the politics and logic and the like for the big boys and girls. “Where is the ghetto?” Are you kidding? You teach in Aberdeen. Are you clueless about what happens in Havre de Grace, Aberdeen, Edgewood and Joppatowne? As said you have no clue about anything.
Sorry, I have lived and worked in ghettos. Harford’s worst has got nothing on East Baltimore and the Hill District in Pittsburgh, not to mention Westport, Cherry Hill or West Baltimore…There are poor people here and there are some rougher areas but I have been all through Aberdeen, HdG, Edgewood and Joppatowne, there isn’t a ghetto in Harford County. There isn’t even anything close. The stigma attached to these places is misplaced. There is no shame in being poor. Hell, if you are a teacher with a family, like me, those are the only places you can afford to live in Harford County.
Aberdeen and Edgewood have become the beachheads for the ghetto lifestyle in Harford County.
That comment tells more about you than Aberdeen or Edgewood.
You are deliberately belittling the point that is being made. The example I cited above is one of these. If you are having a new car provided for you by a parent – because you do not have the ability to get one on your own because of bad credit – you have a source of income that is not monitored. (At the time she was driving a brand new Equinox) If you default on four leases in three years and are defrauding the state for unemployment benefits and supplementing your income by selling your Independence Card and forging prescriptions for controlled substances – you do not deserve an Independence Card let alone Free Lunches for your children. If you are not receiving child support for any of your four children from three fathers, including the unemployed ex con you married out of prison – you do not deserve an Independence Card or Free Lunches. Living off the state to support your poor life style choices while your parents live in comfort in their $400,000 home in Fallston should not entitle you to an Independence Card or Free Lunches. The lack of personal responsibility in this case is real – Maryland is being taken for a ride, in part because they would rather pay her and shove her off to a corner than deal with the real issues that cause her to be this dysfunctional.
Wow. That girl really has your boxers in a wad! You must have been really into her.
She and her husband are regular clients of HCSO and the courts. I’m sure she would impress you too.
I’m not easily impressed. What was it about her that impressed you?
My reaction to her Mike is a lot like your perceived injustice at the hands of Sheriff Bane. The only difference is I have held her accountable by taking her to court for the things she has done to me and winning judgments against her. Good luck with your relationship with Sheriff Bane.
David,
I have never had a personal problem with Sheriff Bane. I have never worked with or for the man. I do know many who have. I also know that many of those who have worked both with and for Jesse, now see him in an entirely different light than they did before he became Sheriff.
Take the time to re-read my posts regarding Sheriff Bane. They are centered on the comments of the Deputies who know when wrong is just that…wrong. You say that you work for the DOD. I gather from your comments that you are not a ‘kiss ass’ person. If that is true you would not do well working for Sheriff Bane, nor does anyone else who is not a kiss ass! That seems to be the overriding problem/issue.
@Sure
You are my hero! I thought I was the only one who realized how foolish some of these people think.
Just for kicks, try living on a food stamp budget for a week. Does it matter? The point is, feed hungry kids.
Ryan, the food stamp progam is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is not intended to provide the family full meals but is intended to supplement existing funds (as is the intent of Social Security but people complain they cannot live on that).
The problem here is the federal government was not created to provide these programs as they should be provided by the private sector or local government, as they were for years prior to these federal government programs. We need to return to the community providing these benefits, not the federal government.
Indeed we do, Taxpayer. Local community organizations still strive to provide benefits to those we serve while government wastemongers strangle us with bureacuracy and tax away our donation base. All so the government can continue to build its culture of dependency…
Typical food stamp stipend for a family of 3 is close to $400.00 a month – not including supplemental WIC funds for basics such as milk, cheese and such. Careful shopping and actually making food from scatch makes a pretty decent bunch of meals with those funds. Not to be a smart arse, but if WIC pays for the basics, the food stamps are for steaks? Seriously…it’s totally out of control and then some brain trust from MD thinks we need to feed kids at school and now in summer. It isn’t cruel to recognize the problems well intentioned misguided “help” might result in – isn’t there an element of creating a generation of unable and dependent people? Why work…don’t even need to wake up in the morning to make breakfast with the WIC food – they get breakfast at school. It’s sort of disgusting.
I thought for sure that this article would lead to comments about how we shouldn’t provide this program because of all the welfare sucking leeches, and boy you guys sure didn’t disappoint. You should be ashamed of yourselves, every single last one of you, that believes children should go hungry and be punished because of the families they were born into and the actions some (not all) parents do. If you think every human being on public assistance is a lazy tax cheat, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. Stop the stereotyping for once.
Every single last one of us? Sheesh, if only you could count. Five people spoke in defense of the program. Five people did not take a position either pro or con. Four people spoke against it. Like you, I was disappointed in the 5 that spoke against it. I defended it. I think your reaction is a little extreme.
The program is effective and unfortunately, very necessary. The method of operation of this program is surprisingly efficient, considerng it is Federally funded. The operation of other Federally funded programs are remarkably inefficient and actually invite waste and fraud as States are encouraged to sign more people up for the program so more Federal funds go to their State.
The point is, these programs should be locally funded so the funds are spent more effectively and efficiently. Nothing in the Constitution grants the Federal government the right to take from one person and provide to another as charity. This is not the purpose or responsibility of the Federal government.
Taxpayer,
If only it were so. That is all that the Dem/Libs do. No, wait, they also raise taxes and especially are fond of raising the regressive fees and taxes that hurt disproportionately the economically disadvantaged while telling them so many lies.
Never called anyone an idiot here before and sure don’t want to start now. Nobody wants kids to starve – not a single person here came close to suggesting that. Those that commented regarding abuse or concern regarding either the abuse of the independence cards or a duplication of entitlement. Careful of that knee – a reflex like that might leave a mark.
How many clues do you need to conclude that Independence Cards alone are not enough to deal with the human tragedy that occurs in these families? The example I gave you should have raised serious doubts about the quality of care the children in the home receive. If all you are concerned about is putting food in their bellies while the rest of the world reeks if chaos and dysfunction then you are the one that needs to be a little more sensitive to the real help the state should be providing. Shoving money at them for food may soothe your soul but it does not end the suffering of the children.
You tell me then where the line is that the taxpayer is allowed to cry foul. I think the taxpayer; who currently pays approx. 60% of salary given both obvious and hidden taxes has had it up to here. This isn’t about kids; it’s about the best use of available resources.
We should have social justice!
If we tax all income over $100,000 at 85% we could then balance income across the board and everyone could have a living wage income.
It’s about fairness in our unfair society.
We need to feed, clothe and provide health care to everyone.
Eliminate greed by taxing it away!
Proud my single parent home makes just about $100,000 a year. We live comfortably and not outrageously in our single family split level home near the city center. I think 85% taxes on anything above $100,000 is too close for my comfort so I’d have to disagree with you on this point. I hope you were being deliberately flippant because of the other outrageous posters here… but I’m telling you I’m not comfortable with that degree of taxation at that level.
nah, I’ll just collect employment. it pays better after taxes
From each according to his ability to each according to his need
We need to feed, clothe and provide health care to everyone?
Okay, let me send you my shopping list. Let’s start with you providing it for me. If that works, then we will expand that to more people. BUt that isn’t really what you had in mind, is it?
The inconvenient truth is that it doesn’t work. See, it only works when the government intervenes and decides what all comrades will wear, and what they will eat, and where they will get health care and what illness will be covered and how long they will wait to see a physician. Because just giving them the money doesn’t mean that they will spend it on food, and clothing and health care. And when they don’t spend it on what the government expects, then we have to send them to a mandatory ‘school’ to correct their thought processes because they aren’t on board with how the society actually is organized and what the government wants for them. Maybe I should say demands of them.
Society already tried this. And it was an abject failure. It only works so long as all comrades are slaves of the State.
But I will grant you one little interesting idea that might be worthy of further consideration. There is no welfare as we know it. You either get off your butt and you work, and the government will make sure that you do and tell you where and when to report, or you don’t get anything.
Well, I for one think this is a great idea. This ensures that the food is actually going to the child. Healthy kids now equal healthy adults later.
I have worked at WIC in the past, and have to say that the stereotypes just aren’t true. Many of my clients were married, and ar least one parent worked fulltime. We had to start a breastpump lending program because of all of the working, nursing women.
My own family of 8 could qualify for many programs, due to the size, although my husband works 6 days most weeks at a good job. Not food stamps, but reduced lunches if I wanted them. We pay taxes, we are not lazy bums.
My niece isn’t either. She has two children and receives no child support for either. She works hard 6 days a week, and barelymakes enough to pay her rent. Without assistance, I don’t know what she would do. She hopes they will soon offer ged classes near her home, so she can get a higher paying job. The current classes would require her to quit her job, to go. Even if she did get help finding a new job, how would she pay her rent during those months? Her current job is within walking distance, and her area doesn’t have public transportation. Why are the very programs that are supposed to help run so inefficiently?????? She is willing to go to classes, and cannot. How many more are willing and truly unable to do it? WIC finally gave evening hours, for people who work. Many said, if they need it bad enough, they will show up. How ridiculous!! Not everyone can take a half day off without pay without a money consequence. Let the people who work, WORK!!!!! I felt as if people are being encouraged not to work. The system is cheating *them* out of a future.
Everyone, probably most, are not bums.
All due respect can’t imagine two better examples of lack of planning. Life can suck…find a way and figure it out.
Worked three different jobs, two a day for six days a week for two years. Never took a dime of welfare. Had others around me that milked the system for everything they could get and whined all the while they were getting the freebies. Plenty of takers out there, they were all around me. I don’t need to thank God for getting me out. It was hard work and determination that got me out of the mess I was in. Anyone can do it. It’s not easy, but it is definitely doable.
@Bobbie P
If we taxed the fat cats making over $100,000 @ 85% we could give you what you need to live a socially just and fair life.
It’s about the pursuit of fairness, equality and happiness.
NOT!
Not funny!
If you taxed the “fat cats” who make over $100,000/annually that would allow them $15,000. You have to be kidding; right?
Tax every dollar over $100,000 @ 85%.
That suggestion is so totally stupid that I know you’re just trying to get a rise out of someone. Silly person…no point in a dialogue designed to be nothing other than incindeary.
We are the wealthiest country the world has ever known and all our people should share in that wealth.
PTBML – you’re exactly right – our wealthy should indeed share that wealth… as their consciences dictate.
PTBML – you’re exactly right – we should all share that wealth… as our individual consciences and circumstance dictate.
Perrone you are one the evil money grabbing Republicans who wish to subjugate the poor.
You are for economic slavery.
Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen!
Aww shucks – you figured me out – I do wish to subjugate the poor. That’s why I spent 4 years running a soup kitchen in Edgewood.
What better way to learn how to keep the poor folks down by demeaning them in a soup kitchen. The less privileged should have the dignity of a home and their own food.
Such insight you have! You are wise beyond your alias.
I don’t need other peoples tax money to feel equal and happy. I work for my own money and make my way in life just fine. I don’t envy those that make lots of money, they earn theirs just like I earn mine. Why should we be made to feel like we owe others our earned income?
There was a time in my life when I qualified for welfare but I never took it. Why should I? I was able to work, so I found a job, went to work, and when one job was not enough to pay the bills, I got a second job, then a third. I don’t need others money!
@Bobbie P
I like your attitude! I’m with you.
Bobbie P – at a time in my life I too could have qualified. Worked out west in a mill for just over minimum wage and then bused tables at night – had no money; Top Ramem was really great with a bit of cheese. My moral test was one time getting change from 7-11 as if I’d given them a 20, didn’t realize it until I was down the road. Went back and gave them back the difference. One of the best things we have in life is our self-respect. Many, many people on public assistance have absolutely no moral core or they wouldn’t make public assistance a way of life.
I still eat Top Ramen from time to time, as do my children. We think its great.
Yes it is a good idea to put food directly into the mouths of kids who actually need it without all of the government and societal noise getting in the way. I don’t think it totally changes their lives and that they are assured of breaking out of the cycle of poverty and dysfunction that contributes to their need in the first place but it iws a good idea.
I hesitate to say this because it might be the kiss of death for the program, it is Biblical. The Bible actually commanded it thousands of years ago before we had Democrats or Republicans or Liberals or Conservatives or any of that. Imagine that.
Will they have carryout and call ahead curbside service?
Concerned female voter If your niece had stayed in school, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting a GED. The government should tie public assistance to grades and attendance in school. These kids drop out of school and don’t take education seriously, then they want on the public doles. Make them stay in school and learn.
Better yet, why not offer to have your niece live with you while she obtains her GED. That way she does not have to live off the government dole and can better her prospects. Win Win all the way around.
We actually tried this at one point. Unfortunately, it did not work out for long. My niece is a good person. We love her. We do not always love her choices. We are a conservative Christian family, and it was difficult to continue to raise our children the way we wanted to with her in our home. Our discipline/rules, etc were different. She is a good mom, we just don’t do things the same ways, and it became too frustrating for our own children.
Not to mention, we have five children and one on the way. We have a good income, but not enough to fully support three other people. Also, not enough room, physically.
I agree that this would have been ideal.
Just to clarify, she receives WIC, health insurance for the children, and food stamps. No cash assistance or help with rent.
My biggest conccern is her children, that by educating her, her children will not follow in her footsteps, and will grow up to finish school and support themselves with good jobs. I have great hope for her.
Then maybe you should seek help from Child Protective Services and have her children removed from the home. If you are that concerned for the children, enabling her or excluding her from your life has not changed her willingness to make bad choices. There is no reason the children should suffer for her poor mothering skills – and yes, if she makes bad choices those are evidence of poor mothering skills. They are already wards of the state. What hope do they have of becoming fully functional contributing adults with an environment like the one you are alluding to?
Her children are not in any physical danger with her, her mistakes are in the past. Our differences are not about anything dangerous physically, it is more about moral choices. Noone takes your kids away because you let them eat dessert if they don’t finish their dinner, or let them watch programs on tv that we find inappropriate.
I found this comment of your to be so unhelpful!
What *should* be done, for those who really care and don’t just pay lip service and shout “Not with MY tax money?”
How can someone who is doing all they can get ahead, if the only help available serves to hold her down?
Saying she shouldn’t have made mistakes DOES NOT HELP HER OR OTHERS LIKE HER!!!!! Judging these girls does not help them. What can be done to break the cycle?Her children are sweet, normal kids who are innocent in this. Why should they be punished or judged whe they have done nothing wrong?
The system needs fixing, by people with some common sense!!!
Well, I don’t disagree with this, but at this time it is a moot point. She regrets quitting school, in the eighth grade (!), but is now twenty-one with two kids and still needs an education. Staying in scchool to begin with is obviously the best choice, but what can be done now??? She wants to support herself and is honestly trying to do so.
Proud to be Liberal says “The less privileged should have the dignity of a home and their own food.” He is absolutely right. Absolutely.
And in America, the land of opportunity, they have here, more than anywhere else in the world, the opportunity to earn that. People value what they earn. When government programs give them just enough to keep them in poverty for endless generations they have no hope and no determination to be anything more than what they are.
Don’t lecture me about poverty, Proud. You have no idea what it is to be poor. The programs we have today are what subjugate the poor. Really effective programs give them short term assistance coupled with the expectation to become economically self-sufficient. Our programs today say to them that it’s okay to drop out of school, it’s okay to have as many kids as you want whether you can afford them or not, it’s okay to father children that you have no ability or intention of supporting, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay. Let’s stop affirming their poor chices and self-destructive behavior and say to them four words very loudly and clearly. IT IS NOT OKAY. And the government is not going to be your enabler. The government will give you short term assistance so that you can get to a place of self-respect and rersponsibility. Then it is up to you.
Alex, that was incredible. I applaud you for such an excellent statement…. I am not kidding. Thank you for saying that exactly the way you said it.
Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen! You must be joking!
The only way that Louis Blanc/Marxist crap actually works is under the terrorist thumb of a dictator like Josef Stalin. And then only for a short while until the people rise up and revolt. That is probably the most anti-American garbage I have read here on The Dagger since The Dagger began. You, sir, are a danger to us all.