A Maryland housing official is coming under fire for a bumper sticker that takes a derogatory shot at poor families.
Dave Mahanney, who runs Cecil County's Housing Authority, has a bumper sticker on his car that reads "Can't Feed 'Em? Don't Breed 'Em."
"He's the director, driving around with this bumper sticker saying if you can't feed them, don't breed them?" said Niakkia Battle, a mother of five. "Am I supposed to be sorry that I had my children? I love my children."
This bumper sticker is completely inappropriate and is an insensitive oversimplification of a much more complex problem, but the message of individual responsibility that it (poorly) attempts to communicate is valid. You simply should not consume more than you produce and then expect government to cover the difference. The response that the mother gave to this bumper sticker is ridiculous and misses the point. No one expects her to be sorry for having children, nor does anyone dispute that she loves her children.
I am not opposed to a social safety net for those who have hit hard times, but someone who has five children and receives government assistance to pay for them is probably abusing that safety net.
3 comments:
I couldn't agree more. The only problem with your post is the part about the 'government' bailing them out. That's you and me. Not the government.
Although you probably knew that, too many people don't.
Temporary help only. Anything else creates an underclass.
Always leave'em wanting more.
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