I have been trying to stop myself from posting on this thread... I mean I REALLY tried... but obviously I have failed.. cuz here I am... again I apologize in advance when what I am about to express offends someone... but I believe that I am not the sole person on this planet who feels this way... tho maybe one of the few who will actually express it.

I am very much aware of the social issues which IMHO this country continues to not only turn a blind eye to, but also ultimately promotes.

I have often said that "there was a flaw in his plan", "him" being God. I often think that had god put in place a correlation between intelligence and egg/sperm production, this place would be a better place. Unfortunately, we live in a world in which so many people don't consider the consequences of bringing a child into this world. We have people in this world who place a higher importance on their own needs than those of their children. We have people who because of choices they make place more importance on their next drug/alcohol fix than putting food on the table for their children. Unfortunately, their choices not only negatively impact their chidren and even future generations of their family tree, but also society in general.

The behavior children learn in childhood is a direct result of how they are raised. The lessons they are taught are cyclical.. they continue to be handed down from generation to generation. The lessons they learn? Reliance on Cash Assistance, welfare fraud, lack of work ethic, lack of morality, Promescuity, Unwed Pregnancy, Failure to support their children, drug abuse, inability to socialize, criminal behavior, to name a few.

There are people out there (both men & women) who birth children with multiple people without any intention of participating in that childs life or supporting them in any manner. There are hundreds of thousands of parents that fail to adhere to child support obligations, thus more children relying on Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid, etc. BILLIONS of dollars are spent every year to take care of these children, the majority of which will never be recouped. We have more grandparents raising their grandchildren today than ever before. Those children who aren't lucky enough to have stable family to rely end up in our overwhelmed fostercare system.

I have absolutely no problem with State or Federal funding to promote permanent birth control. To some degree, I don't even have a problem with providing them a "reward" for doing so. However, for me, the reward wouldn't be $1,000. Instead, an agreement that by doing so, in return the State will FORGIVE the past debt that has been accrued due to your children being given cash assistance. Yes, the states would lose money, in the short run, but ultimately by stopping that cycle, the tax payers burden in the future decreases. Unfortunately, the cycle continues, the likelihood that a child who has a parent who fails to nuture, love, and support them, will ultimately repeat the cycle.

Our country has failed our children. There are more and more children falling through the cracks. There are more and more children looking for unconditional love... and unfortunately doing whatever feels good to find it... and instead find themselves in the same cycle as their parents.

Again I apoligize if I offended... and no doubt I did.... I think I will keep a low profile for a bit... as apparent to all who read this post, this is something I feel pretty strongly about.