CommieChipmunk wrote:
3) I've got $300,000 dollars worth of scholarship offers so far from 7 different colleges, I'm still working my ass off looking for more little scholarships and I still will end up with student loans.. and I'm not bragging or anything, but I'm not really an "average" kid. I've worked for 4 years at an eye clinic, I volunteer at a hospital every sunday, I have over a 4.0 GPA got a 1970 on the SAT.. my point being, if I'm still going to end up with student loans, your average kid will probably end up with some student loans too.. But beyond college, there aren't a ton of people who can support 2 kids and retire successfully. Throw five kids into the equation and you'll be working until your 90.
I agree with you to the fact that I won't be having 5 kids. But I still wouldn't want the government to say I COULDN'T have 5 kids. If I were to win some $247 Million powerball lottery, I might change my mind... As it stands, finance has been a very strict regulator on my own children. With the low cost of living in Oklahoma, the average salary is between $36,000 and $40,000 a year. I made about $25K when my first daughter was born, about $39K when my second daughter was born, and now make about $60K in a job that guarantees me $80K within 5 years. And we found out today my wife is probably pregnant with our 3rd (and final unless I win that lottery, which is hard without buying tickets, mind you) kid...
We started college funds for both girls on the week they were born. I still intend on them working their asses off to pay for most of it. I think we are going to be just fine. Nice 1800 square foot brick home. Lots of extras and fun things. Yes we have debt left over from before I started working, but have it consolidated to be gone in about 3 more years. (Minus the house). Have 6 years in on the house, and have the 30 year mortgage paid down to 17 years.
I think we are doing just fine. I don't think a 3rd kid is going to take food out of anyone's mouth.
I do think, as I said before, that limiting welfare payments and tax credits at a certain number of kids is more than fair and would solve a lot of the problems you mention. It drives me crazy to feel limited (responsible or not) to a certain number of kids while I personally know people with 8 kids and no job, living on food stamps and welfare... But for them, that works, because the government pays them SO much money for having SO MANY kids, they have nicer stuff than we do, in an equivalent house, with equivalent vehicles, and eat steak and lobster on a regular occasion because, hey, the government picks up their food bill...
So in summary:
Limited kids = Bad.
Fixing Welfare and similar programs = Good.