[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Platt on Women Having Babies to Collect Welfare]
Not the cornerstone of public policy, but the cornerstone of welfare cheats.
 
[Case]
It is misrepresentations like this that has led to under funding of program
programs for children in many states.

[Arlo]
Poverty has always, historically, bred large families. You can look back in time
as far as you want, the poorer families have always been the ones with the most
kids. My grandfather came from a poor mining family near Llewlyn, PA. He had 10
brothers and sisters.

Typical reasons for this is lack of education regarding fertility and methods of
protection. Also there is the thought that the more children one has, the
greater chance one will "make it". And don't discount the expected mortality
rate. In areas where many kids die before reaching adulthood, there is a
tendency to have more kids (increase the odds your genes survive). Whatever the
reasons, it is quite clear that modern "welfare" is not the blame for poor
families having many children. That's been the way it is for forever.