Friday, May 27, 2005
Don't give up
Having spent £40m trying to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies only to see the rate rise further, the Government is giving up. It can do no more!! It now wants parents (on threat of becoming grandparents) to become more involved. Why Government felt it should replace parental responsibility in the first place is beside the point. Whilst taxation is Labour's weapon of choice for reducing undesirable events, it is not an option here, reducing the benefits available to teenage mothers would have the same effect though. Whilst unpalatable to some, it should be seen as "tough love". It would reduce the incentives for teenage pregnancy as a "career" option. Limiting publicly available childcare support for teenage mothers by placing a greater burden on her immediate family would also help to make teenage pregnancy less desirable.
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3 comments:
Site most interesting,I'm impressed. From the mother of your friend in the North. Keep up the good work and guard your back!!!
Hi Snafu,
Been saying the same thing as your post for years. Further, I wouldn't compel the taxpayer to fund the reproduction of the fecund idle.
Cheers, Gerry.
" Why Government felt it should replace parental responsibility in the first place is beside the point"
Actually, it's the whole point. Picture it this way: if you believe parents are responsible for the behaviour of their offspring - and the consequences of that behaviour - you wouldn't be giving taxpayers' money to their 13 year olds in the first place.
But your points are all absolutely spot on. I sometimes wonder - genuinely - why the powers that be don't see this. If the government makes a socially negative situation attractive (or, at least, removes the sting from that situation) then they must expect that socially negative situation to become more common.
Rocket science, it ain't.
Keep up the good work Snafu - don't let the buggers rest....
AB
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