Should the government force poor women to limit the number of children they have?

Answer 1

Yes. Having a child that you know couldn't be given a proper life is a form of abuse to that child. Not having the child in the first place (by using contraception and actually thinking about what you are doing) is the only way to prevent the cycle of poverty. This should be applied not only to poor women but poor families in general.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The information provided above is ill-advised on many levels. First, it is discriminatory against those in poverty. Second, it is uninformed and uneducated. Thirdly, there is no definition or category known as a "proper life". Next, claiming that it is abuse to not provide a proper life is beyond the pale and quite simply bogus. Added to that is an inherent sexist bias that only a woman is responsible for having children. Finally, having children is a right. An inalienable right that cannot be taken away from anyone.

A better answer to the question is:

Absolutely not, the government should not force poor women to limit the number of children they have. It takes two to tango, meaning that poor men and women by necessity must be included in the question and answer.

Are there good reasons to want to curb the world's population explosion, and our country by extension? Yes. But it affects everyone equally, not simply the poor. Poverty in our country is driven by many things: lack of education, discrimination, corporate and individual greed, drugs, Alcoholism, mental instability, and ineffective social programs that make the problem worse, rather than give a helping hand to those in need.

Education is the single biggest key to combating poverty. When people are educated, it helps them make good choices and they often make better life choices than those who are not educated. Education also gives them the skills they need as adults to go out and get a good job. There is a much higher percentage of educated people who have chosen not to have children, or to have only one or two children, than uneducated people. Education is the biggest key to helping people help themselves.

No one is born saying that, when they grow up, they want to be a welfare mother with ten children they can't support. But life happens. Better social programs that reward poor families for making an effort rather than punishing them when they do are needed. Positive job skill building programs are needed. Combined with education these tools could wipe out poverty in our country. People would never again ask if the poor should be restricted in the number of children because it wouldn't be relevant to anything.