If you can't afford children you shouldn't have them.

[MrsArchieTheInventor]

"If you can't afford children you shouldn't have them" [and] "child benefit and tax credits should be abolished" with the mantra that if she choses to be childless she should not be forced to pay for the 'breeding' choices of others.

A Facebook friend of mine. I didn't retaliate.

Oh, well if most of the posters on a thread on Mumsnet think it's an issue, it MUST be true

Oh come on , Its a life of riley on the dole. them bankers could just pop a few kids out be on loadsa money .

be on*

DAmn right

Justine for PM

Do it then wicketter! What's stopping you? You'll get all your rent/mortgage paid (only you won't), You won't have to pay council tax, your kids will get free school meals, you'll get free prescriptions and you'll get some free money off the government...

In fact, as it's so bloody brilliant I wonder why we aren't all doing it! Even people like me - why aren't I doing it?

Ok, let's give all benefit claimants £500 a week. Great idea!! How about £500 per week per child??? Brilliant!!! Genius!!!!!

So long as the parents don't have to take responsibility for their own children, because society will do that for them. Willingly if this thread is anything to go by.

I'm actually seriously thinking of it myself.

Except I don't work.

45% tax now ,thanks to their mates

AHh, sod it, I reckon I'll get away with that little issue.

The rules would change (if they were ever going to, which they're not) with enough time for people who already have two children and are reliant entirely on benefits to go and get some contraception. Therefore, genuine accidents aside, any children that suffered because thir parents weren't given enough in out of work benefits, would be suffering because of the actions of their parents. And as already happens, children who suffer because of the actions of their parents have involvement with SS.

Shirley, I have already answered the point about unemployment statistics. If we know how high unemployment is, that's all the more reason to make sure you don't have more than two children by using some contraception.

littlemiss, give them what you want. Give them £50 a week if you like.

It's made up. It's your fantasy.

Oh well I do work and I hope my hardworkingtaxmoney is not paying your child benefit, so you can pop kids out.

God, how embarrassing oohlordylordy. Here you are shouting the odds about people getting benefits when they don't work and..oh no, it's too, too ironic!

Yes, yes littlemiss - can I have that evidence of the reduction of tariff for gas and electricity pre paid meters please? Also if you could stop with the hyperbole that would be nice as I made some other points that you might want to address rather than accusing those of us who disagree with you of wanting to give benefit claimants £500 per week per child.

"Society will always be made up of those who can, those who can't and those who just can't be bloody bothered to contribute.

How many people actually fall into the final category? I.E. the so-called "scroungers". Genuinely interested to know as so much of this thread is aimed at them"

I would imagine its those on JSA long term who are picky over jobs or simply know how to stay on JSA, those on benefits because they have a child/children so wont work or expect a 10-2 school term time only job to be handed to them, those leaving education with no intention of working as the state will give them a flat and money etc.

Thankfully whilst we have those who do work and pay income tax, we should always have a safety net for those physically incapable of any form of work. Those tax payers shouldnt have to pay for those that WONT work or who want to work the bare min hours to net the rest of their income from benefits.

Children are not an automatic right, having them comes with responsibilities including financial ones. If parents have them knowing they cannot support them from the start or plan to not work once having them to rely on the state instead then yes the government should start getting tough. I would imagine "accidents" would be far fewer if there were no child related benefits.

No, I firmly believe they should all have £500 a week, plus CTC/full HB/CTB/CB and all the other benefits they currently get. Absolutely!!!

I have changed my mind after reading this thread. I truly believe that benefits are so shit, and not one single person in the entire UK chooses to be on them, and the poor people who find themselves on benefits are to be applauded and rewarded with more money.

sorry but i just think current system is unfair. wish i had answers but i dont. maybe i'll just sit on my arse and think about it :-)

Oh sorry Outraged, I misunderstood you when you said that benefit claimants who wouldn't be getting any money for more than two children would be encouraged to go out and get a job. That's why I reposted the statistics to you - because there aren't actually enough jobs.

As I said before.

Bitch @Shirely - you have no idea how hard I've tried. I have 3 fecking degrees! But 2 kids, and one with SN means childcare is nigh on impossible.

HOWEVER: I do not claim bennies nor do I envisage the much wanted 3rd child.

Order restored.

Outraged, the assumption that everyone would stop having children in the face of such a policy is an erroneous one.

You cannot think of what to do with the children of parents who are not discouraged by the policy from having more children, other than take them into care, which would cost more than providing their parents with the benefits to keep them.

Do you not see a flaw in your plan?

ShirelyKnottage It is my fantasy, my idea. I think every person claiming out of work benefits should receive £500 a week. I shall find a link to the gas/electric information and will respond to your other points shortly.

Living up to your name there littlemiss! OK, I'm glad I've won you over.

Of course there are people who play the system - my point is that they are in the minority and painting everyone on benefits with this same old hackneyed brush is not only incorrect, but irresponsible and shit as well.

there is a big difference between the people that want to work but cant-for various reasons-and the ones that cant be bothered

'I don't think it's fair to say it's what's been said on this thread is making you feel so dreadful.'

Not on it's own obviously but every perfect human being who feels the need to point out how useless I am is another kick in the teeth. As for people who feel the need to say my entirely innocent DDs should not exist, how exactly do you think that makes me feel. How would any parent feel if that was said about their DC.

Not really, because my plan isn't all about saving money. It's about making people take personal responsibility for themselves and the children they create. A few parents may end up with children in care, but I suspect many more would just stop at two children and carry on as they are.

actually, the amount of people who are playing the system are in a majority-especially here. sad but true