Preachy, I know there are exceptions to everything. Your's is a good case in point, as is Riven's, where 2 highly educated and potential high earners are thrown the wild card. I know you both love your dcs dearly and wouldn't be without them. And I know there are many others on MN in the same boat.
I don't want to "legislate out" anyone's family. But on the other hand, I think that, in general, people have become TOO reliant on the State. People get away with making poor decisions (time and time again in some cases) because there is always some there to pick up the slack.
If people were forced to take more responsibility for themselves, I honestly believe everyone would be better off in the long run. Not least because there would be more in the pot for people who really NEED the help.
A common argument is that we need these dcs, the future tax payers, to pay for us in our old age. But what use is an increasing underclass of under-educated, potentially non-tax paying dcs. There are families where generations don't contribute. The immigrants that take the jobs our young ones don't want to do will NOT be paying our pensions.
The whole lot needs overhauling, the minimum wage, the tax bands, tax credits etc etc. People need financial help and encouragement to work. I was shocked on a recent thread, where someone did some sums about benefits. Turned out, as a single parent, you were much better off (relatively speaking) with more than one child. And generally speaking, always better off not working, than working. If I was in that situation, well who knows....
It needs a complete sort out, but no-one dares fiddle too much, as they will lose votes.