$1000 offer to the poor for sterilization

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a controversial proposal by Louisiana Republican State Rep. John LaBruzzo to offer $1,000 to poor individuals for sterilization procedures as a means to address generational welfare dependency. Participants explore various perspectives on reproductive health, welfare, and social support systems, with a focus on the implications of permanent sterilization versus other forms of birth control.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that funding for birth control prescriptions would be a more appropriate solution than permanent sterilization, which they believe carries eugenics connotations.
  • Others express a willingness to undergo sterilization for the proposed amount, suggesting that it could be a practical option for certain individuals.
  • Concerns are raised about the effectiveness of birth control methods, with some participants questioning whether individuals can consistently manage prescribed contraceptives.
  • There are discussions about the realities faced by welfare recipients, including the challenges of accessing healthcare and the impact of social support systems on breaking the welfare cycle.
  • Some participants highlight the complexities of social issues, such as teenage pregnancies and the difficulties of providing adequate support for at-risk families.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with no clear consensus on the best approach to address the issues raised. There are competing views on the appropriateness of sterilization versus other forms of birth control, as well as differing perspectives on the effectiveness of social support systems.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the motivations and desires of individuals on welfare, as well as the practical challenges of accessing and using birth control. The discussion reflects a variety of personal experiences and societal observations that may not be universally applicable.

  • #31
Ivan Seeking said:
What happens in China if a couple has too many babies? And what about unmarried mothers?

Depends. I'm tutoring a young Chinese women who has an older sister, and possibly a brother [I don't remember]. However, she was from the very rural north and thus was far removed from the overflowing areas in Beijing.
 
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  • #32
How about a new program...Mandatory Birth Control until age 18.

Our systems are anti-poor.
You can't pay your bills, they charge you more.
You can't pay the extra bills or taxes, they throw you in jail.
You can't earn money in jail, so you exit jail with debt.
 
  • #33
thewhills said:
How about a new program...Mandatory Birth Control until age 18.

Our systems are anti-poor.
You can't pay your bills, they charge you more.
true in some some cases. not so in others. Often utilities have payment assistance programs where folks with difficulty receive assistance from the utilities and other customers of the utilities. It varies region to region. SOmetimes medical fees for the same procedure are MORE for those who do NOT have insurance. I've heard the explanation many times, but it still makes no sense. The other side of the coin, those who simply cannot pay medical bills have their costs absorbed by everyone else. All you have to do is be persistent in being poor for many years after the treatment. And again, in some areas (especialy those places with University hospitals) "indigent care" (fancy name for "the poor") is covered.

You can't pay the extra bills or taxes, they throw you in jail.
Well, not right away. There are so many credit assistance programs; and local governments try to come up with a plan to have you pay as much of your taxes as possible, you really have to be deliberately derelict for years before you serve any jailtime for debt. Unless your debt is due to outright fraud, and then that's a crime, not a dereliction.
You can't earn money in jail, so you exit jail with debt.
And that one is totally untrue. Depending on the nature of one's conviction, and which state you are in, you can work for pay in prison. It's usually less than minimum wage, but it is work. Many people in prison send money home to their families from prison.

If you are in a maximum security prison, you probably don't have that opportunity, but then again, you are not sent to a max for not being able to pay your bills.


I don't disagree in your main point.
 

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