The Forum > Article Comments > Paying mothers to have children must stop > Comments
Paying mothers to have children must stop : Comments
By Jason Falinski, published 11/1/2006Jason Falinski argues payments tied to the production of children promote harmful social outcomes.
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Ignoring that though anyone who thinks having babies is a way to make money is a fool but despite that I am aware that some, mainly young, women do so not thinking of the future. Perhaps they expect their parents to step in as they frequently do when the actual parent cannot cope.
Becker's theory probably makes sense in most cases. Let's turn it on it's head for Australian taxpayers.
Our governments, Federal and State, pay Senior staff of most organistaions to go to work. How? By subsidising their vehicles, or providing them as part of a salary package. The Tax Office allow relevant costs as deductions just as Jason points out for negative gearing.
These two incentives cost the taxpayer billions but as the richer people benefit it is not targeted as welfare recipients are. Why?
Becker's theory in reverse shows that those eligible for these taxpayer funded benefits will kill each other to get in the queue. It is the same money, collected tax, distibuted to the rich and nary a word raised by either side of politics.
Sajo's suggestion of vouchers is not workable as it carries stigma that the person is on benefits and identified as such by anyone taking such vouchers. People don't accept that. Rather though that such funds were given to people by paying direct costs, such as electricity, rent and so on. The regular weekly costs that are essential. Any other method tends to end up at Harvey Norman's or goes into the pokies.
Rosie's comments about relationships splitting are obvious, the divorce rate is about 33%, so defacto breakdowns would be that and more. But to generalise saying men are the failures does not indicate much thought or research on this topic. If men were not succesful long term partners most of us wouldn't be here Rosie. It's a 2 way street these days I'm afraid. Both partners are responsible for relationship failure, not just the males.