Hi there POIROT...

Why do I address those to whom I refer to in capitals ? Sorry, just a hang-over from my copper days ? They've been doing it this way for yonks. I suspect it makes it easier to highlight the surname ? As an example; Robert Jules BLOGGS aka Robert Jules BLOGS DOB: 12/12/66 etc etc. The surname and DOB are considered very important for coppers ?

POIROT, may I sign you up as a probationary constable, now that you've received some basic instruction ? :-)

Upbraid you, never POIROT ! I understand the point of the 'satirical take' of SWIFT and the conditions that prevailed in Ireland in those times.

I'm afraid no matter what satirical presentation some 'wit' may have, unfortunately I rarely see the amusing side of these things anymore ? I've seen more than enough misery in my time, of the long term deleterious effects, caused by the negative exposure, that has been foisted upon the credulous progeny of the 'professional poor'.

Many of these unfortunate children are regarded simply as a 'functionary for emolument' used by some of these more unscrupulous professional procreation centres, that I've reluctantly become involved with ! For this reason any humour, be it satire of anything else, well it kinda falls flat with me at least.

Have a Happy and healthy 2015 POIROT.

Well Gary, you sure have stirred up the bleeding hearts.

The truth is the whole family support system was headed for a train wreck the day it was introduced, simply because not only did it allow people to:do things they couldn't afford (having kids) but it also opened up opportunities for many to make a habit of it. And many did a fine job of it.

While there is simply no chance of introducing your wish, the best available option is to quarantine welfare payments, so at least the money intended to provide for the kids, has a much higher chance of doing just that and, if anyone on benefits takes offense, then get a job.

On that matter we now face the fact that there are not enough jobs to go around, and that's only going to get worse, so now more so than ever we must make sure every single cent of this tax payer gift is spent wisely and not wasted, because while every single kid may be different, color, race, social situation, they all have one thing in common, that being that not one of them asked to be born.

Curious opinion piece.....based upon anecdotal, no evidence or statistics?

Not knowing anything about Johns, except that he is a ageing white middle class Oz male, who as another commenter pointed out, has approached a 'slippery slope'.

Why, because it's eugenics, presented as fertility management, and is not about pro life vs pro choice, but as many white nativists say, should poor non European types have the right to choose whether they can have children...?

Rehctub, I agree.
There will always be couples (let's not forget the willing daddies!) who are not the sharpest tools in the shed and wouldn't use contraception correctly if it was given to them free.

People like these will always be present in our society, and that won't change.
At the end of the day, the children of these couples will need to be cared for by the wider society, because in Australia we wouldn't neglect these kids for their parents mistakes.

I liked Rehctub's suggestion of quarantining the money given to non-working parents who access parenting benefits. It should be given in voucher forms for food, rent, clothing, furniture etc, that is needed to raise the kids properly.
Even better, the money could be transferred straight to the rental agent etc.

Mind you, the logistics of managing all these finances would be mind-blowing!
However, it would be absolutely criminal to ignore the children born after the first two that some posters feel is enough for the Government to support.
It isn't the children's fault....

Compulsory adoption would solve a couple of evils here.

It might make some women not have babies, if there was no profit in it, or they did not like their offspring going to someone else.

At the same time it would provide those who can't have their own with a ready supply of kids for adoption.

IVF could be made available at the users cost only, & save another fortune, if kids were available for adoption.

US Man fathers 21 children by 11 different women... and he's only 29.

A man aged 29 has fathered 21 children with 11 different women, it emerged yesterday.

Desmond Hatchett's brood came to light after authorities in Tennessee in the U.S. took him to court for non-payment of child support. He has apparently set a U.S. record but said: 'It just happened.' He's the daddy: Desmond Hatchett speaks to reporters about his prolific brood He added that he would not have any more children. 'I'm done. I'll say I'm done,' he said. Hatchett, who earns a minimal wage, told TV reporters he knows the names and ages of all his offspring. Their ages range from newborn to 11 years old. Authorities in Knoxville said they plan to take half of his monthly salary to pay for the youngsters but officials said that would work out to just over $1 a week for each. His lawyer Keith Pope said: 'The children can't all be supported by Desmond, so the state of Tennessee has had to step in.'

Many Knoxville residents called for him to be castrated.

He even boasted of fathering four children by different women in the same year. Hatchett's name appeared on court documents 11 times representing 15 of his 21 children. U.S. authorities are now braced for more women coming forward to claim Hatchett is the father of their children after he appeared on local TV. He said the women he was involved with all knew he had other children. One mother, who has two children with Hatchett, said she should get $44 a month but rarely receives any child support. 'It's frustrating, but usually, when I ask he gives it to me,' she said.

Authorities in Knoxville ordered Hatchett to court to explain how he intends to pay child support. He arrived for the hearing with just over $300