In her post, Cathy Barger, writes: and I am going to pay my taxes in
support of other families........(paraphrased)

Sorry, Cathy, I didn't mean to step on any toes or imply that working
mothers didn't MOTHER. I was thinking more  that without these
programs,these mothers (myself included as a  current recipient of
Federally Funded Programs) would be forced to work two or three jobs to
have these benefits. And regardless of Quality-vs-Quantity I can't
believe a woman working three shift jobs a day (As my friend was doing
before Federal Assistance) and only home long enough to fall into the
bed for 4-6 hours is Mothering.  Viewed in this light, these programs do
indeed make it possible for women to job-train, educate themselves, or
work at one job and still be home to mother their children.  I also
believe that this is exactly why these programs began. Women like my
Grandmother were able to work one job, spend time with their children,
(as she was able with my father) instead of shipping them off to the
Grandparents (as she did with my uncle), and still have the necessities
such as a nutritious diet, adequate shelter, and Medical  "benefits".
I do however, believe that my tax dollars could be better spent and
provide for more families if Big Brother went on a diet.  I honestly
believe that if we could obtain actual figures, we would find that
counting ALL personnel from the National level through the local centers
these programs employ more people than they actually have on their rolls
as clients. Do I think this is a bad thing? I don't know. Unemployment
is fairly low in the US at this time. Which means there are more of us
sharing the tax burden.    That is the point anyway, isn't it?  What
exactly are these programs for? Who exactly are the benefactors?    I
don't believe that the PROGRAMS are in any significant way related to
the High School Massacres, however. Violence is non-discriminatory. I
think it has more to do with our abandonment of teaching basic respect
in K-6. What happened to Citizenship? Was my generation the last to have
this category on their report cards?

Laura Wright

Eschew Obfuscation!

"A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of
its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her
presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three." ~ Dr. Grantly Dick-Read

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