At 27, I'm pregnant with not just one child, but two! Already the single mom of a 10 year oid, I wasn't planning on having any more until I was married. Long story short, my "donor" decided that two plus two was four and more then he could handle. Which leaves me as single mom times three. I have a decent paying job, and make just enough for my son and I to live simple, but comfortable. As I began to think about how I was going to finacially manage three children, I started to look into government aids and supplemental programs. Only to find out that there is no assistance that I can even temporarily apply for. I make an average of $45K a year. Not enough to raise three kids. Why is it that the lady down the road with four kids, never worked a day in her life (oh, excuse me motherhood is a full time job, HAHA!) and will keep making babies, can get assistance and I cant? I want to work, I want to finish school, I want to be a productive member of society. I want to keep my barely floating head, above poverty.
Secondly, there is no type of assistance while a mother is out on maternity leave. Most companies will allow a reasonable amount of maternity leave and continue to cover your medical coverage. But what about your income? For the 3 - 4 months that you're out, you have no type of income until you return to work.
You would think having a child could possibly qualify you for some type of unemployment, benifits or temporary/emergency assistance. What have I payed my taxes and social security the last 12 years for? I never expected to find myself 5 months away from not being able to pay my rent or support myself and my children.
We need some type of reform. The current US poverty level for a household of four is about $23,000. I don't know anyone who could possibly live alone on $23,000 a year. Not unless they lived at home with their parents and no responsibilities. That equivilates to $1916 a month, GROSS INCOME! Not net, not expendable, not tax free, GROSS! You cant even rent a home and buy food for that amount.
Where's those wonderful government programs for people that really need it? For the ones that want to stay above becoming a statistic? Do I need to quit my job and be that lady down the road with all her kids? Financially, I'll be worse off then I am now and a burden on America's tax payers. A tax payer like me.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Actually, you can pay for many things with that amount of income. I make less than that a month,and support a family of four with no government assistance and no parents. We have two cars, own a house, and rent an apartment in the same town as our college. It's not that hard- just manage your money right. We actually live quite comfortably- a benefit resulting from lots of coupon clipping and generic ketchup use. It also depends on where you live- where I live that amount is enough to put you into a middle class way of life.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder