THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504060148
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Our nation spends too much money on unwed mothers who don't have jobs. This money should be spent on birth control to keep these mothers from having children they can't support.
There are too many women who don't think twice about going out and having unprotected sex and then, when they come up short on doctors' bills for the baby, they turn to the government for money instead of looking for a job.
There are 75,000 people on welfare in the state of Virginia. Many of them are unwed mothers, some with more than one child.
I feel that unwed mothers who are unemployed should be forced by the government to go out and get a job. I recently went out looking for a job and found many openings for cashiers, clerks and stock persons at many of the local discount stores, drug stores and grocery stores.
If these women had jobs, making the minimum wage, then I would support the government giving them extra money for buying diapers, milk or even paying a baby-sitter. But I don't approve of women not doing anything, but still receiving money from the government.
The government should, I feel, give these women money for children as long as they are enrolled in school or have a job and are trying to give their children a better life. I don't feel it's right that the government should allow women to stay at home while they take money from people who are trying to make a living and give it to people who don't do anything. If the government can't find them jobs, then they should give them birth control to help the rapidly growing problems of mothers on welfare.
April Morgan
Terry Drive Contradiction
Personally, I am neither for nor against abortions. I believe it should be each person's right to decide.
Now that abortions have been legalized, how could Congress repeal this right without putting the country in an uproar? The public wouldn't allow their right to decide to be snatched away from them.
Every time I ponder the subject of abortion, something strikes me. Most people who favor abortions are opposed to the death penalty. On the other hand, most people who oppose abortions, are gung ho about the death penalty.
How can people justify contradictory positions on abortion and the death penalty? If one is wrong, wouldn't the other be wrong, too?
If all life is precious and should not be destroyed, how can anyone agree with the death penalty and abortion?
Rhoda Smith
Gum Road Getting off welfare
I think there are people in the United States who really need welfare, but the majority of those who are on welfare are just making excuses.
There are people who are on welfare who can afford to buy $100-$200 sneakers, name-brand jeans, shirts, gold necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. They get offended when taxpayers get mad at them for not working.
I think that Newt Gingrich is right. Six months on welfare is enough. By that time someone ought to be able to get a stable life and find a real job.
Many people just want sit around all day and do nothing but collect money.
Crystal M. Miller
Point Elizabeth Drive by CNB