>>>>Even if one is not pro-choice, there is always adoption. If you know that you cannot afford to raise a child, what could be better for the child than to give it up for adoption to a couple who can afford to raise it? There are thousands of couples who cannot have children of their own that are waiting and hoping to adopt one and these couples can afford to give the child a good life. If one is pregnant and cannot afford to raise the child but keeps it anyway, this is a selfish decision and not in the best interests of the child.
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>>>I have no problem giving the baby for adoption. That's a good choice. But if the parents wants to keep the child, I will also respect that. There's more than money involved in having a child.
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>>>>This sounds like what got us into the current financial meltdown - everyone desrves to own their own home (even if they cannot afford it). People have to learn to be responsible enough to live within their means. This is even more important when one decides to have a child because that decision now affects two people instead of one.
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>>>A TV with the other guy and now a house. We're talking about human beings, not things.
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>>>I agree that having a child is not a decision that should be made without thinking. But letting a child go to school on an empty stomach just to punish the parents to have kept the child is not a good solution IMHO.
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>>It's not our responsibility to fill that child's stomach. It's the responsibility of the parent. Get a second job. Use your resources (family, friends). Get a third job. Beg. Borrow. Sell items you don't need. I don't freaking care. Don't expect a handout.
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>Let's say after your child arrives you suddenly lose your job. Then, you are not hired for any job you apply for no matter how menial the job. Eventually your savings run out and you can no longer afford to make the payments on your house or your car so now you have no means to search for work. You cannot feed your baby. You have made every attempt to get a job to no avail. Your wife however was lucky enough to obtain a job for minimum wage. That does not pay for medical care or the rent or a vehicle. She receives a ride to work from friendly coworkers. Your family helped you out financially but could no longer do so after 3 months because they too are struggling to make ends meet, or worse yet, perhaps you have no family to help. There is no bus service and you do not have money to pay for first, last, and a security depost to move to a place within bus service. You cannot even pay your electrical bill. Should you receive any benefits to assist you while you are in this economic downturn? Should you and your family be punished because some people are abusing the system? Should your wife be forced to take birth control when perhaps it is dangerous to her health to do so? Some women experience high blood pressure, strokes, migraines, and blood clots from birth control. Would you be standing out on the corner with a sign reading "Will work for food?" What will you say to those who walk by you and say get a job or those who hand you $2 and state "don't spend it on alcohol or drugs?"

Hmmm... too bad the illegal aliens are doing all the menial jobs that I would love to have in that situation.

I would support any initiative to help publicise job openings and job training, whether local or in other regions. Obviously this opens a whole new can of worms. I support assistance in bettering the public, not giving them handouts.

I fail to believe that if I explored every single one of my options that I wouldn't be able to support my child, and I believe the same for everybody else. Sorry, that's just the way I'm wired and there's not changing my mind.