The structure of public assistance provides a perverse incentive to continue. Another child is another monthly check, a boost to the EBT account, a larger Section 8 apartment. There is no sacrifice involved, it’s a money maker. The baby daddy is not in the picture, no attempt is made to pursue child support. No reward for pursuing it, the assistance is more generous and more steady than an unreliable child support check from an often unwilling or difficult to locate father. It’s really insidious. There are third generation “families” that are the product of this system. It’s catching, too. As the economy declines, other groups who were more self-sufficient fall into it.
I stopped at the Aldi in Monroe last week; we were there anyway, and it’s the best price on bread, of which we use a LOT. The cashier asked, “Debit, or EBT?” First time I’ve ever heard that!
The people in front of me were a World War II veteran and his wife. Best price on bread attracts all kinds!