Parents on government subsidy

[waterloo day mom]

I too have known people who have used and abused the system and gotten far more out of government assistance than they probably should have. I alos agree that if you have a child, that they are your financial responsibility. However, and this is a BIG however, what we would end up doing by not offering subsidized daycare to people who need it would simply compound the problems that we already have. People would stay home and collect welfare cheques rather than work and put their kids in daycare, or they would put expenses on credit cards and later declare bankrupcy, or they would put their kids in a warehouse type daycare that is cheap but also overcrowded and completely unstimulation for the kids. I read a study once that found for every $1 that the government (or other organizations) spends on improving the education and development of children under the age of 5, we end up saving $6 in later social programs, jails, foster homes, etc. I find it nauseating that parents would have the gov pay for childcare so that they can sleep, drink, spend time with friends, whatever. But on the other hand, I would much prefer that child be with me in a safe and nurturing environment than warehoused somewhere, or left alone, or worse. It comes to a point where it's not about punishing the parents anymore, it's about helping the kids. Just my opinion.