I agree with you, Crayola. I believe in short-term safety net type of programs for people to re-train for the workforce and/or acquire a better paying job to support themselves and their families, but it's not my responsibility nor the rest of the taxpayers, to subsidize anyone else's choice to have a family.

I believe that if you cannot afford to have a child and pay for their care and upbringing easily, then either don't have any, or in the case of unplanned children, then the solution is to pare your budget down to basics, move from an area if the cost of living is more suited to people with incomes higher than yours, etc... NOT to expect the Gov't to support you. The belief that taxpayers owe everyone a living, and endless social programs to make everyone's standard of living "equal", is called socialism. And yes, some believe strongly in that model of society, but many others do not. We believe in personal responsibility. Dr. Phil uses a quote that sums it up somewhat crudely but effectively: "Ya eat what ya kill".

In my opinion, the more important "mutual responsibility" we share as a society is to educate and encourage people to support themselves and their families, and to discourage reliance on "everyone else" to subsidize their lives and their choices. Having children is a responsibility. And no, having children if you're poor and unable to care for them is not "responsible", nor is it a "right". If one finds themselves in that position, with an unplanned child and insufficient income, the responsible thing to do is use short-term assistance if necessary to upgrade yourself and your options, not whine to the taxpayer to permanently fill in where you're deficient.