Should teenage mothers have their benefits removed and/or restricted?

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Originally Posted by Catchy

And who's saying they don't take responsibility for it? You're making out like the majority of them are terrible mothers which they're not.

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Well clearly if someone can't afford to have a child but has one anyway then there's no way that they'll be taking full responsibility for it..

We're onto the debate that we had a few months/years ago iirc, something like "should people who can't afford a child be stopped from having one" or something, I can't remember.

I'm not saying that they're bad mothers or anything like that, idk. I just think that more emphasis needs to be placed on teaching these people just how expensive a child is. IMO people shouldn't have a child until they're in a good enough position financially (or the best position that they can be in) to support it and surely that time is not when they're a teenager!

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Originally Posted by Catchy

What do you suppose they do then? Suffer with no support? Which like I said, will most likely create more problems than it's worth. Most of your taxes don't even go towards them as it is anyway...

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No you're right it's harsh but a lot of working people in the UK are sick and tired when they work full-time and struggle to pay for their children and have to plan when to have them because of their financial situation.

Then you get a bunch of nobodies who've never done **** all, get pregnant because they're ******* stupid at age 14? 15? 16? 17?.. Get a free council house and if the house is a new build they have the ability to buy that house in 3 years for a fraction of the cost.

Unfair I think so!

There are exceptions but I think majority take advance because it's so easy to do and the government will support them no matter what.

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Originally Posted by Zak

No you're right it's harsh but a lot of working people in the UK are sick and tired when they work full-time and struggle to pay for their children and have to plan when to have them because of their financial situation.

Then you get a bunch of nobodies who've never done **** all, get pregnant because they're ******* stupid at age 14? 15? 16? 17?.. Get a free council house and if the house is a new build they have the ability to buy that house in 3 years for a fraction of the cost.

Unfair I think so!

There are exceptions but I think majority take advance because it's so easy to do and the government will support them no matter what.

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Unfair? I can safely say I'd never want to live in a council house or on a council estate so I don't see how it's unfair lol, it's not really something to be jealous about. Okay so we wont give them any support, just leave them cramped into their family home 'cause that'll be a really great upbringing wont it? The VAST MAJORITY do not get pregnant because they want a free council house lol. I'll refer to my first post anyway, teenage pregnancy is at it's lowest since 1969 so something must be going right and I do hope it continues to fall.

What do you think we should do with them @Zak; I'm curious to hear? Ship them off to an asylum? And most of your taxes do not even contribute to this issue, it'll be a tiny tiny percentage.

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Originally Posted by Zak

No you're right it's harsh but a lot of working people in the UK are sick and tired when they work full-time and struggle to pay for their children and have to plan when to have them because of their financial situation.

Then you get a bunch of nobodies who've never done **** all, get pregnant because they're ******* stupid at age 14? 15? 16? 17?.. Get a free council house and if the house is a new build they have the ability to buy that house in 3 years for a fraction of the cost.

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That's because there are a hell of a lot of people who are massively ignorant of where tax money actually goes and how the system works, so instead of learning they just complain. 47% of the entire benefits system (monetarily) is spent on state pensions. Housing benefit is high up on the list but is absolutely not dominated by teens mums (most of whom in my experience either live with their parents while they save up or have reduced cost - but certainly not free - council housing) at nearly 5 times less than state pension funding. I'm not a fan of huge state spending but I think it's important for critics to actually have their facts right rather than spewing a bunch of pub-nonsense

As for shaming all teen parents as stupid and telling them to "close their legs" it's clear that a lot of people here are just looking at who gets put on the TV. Of course they'll show the crap parents with no teeth who've spent more time on Jeremy Kyle than in a book, that's more interesting to see than my friend who is a working single mother who completely dotes upon her toddler and has never set a foot wrong or put in a claim she didn't need, or another who gave up his league football dreams to do a college course when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant so that he could get a decent job because he loves his son more than himself. Those people aren't interviewed because they aren't as sensational and don't stick out, but supposedly doing your best for a child you love and want is being a stupid slut

u mean chavs??
yes

Restricted to an extent yes, although it's still enough that they can actually survive on. They get far too much stigma attached to them than necessary (as almost everyone has already said...) - in my personal experience I've come across a few at my college who still manage to balance full-time education, a child and don't go around looking or acting like a ****.

I actually don't have much to add but I think people are so quick to point the blame at all teenage mothers when quite a few are PERFECTLY capable of managing and don't leech off the benefits system like people seem to think.

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

That's because there are a hell of a lot of people who are massively ignorant of where tax money actually goes and how the system works, so instead of learning they just complain. 47% of the entire benefits system (monetarily) is spent on state pensions. Housing benefit is high up on the list but is absolutely not dominated by teens mums (most of whom in my experience either live with their parents while they save up or have reduced cost - but certainly not free - council housing) at nearly 5 times less than state pension funding. I'm not a fan of huge state spending but I think it's important for critics to actually have their facts right rather than spewing a bunch of pub-nonsense

As for shaming all teen parents as stupid and telling them to "close their legs" it's clear that a lot of people here are just looking at who gets put on the TV. Of course they'll show the crap parents with no teeth who've spent more time on Jeremy Kyle than in a book, that's more interesting to see than my friend who is a working single mother who completely dotes upon her toddler and has never set a foot wrong or put in a claim she didn't need, or another who gave up his league football dreams to do a college course when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant so that he could get a decent job because he loves his son more than himself. Those people aren't interviewed because they aren't as sensational and don't stick out, but supposedly doing your best for a child you love and want is being a stupid slut

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FINALLY somebody who is actually speaking sense. Some ppl just love to have controversial opinions on purpose... @-:Undertaker:-;

http://cdn.theweek.co.uk/sites/thewe...ie-hopkins.jpg

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Originally Posted by Catchy

Unfair? I can safely say I'd never want to live in a council house or on a council estate so I don't see how it's unfair lol, it's not really something to be jealous about. Okay so we wont give them any support, just leave them cramped into their family home 'cause that'll be a really great upbringing wont it? The VAST MAJORITY do not get pregnant because they want a free council house lol. I'll refer to my first post anyway, teenage pregnancy is at it's lowest since 1969 so something must be going right and I do hope it continues to fall.

What do you think we should do with them @Zak; I'm curious to hear? Ship them off to an asylum? And most of your taxes do not even contribute to this issue, it'll be a tiny tiny percentage.

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I'm sure STD rates are through the roof and people are having sex more often and at younger and younger ages. I think condoms and abortions may have a lot to do with the low numbers but it's not something I've looked into. A lot of council estates are quite nice around my area and seeing a lot of these has indeed made me jealous of where they live! I do hope as you said that teenage pregnancy does continue to fall yes :).

And on the other part.. I'm sure a lot of countries in the world wouldn't help people like this and personally I don't think why we should either. Again there are special cases which should be looked at - all cases should be reviewed imo but it's their own fault if they have no qualifications and can't afford the bills.

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

That's because there are a hell of a lot of people who are massively ignorant of where tax money actually goes and how the system works, so instead of learning they just complain. 47% of the entire benefits system (monetarily) is spent on state pensions. Housing benefit is high up on the list but is absolutely not dominated by teens mums (most of whom in my experience either live with their parents while they save up or have reduced cost - but certainly not free - council housing) at nearly 5 times less than state pension funding. I'm not a fan of huge state spending but I think it's important for critics to actually have their facts right rather than spewing a bunch of pub-nonsense

As for shaming all teen parents as stupid and telling them to "close their legs" it's clear that a lot of people here are just looking at who gets put on the TV. Of course they'll show the crap parents with no teeth who've spent more time on Jeremy Kyle than in a book, that's more interesting to see than my friend who is a working single mother who completely dotes upon her toddler and has never set a foot wrong or put in a claim she didn't need, or another who gave up his league football dreams to do a college course when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant so that he could get a decent job because he loves his son more than himself. Those people aren't interviewed because they aren't as sensational and don't stick out, but supposedly doing your best for a child you love and want is being a stupid slut

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I believe whole-heartedly in abortion so in my eyes she should have had an abortion. My friend who isn't a stupid **** either had a baby at 19 because there was quite a big chance she wouldn't be able to conceive later in life (I forget the name of her condition) as I said of course this isn't true for everyone. A lot of people in my area are the stupid idiots which is probably why I think the way I do.. and a lot of ****heads I know from school have done this too.. which again is probably why I'm so sour in the first place :P

These debates are good. I am very harsh yes but this is the way I was brought up.. please bare this in mind :D (I'm not trying to be nasty, just voice my own opinion)

As always, opinions are not opinions if they're provably wrong. Also who's the "she" that should have had an abortion?

I have nothing else to add really otherwise it's just gonna go around in circles. Agree to disagree. OH BUT ONE LAST THING, just wanna share this with @Zak;

seems the 20-24 age group are the worst culprits for sti's. but that does lead me to wonder how many more younger people there is with STI's but just haven't been diagnosed.

http://i41.tinypic.com/v7sdbp.jpg