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Of course they are if they make up 80% of the welfare system. But not by themselves. Teen mothers and the fathers of these children ultimately make the decision to have children that they are not capable of providing for and that is bad. What is even worse is the fact that our society promotes this behavior by being "accepting" of everyone, all personal beliefs and all behaviors regardless of principal. Government policy reflects this social viewpoint and facilitates by providing social programs that take away the consequences of poor judgement.
Did you read the statistics carefully? It says that 80% of teen mothers are on welfare within 5 years of the child's birth, not teen mothers make up 80% of the welfare system.
Yes, I did read the statistics carefully. I understand that teen mothers don't make up 80% of the welfare system, yet again it doesn't mean that I have to like paying for it for their irresponsible and selfish behavior.
As pointed out earlier, whether you like teen mothers or welfare is irrelevant--it does not make them to blame for welfare if they make up a tiny percentage.
Of course they are if they make up 80% of the welfare system. But not by themselves. Teen mothers and the fathers of these children ultimately make the decision to have children that they are not capable of providing for and that is bad. What is even worse is the fact that our society promotes this behavior by being "accepting" of everyone, all personal beliefs and all behaviors regardless of principal. Government policy reflects this social viewpoint and facilitates by providing social programs that take away the consequences of poor judgement.
They are part of the blame, but they aren't the full blame. As you stated, teen moms only use 80% of the welfare system. That is a majority, but the other 20% aren't teen moms.
Well, isn't 80% a significant amount. It is more than simple majority, it is more than majority, it is even more than super-majority, it is more than 3/4. How can only 20% be blamed while 80% are only partly to be blamed?
Sure, teenage are the free will to have a sex, I am in favor of liberty, but shouldn't there be more responsibility instead of taking money from those who are responsible and giving to those who are not. Isn't society a little backwards?
Sure, teenage are the free will to have a sex, I am in favor of liberty, but shouldn't there be more responsibility instead of taking money from those who are responsible and giving to those who are not. Isn't society a little backwards?
You are completely off topic. The debate is about who should be blamed for welfare.
I'm not saying that teenage mothers aren't a blame, I just think that they aren't the only blame. You can't point the finger at one group just because a large part of them use welfare.
What welfare program are you looking at? All, or just a few?
All welfare programs. I work hard, and I get shit on by the government because some dumb ass bitch spread her legs, and gets free money. WTF! I guess I should have went down that route.
Can you tell me what percent of the whole that is? Out of all welfare programs, what percentage of people were/are teen moms?
Considering that after most people retire, they get a social security check, that means that over 80% of people in America rely on social security. That's more than a super majority.
Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare make up 50% of the federal budget. Teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty than women who delay childbearing, and more than 75 percent of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child.Teen
The actual cost of teenage mothers behaving badly is something that I could not find.
No. Your juxtaposing welfare with unwed teenage mothers, as though they are catalysts for one another. The welfare system should be the focus here.
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Welfare is a system that assists persons with financial instabilities whom are impoverish. This is a good thing. There is no need to 'blame' someone for it's existence.
I've heard it several times, recently by a relative of mine; that is, the smartest person I've ever known (IQ of 145 when he was in school but that was nearly 50 years ago).
I agree, somewhat. I don't believe we need to be pointing fingers because that usually comes to no avail. Instead I say we try and mend this broken custom now that we've come to the root of the problem.
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I suggest an increase in funding sex education. Now I know that being a economical conservative, you are prone to be opposed to this idea, but I have an additional system that betwixt with the extra funding, can aleviate both the initial problem and the cost therein.
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What I am suggesting is a child regulation. Unlike China, I would have this system be a mandatory survey by young adults and older that would best adress the individual's/couple's situation for each planned child. Income would not improve the quantity of children, however it will affect the fee of overpopulation.
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Now I know that this can be a percieved 'infringement' on liberty, and you and I both are naturally poorly-dispositioned to this violation, but as you agree, something must be done.
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What do you think should be done, and what I've put forth?
ok, so 80% of teen mothers are on welfare at some point. what percentage of people on welfare is that? over what time period? ...people need to learn to read.
Are you suggesting we force them to have abortions, isolate them from men or wear steel underwear with a lock and key? Or are you suggesting we don't try to encourage a decent/livable environment for children of teen mothers to grow up in? Those seem to be our alternatives once a teen becomes pregnant, Allowing them to go on welfare seems the best choice. Should they of been responsible, of course; but whats done is done. There certainly should be good sex education, and just good general education, making sure thats the case seems the best way to have less teens become pregnant.
Whatever it takes, abortions, isolation, or steel underwear. I don't care. Giving them free money isn't going to help. Do they repay taxpayers for the help? No.
So, you do agree with that even though you and I made responsible decisions, it is just fine that they don't.
So you would really rather segregate society by sex, force the few accidents to be terminated and force women to wear um... heavy protection? This reminds me of those commercials for prescriptions... side effects (in this case no may) include a lack of freedom, death, coercion, near slavery, dictatorship... Giving them free money(which I think there should be conditions designed to force them off of it overtime or something) isn't supposed to stop teen pregnancy, its supposed to help a pregnant teen/ teen mothers get on her feet.
Welfare isn't a loan, it is supposed to stop damage to society, damage which results from poor conditions. Whats the difference between a single teen mother separated from family being on welfare for 4 or 6 years after she became pregnant and It not being available at all? One could allow her to go to college and stand on her own two feet, the other allows her to be a criminal or really poor and raise her child in a bad environment. which one costs society more? I think the answer is obvious. Yes, people abuse the welfare system and the system can be improved. However it helps society, and indirectly the taxpayers more then it harms them. Thats its only justification, and if it doesn't hold something(s) needs to change in the system so its the case. The system shouldn't be abolished for it still serves a good purpose.
Its not fine that they were irresponsible, but once they are the consequences need to be dealt with in the most beneficial and effective manner. Abandoning them to survive in poor conditions will only result in criminals. A process of Survival-of-the-fitness among scarce resources creates brutal merciless beings which will affect more then just their ghettos.
I am not suggesting segregation at all, they do the have the liberty and freedom to have sex without protection, but then abortion should be priority number one or think the metal underwear as means to abstinence.
Giving them free money(which I think there should be conditions designed to force them off of it overtime or something) isn't supposed to stop teen pregnancy, its supposed to help a pregnant teen/ teen mothers get on her feet.
So, we should encourage it, so teen mothers get a good start on life.
Welfare isn't a loan, it is supposed to stop damage to society, damage which results from poor conditions. Whats the difference between a single teen mother separated from family being on welfare for 4 or 6 years after she became pregnant and It not being available at all?
Yet, they choose to go down that path by having unprotected sex out of wedlock in high school with no job and probably no father.
Yes, people abuse the welfare system and the system can be improved. However it helps society, and indirectly the taxpayers more then it harms them.
Well, at least you admit the problem with welfare. Is that a justification to stop the program even for if consequences may occur on society.
We should encourage them getting help once they become pregnant or have their child, and we should discourage them from becoming pregnant.
Yea, so they choose that path. It sadly is something which impacts all of us, and once its done it needs to be dealt with. Abstinence, abortion etc are the mothers/teens choice according to most in society, it'll stay that way even if/as teen pregnancy increases; which means many babies will be born well the mother is in a disadvantage situation for raising one. It is in the best interest of society to try to make it less of a disadvantage one isn't it?
Does the problems with welfare out weigh what it solves? I don't think it does, so long as that is the case its justified in existing.
Adoption and Foster care services, child abuse and neglect services, child care services, child support services, Disabilities services, Native American tribal services, TANF, APHSA, Disaster assistance (among other services).
Welfare is often also used to refer to financial aid.
Fine, but what program or service are you talking about? What financial aid service or services are you referencing?
Who is to blame for welfare if not teen mothers?
No one is to "blame" for welfare services and programs. They grew out of a need that had nothing to do with teen mothers and damn near everything to do with the great depression. And why or how would you blame teen mothers in the first place?
The country was working fine before 1935.
No it wasn't. The country was going through a great depression in the 1930s. The 1920s and the beginning of the twentieth century was marred by horrible working conditions, social and political disparity: unresolved race and gender issues. If you were white, rich and a man, it was "great", I suppose.
Adoption and Foster care services, child abuse and neglectt services, child care serives, child support services are all contributed to the source of the probelm. Teenage mothers.
Teenage pregnancies are associated with increased rates of alcohol and substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential in teen fathers.
In the United States, the annual cost of teen pregnancies from lost tax revenues, public assistance, child health care, foster care, and involvement with the criminal justice system is estimated to be about $7 billion. Teenage Mothers
How would you blame teen mothers in the first place?
As Joe would add, "we have to blame someone, and they're as good as any."
As for the Great Depression, it was created by the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
In the United States, the annual cost of teen pregnancies from lost tax revenues, public assistance, child health care, foster care, and involvement with the criminal justice system is estimated to be about $7 billion.
Then the real issue isn't who is to blame for welfare. It's who's costing the most to help. And although that number is higher now, let's say you're right. That (current) cost is less than 10% of total welfare spending, which is over $1 trillion. So you're going to have to try harder to put the blame on teen pregnancies.
As Joe would add, "we have to blame someone, and they're as good as any."
Then at least blame the right group of people.
As for the Great Depression, it was created by the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
While I disagree: it is entirely irrelevant to blaming teen pregnancies for welfare.
My point is, if you get older and can't work to get by, then you need money to live off of. Should we deny them their money, too? People who are unemployed need money to help them stay on their feet until they get a job. Losing a job is hardly irresponsible. Last year and this year hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs due to the bad economy. Should we just tell them to kiss my ass and find their own way to survive?
Okay. Yes, some of the blame is contributed to teen moms, but not solely teen moms. You have to include anyone that is or has ever been on welfare, which is far more than that of teen moms.
half and half. I think whos to blame is the teen parents, and the education system for not giving them a proper sex education (depends on where they live)
The minimum length for an argument is 50 characters. The purpose of this restriction is to cut down on the amount of dumb jokes, so we can keep the quality of debate and discourse as high as possible.
That I can definitively agree with that. The Palin family is the biggest hypocrite on this planet. Sara's daughter has child out of wedlock and then promotes abstinence and now getting paid.
The facts simply don't support the myth of the teen mother, or even the myth of the non-white mother with tons of children milking the system. Sorry, folks!
Edit: Apologies, I've been using this link for so long I didn't even realize someone else already had--touche!
Black teen mothers nor white teen mothers were insinuated in this debate or question; this debate is in no way discriminatory towards one race or another.
I fail to see how you're disputing anything I've said. I provided evidence (that was unfortunately already provided) that teen mothers make up 7.6%--seven point six percent!--of mothers on welfare.
Mentioning that other welfare myths exist (you mentioned black, nice to know you're aware of such myths) doesn't invalidate my point at all.
Completely irrelevant to the debate's question. Your own lack of empathy does not make teen mothers more or less to blame for welfare, they represent a tiny portion of those on welfare and are not the group that is keeping welfare present in our society.
they are definitely part of the blame but its all of these females popping out 20 kids with no job no husband trying to get that extra few bucks from the welfare so they can get their hair down. i think welfare is great thing to have, but no when you have a mom with 10 kids and 9 different daddies trying to get that check every month
It's not fair to blame just teenage mothers, yes they may make up most of the welfare majority but would you rather them have horrid homes and children living in poverty. Its wrong to stereotype, and excluding the statistics I believe its more the alcoholics and drug users that are on welfare.
no ghetto people in the mcdunnah projects are to blame for welfare. they simlpy feed off of welfare so if its removed then the country will fall. its as simple as that. plus teen mothers give moeny to the nation. they provide entertainment on shows like montel and maury and ppl pay to go to those shows. people on welfare just wait for their money and they dont even share. nikkas crazy!