General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRomney and Mormons Who Use Medicaid
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/catherine-jeppsen/romney-and-mormons-who-use-medicaid_b_1904699.html-snip-
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Last year the Salt Lake Tribune reported that "44 percent of births to parents who listed 'student' as their occupation" in Utah in 2008 were funded by Medicaid. About 39 percent of those births occurred in Utah County, home to a population that's about 80 percent Mormon and to LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University. As the wife of a BYU graduate student, I know that using Medicaid to finance childbirth is a common decision among our student peers. LDS student families also take advantage of low-income housing, WIC vouchers and other assistance. Restrictions on student employment, caps on student loans, and the high costs of insurance premiums and maternity deductibles don't leave many other choices.
These students aren't relying on government aid because they are irresponsible or careless. Young Mormon couples who have children are simply trying to live their faith. For decades, LDS Church leaders have instructed members to marry and have children early, without waiting for financial security or to complete an education. In fact, young Mormon men have even been chastised for postponing marriage for financial reasons.
The commandment for LDS faithful to "multiply and replenish the earth" is coupled with teachings that, ideally, mothers should not seek employment outside of the home. Mothers who choose to work face messages from church leaders that they are acting contrary to their divine natures, introducing conflict into their marriages and contributing to the disintegration of the traditional family.
Young LDS couples view government assistance as a way to bridge the gap between religious proscriptions and economic realities and as a stepping-stone toward the goal of self-reliance. In my own BYU student family, we too have wrestled with the economic difficulty of having children. We've experienced employers that are not family-friendly, part-time jobs without benefits, student loan debt and high medical expenses. We used WIC to obtain Pediasure when our daughter wasn't thriving. We've made compromises, lived frugally and accepted help from family as we support one child on part-time salaries, and we plan to use 401K disbursements to help finance the birth of a second child. But not every young family has those options. I wish that Romney better understood that many of us in the 47 percent he disdains are doing the best we can in a world where our hopes and obligations don't always match up with our opportunities and resources.
Rambis
(7,774 posts)All his delivery drivers are Mormons- All of them have 5+ kids- My friend....."how do you guys afford all these kids?" Direct quote- "We can't but the US government can so go ahead and have as many as you want and have your wife go on assistance"
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)... at a tea party rally saying she brought her kids to teach them the tea party values but then, in the same breath, bragged about being able to have so many kids due to public assistance.
She was serious.
I wish i could find the video. I think it was Boston.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)has the largest per capita use of Government programs. Their Bishops encourage all their young folks to marry young and use every assistance programs available. Even so far as a letter of recommend to the county Assistance Intake persons. The real abuse of any program comes from the FLDS communities. All in the name of Religion,these are the same folks whom are on the frontlines waving all the hate banners attacking minorities and gays. The real kicker are the ones waving the Constitution and demanding adherence,what a bunch of fakes and ignoramuses.
IGNORANCE IS BLISS!!!!!!!!!!
Bob Sacamano
(20 posts)"Washington County Utah has the largest per capita use of Government programs."
Do you have a link for that? I'd like to take a look at that data.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)taking the children away most of the time. At least your article has some that seem to be responsible parents.
mangermerdeRWfreaks
(39 posts)Yes I am all for a strong social safety net but what so many are doing is being selfish and in reality taking from those who really need it.
What the Government should do is give them the social services they need but bill the church for it.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)Her husband is getting an advanced degree, which lead to good employment. Her family will one day feed money back into the system. I don't approve of people using social services just because they can, while making irresponsible choices.
central scrutinizer
(11,652 posts)recommend reading Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven
mojo2012
(290 posts)Wait till the Ryan budget goes in effect and young Mormon families lose their child tax credit deduction and much needed children programs. That's alot of money for a family with 6-10 children. In Utah, it's not uncommon to see a young girl of 25 already with 2 small children, an infant, and pregnant.
What just amazes me is the big revelation that there is so few women in this state that go on to college....duh! Local talking heads discussing what needs to be done to reverse this all the while young girls (and young men) are told to replenish their lineage through multiplying. The state has the lowest dollar spent per student because there are so MANY kids! I am all for investing in our kids for the future, but I'm NOT for my property taxes continuing to go up and up to fund schools because families have 9-11 kids...in essence, I'm subsidizing VERY large families who pay the same property tax rate as I do.
With the Ryan plan, ALL my local taxes will go up because they will drive all social services costs back down to the state. The state budget can't even support what's necessary now WITH government funding. So everyone will suffer significantly....with Romney and Ryan at the helm
sadbear
(4,340 posts)One the one hand, we have Medicaid and WIC to help those who cannot help themselves. And on the other hand, we have Medicaid and WIC subsidizing religious dogma. Damn.