To the editor:
Ms. Sciandra's opinions on young, single, and financially-insecure mothers reek of middle-class suburbanry - the typical assumptions of someone who has been blessed enough to avoid the debilitating effects of poverty. Her opinion piece reads like the racist, classist Moynihan Report of 1965, and assumes facts that have been disproved time and time again. Most welfare funds go to pay those that run the welfare system, not those who receive welfare. Furthermore, Ms. Sciandra seems to be implying that these women get pregnant because they are unintelligent, and are poor because they are lazy - why else would they feed off taxpayer money? Step into the projects, Ms. Sciandra; check out the schools barely funded because of disproportionate taxing and class-specific districting. I'd hardly call a young woman who was unfortunate enough to be born poor, received an education laughable by international standards, and had little or no access to health care and sexual education lazy - not would I consider working two or three minimum-wage jobs in the projects to be "easier" or representative of a, "cozy lifestyle". By all means, be against government benefits you disagree with, but at least do the art of journalism a credit by researching the welfare system - you cannot receive welfare unless you are unable to support your family despite being employed. Thank goodness your parents were able to provide for you - do them the honor of five minutes of research about our economy and its effects before condemning what you clearly do not understand.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
