Universal Childcare?

[Country Kids]

My dad never attended kindergarten (because the school didn't offer it) much less preschool. Does this diminish his intelligence? No.

I don't agree with this universal preschool idea or what it will do to the economy.

I feel the same way on the whole "Getting a Child Ready for Kindergarten" issue.

[Twinvillageiowa]

We are Obama supporters all the way. As a duel income poverty level family, we would not be able to survive without a lot of these programs.

[spud912]

Wow, I didn't watch it last night but now wish I did. If he enacts free preschool that basically puts me out of business. What parents are going to pay me to provide activities for their children (and I cater to the 2-5 year old group) when they can get it for free! I should really start looking into going to school for nursing......oh I forgot, he's tapping into the healthcare industry as well! Agh, there's no escaping him!

[Twinvillageiowa]

Before I duck out of this thread, because I really have nothing nice to say, if you ever are at poverty level I hope you have no intentions of using food stamps, Medicaid, daycare assistance vouchers, TANF, school lunch assistance or WIC. And I certainly hope you aren't on the food program, don't drive on city streets and don't use public transportation!

[kathiemarie]

We are Obama supporters all the way. As a duel income poverty level family, we would not be able to survive without a lot of these programs.

You are the type of families that programs should be inplace for. NOT for the people who CHOSE to get iphones, manis/pedis, gym memberships, eat out at NICE resturants etc. If someone has cut expesses to the bare bones and needs help then yes we as a nation need to help. But I for one is SICK of helping people who do not help themselves!

A universal pre-school? Cripes, our public school system can't even get it right with what they do now.

[Binkybobo]

Before I duck out of this thread, because I really have nothing nice to say, if you ever are at poverty level I hope you have no intentions of using food stamps, Medicaid, daycare assistance vouchers, TANF, school lunch assistance or WIC. And I certainly hope you aren't on the food program, don't drive on city streets and don't use public transportation!

This is not about any of those programs. It is about a completely unnecessary program that will put people out of work and use up funds that we really don't have. State vouchers keep childcare providers at work. Universa childcare is pointess and will ony hurt the economy in so many ways. I'm not so much worried about losing my job as I am worried about the fact that it is POINTLESS!

[Willow]

Before I duck out of this thread, because I really have nothing nice to say, if you ever are at poverty level I hope you have no intentions of using food stamps, Medicaid, daycare assistance vouchers, TANF, school lunch assistance or WIC. And I certainly hope you aren't on the food program, don't drive on city streets and don't use public transportation!

I was definitely poverty level when I was going through my divorce.

We qualified for every single program under the sun but you know what? That didn't mean we *NEEDED* them.

Ability to qualify does not equate to NEED.

The only program I utilized was school lunch assistance. Although my kids qualified for free lunch I insisted on at least paying the discounted rate. I used it only because my income barely covered the bills my abusive, squandering ex left me buried in and I wanted to make sure there was at least food in my kids bellies. I had paid in via taxes for the previous dozen years or so felt that was fair.

Once I got back on my feet I immediately started paying the full rate again even though I could have taken advantage for the whole rest of the year.


Taking a whole lot more may have made my life easier but it wouldn't have been right. I could have taken cash assistance and kept our satellite tv. I could have taken food stamps and used what little grocery money I had to go to McDonalds instead of eating Ramen 2-3 nights a week. I learned to shop for everything else at thrift stores. To do otherwise would have been wrong. Sacrifices may be uncomfortable, but that's life. You do the best you can and if that means having less sometimes so be it. If you NEED the help that's one thing, but it's another entirely to take advantage when you don't in the true sense of the word.

Be glad you at least have your husband to pool your resources. I had no one but myself to fund my family of 3 and I did it just fine on my own (by my accounts anyway).

[Twinvillageiowa]

This came across as really angry and bitter and like calling me out and saying I don't need these programs.

I was definitely poverty level when I was going through my divorce.

We qualified for every single program under the sun but you know what? That didn't mean we *NEEDED* them.

Ability to qualify does not equate to NEED.

The only program I utilized was school lunch assistance. Although my kids qualified for free lunch I insisted on at least paying the discounted rate. I used it only because my income barely covered the bills my abusive, squandering ex left me buried in and I wanted to make sure there was at least food in my kids bellies. I had paid in via taxes for the previous dozen years or so felt that was fair.

Once I got back on my feet I immediately started paying the full rate again even though I could have taken advantage for the whole rest of the year.


Taking a whole lot more may have made my life easier but it wouldn't have been right. I could have taken cash assistance and kept our satellite tv. I could have taken food stamps and used what little grocery money I had to go to McDonalds instead of eating Ramen 2-3 nights a week. I learned to shop for everything else at thrift stores. To do otherwise would have been wrong. Sacrifices may be uncomfortable, but that's life. You do the best you can and if that means having less sometimes so be it. If you NEED the help that's one thing, but it's another entirely to take advantage when you don't in the true sense of the word.

Be glad you at least have your husband to pool your resources. I had no one but myself to fund my family of 3 and I did it just fine on my own (by my accounts anyway).

[daycarediva]

I have been a dual income poverty level family. I had a kid at 16, dh was 19 and we BARELY made it. We qualified for everything, we didn't get it, we got SECOND JOBS. Sorry, but everyone who DOES qualify doesn't NEED them, they chose to use these programs. Most of the programs enable people to continue using them and not improve their situation.

In the last 13 years since my daughters birth, my dh and I paid all of our bills ourselves and on time, had 3 more children, paid off tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills (had a preemie and dd has kidney disease). purchased cars, improved our credit rating from 400-750, purchased a home, sold it and purchased another using equity as down payment, and more than quadrupled our income by simultaneously starting a business and working FT jobs.

THIS IS AMERICA. If you can't better yourself here, you couldn't MAKE it in other countries.

I believe that SOME of the entitlement programs are necessary, but I think they are ridiculously overused and extremely poorly managed/run. (like EVERYTHING the government touches!)

[Blackcat31]

I have been a dual income poverty level family. I had a kid at 16, dh was 19 and we BARELY made it. We qualified for everything, we didn't get it, we got SECOND JOBS. Sorry, but everyone who DOES qualify doesn't NEED them, they chose to use these programs. Most of the programs enable people to continue using them and not improve their situation.

In the last 13 years since my daughters birth, my dh and I paid all of our bills ourselves and on time, had 3 more children, paid off tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills (had a preemie and dd has kidney disease). purchased cars, improved our credit rating from 400-750, purchased a home, sold it and purchased another using equity as down payment, and more than quadrupled our income by simultaneously starting a business and working FT jobs.

THIS IS AMERICA. If you can't better yourself here, you couldn't MAKE it in other countries.

I believe that SOME of the entitlement programs are necessary, but I think they are ridiculously overused and extremely poorly managed/run. (like EVERYTHING the government touches!)

I have learned alot of things while being a child care provider but the one of the biggest things I have learned is that 3/4 of money issues aren't about lack of income but lack of ability to budget and prioritize.

[daycarediva]

I have learned alot of things while being a child care provider but the one of the biggest things I have learned is that 3/4 of money issues aren't about lack of income but lack of ability to budget and prioritize.

2 thumbs up for that BC!

I had a dcm ask me if she applied for daycare assistance would I be willing to accept it. I said sure, she turned in her paystubs and was denied. She makes almost as much as I do, only has one child and ALREADY receives housing assistance!

I have thousands more examples, but I totally agree!

[Michael]

I have been a dual income poverty level family. I had a kid at 16, dh was 19 and we BARELY made it. We qualified for everything, we didn't get it, we got SECOND JOBS. Sorry, but everyone who DOES qualify doesn't NEED them, they chose to use these programs. Most of the programs enable people to continue using them and not improve their situation.

In the last 13 years since my daughters birth, my dh and I paid all of our bills ourselves and on time, had 3 more children, paid off tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills (had a preemie and dd has kidney disease). purchased cars, improved our credit rating from 400-750, purchased a home, sold it and purchased another using equity as down payment, and more than quadrupled our income by simultaneously starting a business and working FT jobs.

THIS IS AMERICA. If you can't better yourself here, you couldn't MAKE it in other countries.

I believe that SOME of the entitlement programs are necessary, but I think they are ridiculously overused and extremely poorly managed/run. (like EVERYTHING the government touches!)

Great story, well said.

[CedarCreek]

I am an Obama supporter but I agree that this is an unnecessary program and that his state of the union address did not touch on key issues that I wanted to hear about.

[Willow]

This came across as really angry and bitter and like calling me out and saying I don't need these programs.

I didn't mean it like that at all. Just shared my firsthand experience with it is all.

Your post to me implied that people living in poverty need those programs to get by. I disagree with that because I've been there and I didn't. I'm not saying none of them are needed by some people, but most don't really need all the help they get and just because they qualify on paper for government assistance doesn't mean they should take it.


If they would be utilized by only the people that actually needed them in the true sense of the word and didn't stay on them longer than they had to I truly believe our country would be much better off.

[Willow]

I have learned alot of things while being a child care provider but the one of the biggest things I have learned is that 3/4 of money issues aren't about lack of income but lack of ability to budget and prioritize.

Exactly!