Misguided initiative

Sep 1, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 Updated Apr 13, 2025
11

Editor,

Former U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier’s and San Mateo County’s child poverty income initiative is completely misguided.

(11) comments

Ray Fowler Sep 1, 2023 8:13am

Good morning, Jacqueline, and thanks for your LTE.

30% of children in the US live in a single parent household,,, that's half of what it was about 50 years ago. What's the average rate worldwide? 7%.

The Brookings Institution (which leans left) suggested three things to young people to avoid living in poverty. It's a simple formula. If you finish high school, get a job after graduation, and wait until you are married before having any children... your chances of falling into poverty drop to around 2%.

Jackie and Kevin (who appear to lean further left than the Brookings Institution) want to throw dollars at the problem. Their proposal would not incentivize recipients of the $300 stipend to rise out of poverty. I hope they read your LTE.

HFAB Sep 1, 2023 8:29am

Ever been born poor? Ever attended non-performing schools? Ever had to forego advanced education? Ever lost an entire profession to technology? Ever lost a job, a spouse, your savings, your ability to control your own reproduction? The list goes on. What's that saying by Ebenezer Scrooge? Reduce the surplus population?

Terence Y Sep 1, 2023 8:57am

HFAB, you forgot to add global warming and equity and equality and COVID and discrimination and the list goes on...

Dirk van Ulden Sep 1, 2023 10:37am

HFAB - while I can honestly say yes to some of your questions as I have experienced some of it, please explain why certain demographics do not seem to dwell in the past but lift themselves up within a generation.

I witnessed a session given by County Social Services in North Fair Oaks where young mothers were taught the value of nutrition for their children. The bilingual presenter told me afterwards that cultural differences are the biggest obstacle to weaning folks out of poverty. It is not just money but the creation of a nourishing, stable environment which start in the home!

D Gilbrech Sep 1, 2023 12:47pm

Sorry Dirk, but many of these homes are not STABLE in greedy environments. If all we ever do is chase money, you get what you pay for. We need to be thankful and more compassionate.

Pope Francis is trying to wake up the church and is getting pounced by many gold chasing members. The church always said be "Fruitful and Multiply" and the the Pope said, stop acting like rabbits. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

Dirk van Ulden Sep 1, 2023 5:42pm

Fortunately there a few readers who submit comments that make sense. You are not one of them. What does the Pope have to do with $300 being urinated into the sand? What exactly is a greedy environment? Someone like Craig who is running a business or the drug dealer on the corner? According to your logic, these children are growing up in a greedy household? And are doomed to failure as a result?

Terence Y Sep 1, 2023 8:53am

Well written, Ms. Grubb. Seems to me that Speier and Mullin, especially Speier, can offer to take over the taxpayers’ portion. Actually, anyone who feels the same can do the same, taking the burden off taxpayers. Perhaps if they set an example, others may follow. I thank them in advance (assuming there’s anyone to thank).

Jorg Sep 1, 2023 9:10am

Why not teach birth control and make abortion more easily available for girls who have been raped?

edkahl Sep 1, 2023 11:09am

I agree with a limit of late term abortions which are only a small portion of all abortions,

Jorg Sep 1, 2023 11:23am

There are very few abortions performed after 21 weeks, and mainly for medical reasons, including non-surviving fetuses. The Republican lie about abortions just before delivery, is just that, another Republican lie, which of course is swallowed raw by non-thinking followers.

Goring Sep 2, 2023 12:13pm

Jacqueline's letter is exactly right. The politicians take earned taxpayer money and willingly give it away to people who likely pay little to no taxes. Look at all the give aways Jacqueline lists in her letter. What's next? Free cars? Those of us who pay the taxes to subsidize people who don't are leaving the county and state, starting a death spiral of fewer people left to subsidize those who have kids they cannot afford. When the taxpayers who propped up the public dolers are gone and stop paying the salary of County Supervisors and others, will they start taxing the people who are receiving everything for free? Spiers, and Mullin who have lived off taxpayer money for years, should wake up and demand individual responsibility, instead of rewarding the irresponsible behavior Jacqueline points out of people having kids they cannot afford. Spend the money on family planning, not family subsidies.

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!