She Should Have Her Tubes Tied February 11, 2009

I have tried to withhold judgment ever since news of the “octuplet mom” came to light.  I am very strongly pro-choice, and as a result, I think people have just as much right to choose a large family as they do to choose not to have children.  I didn’t flinch when they said she had 8 kids; I quieted the criticisms in my head when I found out she had 6 others; and I refrained from making a crack about how irresponsible her doctor was for implanting so many embryos. 

 

But this new Web site pushed me over the edge.

 

I’ve seen the brief Today Show interviews with Nadya.  I’ve heard her talk about how she doesn’t want to become a welfare mom and that she will find a way to provide for her children.  She’s going to finish her Master’s program and support them with her student loans.  Apparently, she’s going to use charitable donations from the public as well.

 

This is a troubled, disturbed, media hungry woman.  She is desperate for attention and love, and unfortunately, she’s brought 14 kids into this world who will suffer for it.  Would it be different if she were A) married; B) employed; C) wealthy; or D) all of the above?  Yes, it would.  And that is not a judgment on single mothers.  This is about responsibility and her ability as a parent.  Children need to be nurtured, loved, held, rocked; but they also need shelter, food, diapers, clothing.  That takes money.  Money that shouldn’t have to be provided by the public simply because she was selfish and irresponsible.  This woman can’t even pay her medical bills—medical bills that were incurred because all she could think about was herself.  Oh, and that comment that she wouldn’t be a welfare mom?  That was untrue too.

 

Which begs the question—what will happen 3 years down the road when she wants more babies?  Nadya is fortunate enough to live in a country where her reproductive rights are protected, but unfortunately, she is a shining example of why they should be controlled.

 

Finding Hope In Economic Turmoil February 5, 2009

I’ve got two fun stories highlighting some good news on the job front.  It has been doom and gloom for months.  Mounting job losses, countless store closures, every headline is full of bad news.  Then, I stumbled upon an article on CNN that outlines the hope that lies ahead.  Not only can you get a frappucino at Starbucks; you can also get a job and turn your life around.  With every layoff, there is the bad news–what will I do for money, how will I pay the bills, buy my food or keep up with those who are still working?   It’s refreshing to see someone use the bad and turn it into something good.  While I know this isn’t a good fix for everyone, it’s worth noting that this will pass.  There are still jobs out there, even if they don’t pay what you might expect.  Ten bucks an hour is better than none.  Congrats, Michael!

 

For those of you who might not fancy working as a barista, check out Jobaphiles.  While I have my own reservations about it, there’s a lot of buzz surrounding this new site.  Visitors can bid on jobs, much like shoppers can bid on Ebay.  There are many categories ranging from babysitting to finance to customer service.  Need a job?  Check it out.