The Pregnancy Payout (From Croydon Guardian)

The Pregnancy Payout

4:06pm Tuesday 11th September 2007

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I did not think that an example of spendthrift behaviour would be provided almost before the last key-stroke for the introduction to this blog had been made.

The Government announces a cash payment to all pregnant women under the deluded idea that it will influence how they feed themselves and their babies.

From what I have gleaned as a mere male over the years is that in the case of the mother it is their nutrition in the run up to conception and in the early months of pregnancy that is all important.

Nature thereafter equips us to survive. Our lungs sooon drive our parents to satisfy our nutritional needs or suffer long sleepless nights.

Our benefits system pays at a level far higher than previous generations enjoyed so poor diet for mother and child should not these days be a matter of income.

A cash hand out in the last months of a pregnancy will be spent by many mothers on a material treat for the child, certainly not saved for dietary needs in a few months time.

Others, hopefully very few, will spend it on the very things that are not good for them and their child.
Either way the child’s nutrition will not be improved.

Another expansion of Government. More unproductive jobs. More expenditure. A higher tax burden.