OT: Oh my gosh!

My goodness! They will need some help with more names if they continue:

Jean Jane Jonathon Jesse

Who has more suggestions?

Cheers Bronwyn

how about "JUST QUIT" while you still can afford to feed your family? I know this is a "have kids" bunch, but geez, there's a limit. The article said that the man works in real estate, which is nice money WHEN you can sell a house, but obviously SHE can't possibly work, and I wonder if they are self-supporting or if they are on gov't assistance. I think it's just plain irresponsible, to yourself, your family, and society in general, to have children (especially that many) if you can't afford to feed, clothe and educate each and every one of them yourself.

Howdy! She works! Believe me, she works.

Hope every one of them has a quilt.

Ragmop/Sandy--"Every mother is a working mother" ...ignoring the rest of the tirade ;-)

They are self supporting and are not on public assistance but I read something one time that said a person didn't pay income tax if they had 6 or more children. Just the way the system is set up I reckon.

I think that if they have 16 children they get 16 deductions for the children + the marriage deduction.

(16 x $1000) + $10,000 (standard deduction for married filing jointly) = $26,000

Now if their tax liability is less than $26,000 (they could have other deductions, property taxes, mortgage interest, etc.) you are right they don't have to pay income tax.

and see, that's just wrong. If you have children, you're using more of whatever is offered by the government, not less (yes, I know the family in question homeschools, but they are eligible to go to school and I betcha they take advantage of some of the athletic programs, for example - I know I would if it were me); therefore you should pay your share! People with no children are footing the bill to educate other people's kids, and that's just wrong.

"Bonnie Patterson" wrote

But they are homeschooling, so they aren't using the public schools. Homeschooled kids have different afterschool programs that are usually funded privately (through church or other). They likely are using the public library though.

Frankly, education is one of the things I'm happy to cough up for- even though I have no kids of my own.

-georg

The tv show I saw about this family had the info that they are self supporting. It is my opinion that if people that really cared and brought up decent upstanding members of society I am ok with it. I'd rather these folks have all the kids they have and take care of than a mom that has one kid that ends up in the youth authority because she just doens'nt give a darn. I wouldn't want this lifestyle for my family but it is their right to do it IMO. Taria, #4 of 7 kids.

Ellis> Howdy!

I second that. Ain't for me but from everything I've heard about them they are caring for themselves and being responsible parents and rearing responsible kids.

the first time i recall hearing the total population of earth there were 3+ billion. now there are around 6.5 billion. that is double in my lifetime. this number will take less yrs to double each time. how many people can the planet support and care for efficiently? will we run out of food, water or air first? just a thought i had, fwiw. jeanne

With so many farmers going out of business, selling out, loosing the farm, etc. - I worry about that. Everytime I go to the market the price of food just goes up and up. Still seems to be plenty but the price!!!

We're not running out of food, we're just too selfish to distribute what we have. It's criminal to dump perfectly good grain in the ocean and pay farmers to NOT grow food to keep prices artificially high when there are children going blind from malnutrition every day. But that's what we do.

:) That's an excellent, responsible choice, IMO, and will also be an excellent EXAMPLE for your child. :)

Wow! You seem so angry...

Cindy

Didn't sound angry to me - sounded ashamed at the waste and concerned for those who are so needy. Nope didn't sound angry a-t'all.