From Welfare to Porn to Self-Sufficient?

Dear Neighbors:


When you hear the terms welfare mom, government assistance or AFDC, what's your first reaction? Do you cringe just a little, irritated that some woman has gotten herself in trouble (as the saying used to go), leaving you, the taxpayer, to foot the bill? Do you associate getting help with being lazy? Finally, do you think that welfare moms should do whatever it takes, as long as she's not breaking the law, to support herself and her children?


We all know the story of Octomom Nadya Suleman. She's a single woman who elected to undergo in-vitro and now has fourteen children and, for the most part, no income to support her fifteen-person household. You probably winced at the thought of the government assistance she's been collecting for her own ridiculous choices. Since the birth of her octuplets, she's been in the media due to her problems maintaining a household. Most recently, however, reports have her taking on two new ventures to support her family: porn and stripping. 


Suleman made a porn video of herself masturbating, and has since performed as a stripper in Florida. Guess what? She has made enough money to get herself off of welfare, though I'll believe it when she's gone a few years without collecting assistance. Read this somewhat reliable article for more:


No More Welfare For Octomom?




My question is this: should mothers collecting government assistance be expected to do whatever it takes -- including porn and stripping -- in order to become self-sufficient? I would rather my tax dollars go to training her for a sustainable career than to wonder how the conversation is going to go with her kids when they're old enough to Google their mom. 


That's not saying I have anything against adult entertainment (except the fact that the participants are nasty as hell and have a very short shelf life), but since it wasn't Suleman's first choice as a career, we can assume that she wouldn't have done it had it not been for her dire financial situation. 


Welfare or porn?


AFDC or the pole?


Fine with welfare,


D