[shawmutt]

I was raised on welfare, WIC, and other government assistance. I was able to make a better life for myself, mostly by luck. My siblings are still living below the poverty level, and from what I can gather will be for a very long time.

Out of 350 kids in my wife's school in Washington County, MD, 330 are living in households below the poverty level. Charity groups are pressed to the limits to get these people fed, fortunately enough people in this area do have good jobs and are charitable.

Teachers get paid peanuts, but are required to get master's degrees. My wife is a very talented teacher and is one of those rare folks that is doing what she loves for a living, but I wouldn't blame her if she chose to go to a different career. Summers off, sure, but between lesson plans, after school activities, etc. she easily puts in 60+ hours a week. Then there are the parents who don't care, or who are abusive to my wife or worse, their kids. Don't get me started on "No child left behind".

This is why I think gay marriage should be legal. Better to have a loving, unified family than some of the "families" we have around here. But what do I know--I think people should have to get a license before they are able to procreate too.