A Baby’s Not the Ticket to Welfare

I failed to perceive the pathos that was intended by Robin Abcarian’s column, “What Welfare Cuts Would Mean to a Teen Mom’s Dreams” (Feb. 28).

Why, if this child--and this is clearly a child--has such a horrible life, did she bring an innocent child into that deprived environment? She will have more babies out of wedlock because she fails to grasp the real issue: She does not have a right to welfare because she has had a baby.

Why do she and thousands like her get the idea that this is (their) privilege? There are happily married people out there who postpone having babies or limit their family size because they simply cannot afford it.

I am sympathetic to LaToya because I, too, was born out of wedlock--to a 16-year-old mother who abandoned me to an old, ill and alcoholic grandmother who did nothing but take out her resentment and hate on me.

Like LaToya, I watched other loving families and had many years of sorrow, but I was not idly optimistic. I vowed that I would never bring a child into the world until my husband and I were prepared to give it what it deserved: love and a decent place to live. In other words, until I was prepared to meet its needs.

Having babies is not a right. It is a major responsibility, and anyone who decides to have a child owes that child a decent life and an opportunity to succeed. What chance do LaToya and her son have? Sadly, a very small one unless she decides to stop feeling sorry for herself and be realistic.

YOLANDA JOHNSON

Los Angeles