Eruch Tata hit the nail on the head in his Feb. 10 letter, “Help those who help themselves.” If you are earning minimum wage, you should live within your means, and the government (i.e., the taxpayers) should not be tasked with paying for the children you obviously can’t afford.

Joanne Hafter’s scenario of a married couple who could afford their children but fell on hard times is an entirely different situation (“Sometimes people simply need help,” Feb. 20).

As a nurse, I have seen too many single mothers on welfare with multiple children by as many different fathers. I have heard fathers boast of having up to 11 children by six or seven different women — obviously unable to support them. I have seen patients abusing Medicaid.

Multiply the numbers I see by the whole state — then the nation — and you begin to realize the size of this taxpayer issue.

Ms. Hafter referred to Medicare and Social Security as “government assistance.” This is not assistance. Medicare is paid for by monthly fees. Social Security is paid for by wage-earning people every month, to be collected in retirement. Plenty of us would welcome a refund to reinvest ourselves.

Medicaid is free to people with low or no income, which brings us full circle: If you can’t afford children — don’t have them.

Sandra J. York

Blythewood