[Sherman Logan]

To play devil’s advocate a little.

Would it have been less objectionable if the same amount of money for childcare for these women had gone to unrelated care providers?

IOW, should a relative be excluded from the state benefits simply because of the family relationship? If so, why?

[par4]

Would it have less objectionable?

Not at all, as long as the women were going to work to earn their living, but if their work consists of watching their relative's kids, then we have the classic circle; i.e.:

Pay me $400 / week to watch my next door neighbor's kids from 9 to 5. Pay my next door neighbor $400 / week to watch my kids. Now we each collect $400 per week to sit and watch each other's kids. Or we can stay home and watch our own without getting paid. Can you say scam?

[July4]

“Would it have been less objectionable if the same amount of money for childcare for these women had gone to un
related care providers?”

Actually, we probably were paying these moms to watch TV together or make more babies while their kids roamed the neighborhood.