is tony blair right in what he says about teen mums?

Question

he says that they must be watched by social services basically, and that if they see fit then they can take action, whatever that means. is it right to assume that these kids will turn out bad, surely that will just make things worse

Answer 1

I think he is right......

Teenage prgnancy is the worst in Europe at the moment (in the UK)

and most of the mothers cannot control their kids and need help.

It doesnt help that their own mums are 22 either!

Answer 2

From what I gather, our Tony suggests that children born into a demanding environment (particularly a single parent family where the mother conceived at a young age) are set for a rough start in life, and will be moulded by the situational constraints of just such an environment in a negative way. I can appreciate this.

Young, single parent mothers have a bloody hard time irrespective of what the general consensus may be. And no matter how hard they try - and they do try hard - it's not going to be easy on the young 'uns either.

However, the vast majority of folk in th UK today have been brought up in a demanding environment - it's just the way the world is, and a product of many factors (most of which can be traced back to Government incompetence). And the vast majority of folk are decent citizens.

As for whether they must be watched by the social services...

The social services *are* watching young mothers already. And they do intervene at the drop of a hat - for the most part.

Young teenage mums need *positive* reinforcement, and not a Nanny State to tell them where they're going wrong. Their family and friends can do that, if need be, far better than any official institution. What they needed, if anything, was objective sex education at an early age with a determined teacher and material that emphasised the negative aspects of teen pregnancy. And while this may be the practice now, it's obviously not enough.

All our Tony's doing these days is looking for another cause to boost his reputation. I applaud him (well, no - not really - I *appreciate* him) for casting his gaze on the social plight, and acknowledging that people are a product of their environment. But any policy he may put in place now won't show affirmable results for a whole generation. (We will still have to tolerate the malicious elements in our midst for a long long time.)

Tony you glory boy, politicians engineered today's woe. Not young single mothers. If you intend to offer them a helping hand then just do it - your words hold little value.

Answer 3

I very rarely agree with this man but I must do so on this point. Many of the so-called teenage mums are little more than children themselves and in many cases could not be trusted with dolls far less a child. That in fact is what the child is treated like namely a living breathing doll. Someone has to look after them, therefore, and that can only be Social Services. But that again means they are a drain on the economy for many years thereafter, and it's an absolute fact that youth crime began to spiral out of control from the 1960s as single parenthood grew.

Answer 4

Anyone is allowed one "mistake" but we should not be expected to pay for someone to keep having children in the knowledge that the state will pay for them. No-one paid towards mine, although I had 4 aged under 6 we were not even entitled to a pint of free milk. The main problem is that the attitudes of the children born into such circumstances usually reflect that of its parent/s therefore, we have an endless, ongoing problem. The Government should fetch in legislation - 1 free after that social services should step in and place any additional siblings up for adoption.

Answer 5

He's wrong as normal. And you only have to look at Social Services track record to know that they ruin families,they do not help them. Blair is a fine one to talk, Cherie might not be a teen mum, but she still pops them out quicker than you can say parliament, and am I wrong in saying that their eldest son has been found and photographed drunk, and also did I hear he had been arrested before?

Answer 6

I watched a documentary where a volunteer who was helping teen parents (the father looked about 12) had to teach them to get their backsides out of bed and clean and change the baby and feed it. They were still in bed at 11. Says it all doesn't it. My vote would go to whoever stops handing the money and housing to these morons, re-open the industry and give them work. No work. no savings, no children. This would not apply of course to anyone losing a job or ending up a single parent through circumstance.

Answer 7

However he put it.... he was wrong to bring single parents into his argument. doesnt he realise his political career is on the line at the moment and there are plenty after his job and desperate for him to stand down??? way to go, Tony.. keep it up...youre history and if I were you Id have begged the help of Supernanny a long time ago. You and your busy wife dont spend enough time with your kids..then your son wouldnt be found plastered in Leicester Square gutter again..

Answer 8

Statistically speaking more single mums are drug addicts, some also get into prostitution. Obviously not all single mums do, so you should have nothing to fear. If you have seen the consequences of a young child pick up a used needle while her mother is out of her mind on drugs for one example, then you will understand where he is coming from. He's not targetting single mums, he is targetting all mums who abuse their children, in whatever form it takes.

Answer 9

Here's how it goes. The government promotes single teen parents, then, uses the resultant mess as a basis for further state interference. It provides them with an excuse to stick their controlling noses into the affairs of everybody who has children. It is a device to further the state control of children.

Answer 10

No he's wrong as usual ... if they were smart enough to have a baby surely they know how to take care of one alone without help .teenage mothers are doing it all over the world ... with no difficulty ..blair is wrong as always