Hit the selfish where it hurts

I was absolutely flabbergasted to hear that a 22 year old single mother of four kids all aged under 5 who abandoned her children while she indulged herself in a 24 hour drink and drugs binge has escaped prison. It sends out the wrong message to both the general public and other young single serial mothers who see children as an easy way to obtain benefits, money and free housing.

All her children should be taken into care and this self-centred woman should spend the next two years in prison. Her home should be given to someone more deserving and she should be told that she will not receive a single penny in benefits ever again. Why should she when she just spends it on getting drunk and shovelling illegal drugs into her body? Why should anyone who spends the money taken from hard working tax payers on selfish hedonistic pleasure get any benefits?

Most people, including me, don't have a problem with a welfare system that provides relief for those who have a genuine need, but far too often and for an increasing number of people it is seen as a way of life which enables them to live a life of indolence and selfishness.

What we need is a welfare system which is compassionate to those in genuine need and uncompromisingly harsh on those who try to play the system. These selfish people are taking money away from the genuine needy. When they are caught out doing so they must be told that they will never ever get a single penny of state assistance ever again.