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California fury at cost of raising octuplets
12.02.09
The unemployed mother of octuplets has provoked a barrage of criticism in her home state of California, which is billions of dollars in the red.
Many taxpayers are furious that the burden of raising Nadya Suleman's 14 children will fall on their shoulders.
Even before the 33-year-old single mother gave birth to IVF octuplets last month, she had been caring for her six other children with the help of $490 a month in food stamps, plus social security disability payments for three of the children.
"It appears that raising 14 children takes not simply a village but the combined resources of the county, state and federal governments," Los Angeles Times columnist Tim Rutten wrote.
"A woman's right to reproduce should be limited to a number which the parents can pay for," Charles Murray wrote to the Los Angeles Daily News. "Why should my wife and I, as taxpayers, pay child support for 14 Suleman kids?"
On the internet and talk radio, bloggers and listeners called Ms Suleman an "idiot", and suggested she be sterilised.
Ms Suleman's spokesman urged understanding. "She has been under a tremendous amount of pressure that no one could be prepared for," he said.
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