Sounds like a plan to me!

John LaBruzzo, a state representative in Louisiana, has a plan. After hearing of Hurricane Ike evacuees who boarded buses with their cellphones and cigarettes but no diapers for their myriad babies, he said he wants to break "the generational welfare cycle" and over-reliance on government. The way to do that is by the state giving women on welfare and food stamps $1000 if they will have a sterilization procedure.

I find only one problem with the plan. Those women collect far more in welfare on all those kids than $1000, so they will not be inclined to do it. But that's not the problem the ACLU finds with it. Marjorie Esman of the Louisiana ACLU says, "This is a misguided and mean-spirited attempt to eliminate poverty by eliminating the poor." Huh? Is she saying she wants to eliminate poverty, but still have poor people? No, what she is doing is twisting the purpose of the plan to make it sound like they're going to be killing people. She's doing what all ACLU people do so well -- twisting the facts!

Essie May's plan is better than Rep. LaBruzzo's. What I propose is that anyone on welfare and food stamps must sign an agreement that they will have no more children as long as they are drawing government money. If they violate that agreement, the money is cut off immediately. Every four months, they must take a supervised pregnancy test. One plus sign -- no more welfare! I'm Essie May, and I approved this plan!

"Legislator: Sterilize the poor." The Dallas Morning News; September 29, 2008; p. 3A.