California Bill Would Give Newborns $500

A California bill, introduced on the last day of February, would establish a savings account for every child born in the state. $500 would be placed in the account which would draw interest, and could be added to by the parents. When the child turned 18, he would have access to the account, but he would be required to pay the government back the original $500 investment. The Bill is projected to cost California tax payers $285 million annually. The account would be set up for every child born in the state, regardless of nationality, economic situation or immigration status.

I find this bill troubling for several reasons:

1. Making this account available to the children of individuals who are not citizens, encourages illegal immigration. Why should our country offer financial incentives to those who would come here without regards for our laws or the privileges of citizenship? Indeed, California seems to be so concerned with providing for their immigrants, illegal or otherwise, that it seems being born an American no longer holds any intrinsic value.

2. The program is socialistic in nature. One of the foundational principles for the Bill is that all children should start out on an equal plane. This money would help them get a head start on their future as they would be required to use it for education expenses, a retirement account, or for a down payment on a house. One of the great things about our country is our capitalism, and our ability to be upwardly mobile, regardless of our present situation. Any one in America can work hard, get a good education and become what he aspires to be. A bill like this fosters a spirit of dependency on the government, which undermines self-motivation and work ethic.

3. This bill epitomizes over taxation and government control. The $285 million necessary to facilitate this program yearly, would undoubtedly need to be increased. As our population grows, much due to the effects of immigration, more and more money would be needed with no visible end in sight. For those who already feel that the government is too involved in our daily lives and finances, this bill is a nightmare. Not only does the government force taxpayers to give more of their money, they also control the way that the interest from that money may be spent by the recipient.

This bill is one of several instances in which the government has a noble idea, but goes about realizing it by exerting its own control in the private lives of others. The results, if this Bill passes, will be to further encourage illegal immigration, dependency on the government and the furtherance of socialism in the state of California.