Ya, being alienated by your peers and family and having to struggle as a single parent while being legally responsible for another human being for at least 18 years is so totally worth $7,000. Ya, I can see how that changes the whole thing...You seriously think that raising the child tax credit is going to provide an incentive for teen girls to have children because that will HELP them financially? Do you have any idea how much a kid costs? You are still losing out. This will only be an incentive to the poorest of the poor but those people already receive oodles of welfare and free medical care. For everyone else who actually earns an income, this will be a little more cash at the end of the fiscal year but definitely NOT an incentive to have another child. I know it sure as fuck doesn't make me want to become a parent. Ask yourself, if you had the promise of a $7000 credit to your taxes in April, would you take on the responsibility of being a parent? Of course not. So why the fuck would any other rational person. Even the dumbest of high school girls isn't going to think that they should have a baby for a $7000 tax credit. $120,000 maybe. But $7000? YOUR logic is fucked if you think that will happen.
And how is it not fair? Who is it not fair to? What do you want to start handing out $7000 per pet to people without kids. Or $7000 per car to people without pets because we all know, cars can be quite an expense every year. Oh right, we should reward people who take initiative to go to college...Do you know how much fucking federal student loan money I get every year. It's fucking obscene. I'm left with the option of taking an extra $6000 a TRImester above my tuition. I'm not a charity case by any means. The U.S. Government will shell out more than $83 billion this year in student loan money comprising 60% of all student loans in the country. Sounds like they are helping quite a bit as is. And if you mean free help without any payback obligations...they are called grants and scholarships and people who earn them, either through outstanding performance or financial need, get them. Get a fuckin' clue.
You are right, people should be able to support their dependents without a tax credit. I agree fully. But I can't wait to see your principled point of view slip away quietly when it is your turn to collect $7,000 per child at tax time. For many people this is the difference between having to pay in or not at the end of the year. I know you are picturing some white trash family with 17 kids and no ambition but let's be realistic. Those situations are not normal or common and will not all of a sudden become desirable by increasing the child tax credit. Do you want to live that way? Such a measure will effect people with 1, 2, 3, 4 children. The average family size from the last census was 3.14. Also, many people, because of savings, small investments, and the nature of their work and tax schedule end up having to pay in at the end of the year. An increased CTC would alleviate some of this pressure and keep money flowing. Cash flow and liquidity are of primary importance, as we are seeing now.