Washington, D.C. is the city that just keeps giving and giving, and giving some more, with taxpayer money of course. But now, it has taken things to an even higher level with its Strong Families, Strong Futures program.
The new venture is a $1.5 million boondoggle that provided unconditional payments of $10,800 to 132 lucky low-income women who recently gave birth or were expecting a child.
Martha’s Table, which partnered with D.C.’s Office for Planning and Economic Development on the program, explained that these mothers “should have agency over their own financial decision-making as they know best what their family needs.”
One recipient, Canethia Miller, who already receives food stamps and free government housing, certainly tested this theory by burning through her new-found wad of cash.
The 27-year-old mother of three originally missed the program application deadline but was ultimately placed on the waiting list. Lucky her. Like 75% of the enrollees, Miller chose to receive her money as a lump sum over 12 monthly payments of $900. And oh, did she get her money’s worth.
At first, she decided to set some of the money aside, but not for long. As she told the Washington Post, “I wanted to blow it. I wanted to have fun.”
In the past, Canethia admittedly had trouble stretching her welfare check just to cover groceries yet spent some $180 on a mommy makeover before spending another $6,000 to take her kids and their father on a vacation to Miami, Florida.
The luxury trip included a boat tour and dinner at a Japanese steak and sushi restaurant. Miller also went on a shopping spree and outfitted her kids with new clothes for every day of the trip. She even bought a used car and claimed to have opened a savings account of $50.00, wanting to “pass something down that really matters, so I and my kids can be set.”
Washington’s Democrat mayor Muriel Bowser can be proud that her vision for a program intended to improve the plight of children met such lofty heights in the case of Canethia Miller and so many other D.C. mothers down on their luck.
In a completely unrelated story, a 32-year-old Cleveland mother pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and child endangerment after she left her 16-month-old daughter home alone for 10 days while she went on a vacation to Detroit and Puerto Rico.
Upon her return home in June 2023, Kristel Candelario found her baby unresponsive in a filthy playpen. An autopsy would later confirm that the child died due to “starvation and extreme dehydration.” Neighbors reported that it was common for Candelario to leave her child unattended. Justice was served after she was recently sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Ours is a society beset by narcissism. Although this affliction is far from being limited to women, the two above instances clearly reflect how it has impacted the institution of motherhood.
Arguably, these mothers made decisions at very differing extremes which were not in the best interests of the children dependent upon them for their every need.
Individuals are increasingly guided in making judgments and decisions based upon fame without shame. One mother had absolutely no problem admitting to a newspaper that her desire to have fun superseded the very interests of her children. Another left her child alone repeatedly despite the fact that her neighbors knew she did so. Tragedy finally ensued.
Through the ages, mothers have always nurtured their offspring and sacrificed their own interests for their children to a fault. Thankfully, these traits show themselves to largely still be true. Though unfortunately, they do not exist as commonly as they did once upon a time.
For many, life has become all about living in the moment, taking selfies, consuming oneself with social media and following the daily itineraries of Taylor Swift and Cardi B. The resulting consequences not only make us shake our heads in disbelief but can come with results we never could imagine.
Mark Figley is a political activist and guest columnist from Elida. His column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Lima News editorial board or AIM Media, owner of The Lima News.
