Artifical budget restrictions? Ever heard of the unfunded mandate? The state mandates that a county or city provide certain benefits or programs, which the state is supposed to fund, and then doesn't provide the funding. A county or city that doesn't provide the program or service can be sued by citizens entitled to the program/service. Furthermore, there are a lot of ways to cook the books to make it appear that there is little or no liability where there is a lot. This issue will become more and more apparent as cities and counties are increasingly unable to meet their obligations to retirees wihtout dipping into the general fund.

"That's all I expect from people."

You expect a lot. I'm not saying that people should not treat others with courtesy, but to expect courtesy is to feel entitled to certain treatment. Articulating entitlement in a non hostile way does not transform it; it is still entitlement.

I wish that everyone would treat one another courteously, but I know it's not going to happen and so I don't expect it. Having a kid or being infirm or elderly is not going to make all people treat you with kid gloves. While it would have been nice for you to get the seat on the subway, you made it through just fine without one. The only thing that got bruised was your ego.

Lower your expectations and then you will be pleasantly surprised when courtesy comes your way. Consider the fact that any sense of entitlement that you project may cause people to treat you with something less than courtesy. Not to get too yogic, but perhaps cultivating gratitude would take you much farther than anger.

One last thing...have you considered the fact that the people who didn't give you a seat either didn't notice that you were pregnant or had their own bad day. Maybe they just lost their jobs, a loved one died, or they were diagnosed with a terminal illness. I'm sure most of them weren't just trying to be mean.

Having a child, if you are inclined to do so, is a fine thing. But not having a child, if you don't want one, is also fine too. What is objectionable is saying that it is somehow a moral lapse to choose not to procreate.

to a pregnant woman, elderly person, etc., but as a woman I am deeply offended by comments that say having children is not a personal choice. It is most definitely a choice.

Of course I understand the social security concept. In theory, the part of the population paying into the system pays for the population collecting benefits. I get it. With increased life expectancies, our current s.s. model is not sustainable. I am not planning on benefits still existing when I become eligible to collect. (Originally ss was intended only for the few elderly folks who lived to a ripe old age, it was never intended for people who are still in good health who have years left to live.) Furthermore, unless something radical happens, I think as a society we will have bigger problems than paying social security benefits.

Does anyone really think that there will be social security in 40 years? I think we will be rationing water and food in 40 years. I think there will be increased poverty and violence. Does anyone really question why I don't want to put another mouth to feed on Earth?

"To repeat my earlier point, the reason that we're being pitted against each other is a massive failure of public policy in offering the kinds of services -- public transportation, urban planning, universal daycare, universal healthcare -- that people need in order to live reasonable lives."

How are these services to be paid for? More taxes? As a childfree worker bee, I am happy to pay more taxes for all these services, but I'm not sure most people are so willing, especially parents. The parents I know bitch all the time about taxes and everything they have to pay for.

Let's also not forget that public policy represents the will of the public at large. Until very recently, the people were not so concerned with public transportation, urban planning, universal daycare, and universal healthcare. A lot of people still don't want these things. It's all a balancing act. Most public agencies are under severe budget restrictions right now. When you are cutting back on social services, park hours, capital improvements, education funding, etc., it is very difficult to get public support for the services and projects you mention because they require increased expenditures of funds that simply aren't there. Even if you are acting in the public's best interest, you can't just do what you think is right and ignore the will of the people, unless you are a dictator.

I live in the suburbs because that is where my job is. It's funny b/c a lot of people are living in cities and commuting by car to work in the suburbs. Ideally I would love to take public transportation to work, but that has never been a realistic option. The best I can do is live within a few miles of my job. If I did take the bus to work, it would take me 2 hours each way.