I know nobody meant that only white, middle-class people can have kids. But that's the reality of saying "only people who can afford them should have kids".
I'm sorry, but that is not true. Everyone who is white is not middle-class, there are plenty of dirt-poor caucasians in this county. And likewise, there are plenty of very wealthy people of color in this country, too. I would find your statement to be offensive, if I were a person of color. It's rather demeaning ... like saying, "Unless you're white, you are going to be poor." That's so not true, at least in the USA and other modern countries.

If that means they have to collect welfare to spend more time with their kids as opposed to working some dead end job where they have to pay for strangers to watch their kids or even worse leave them home alone, then fine.
I disagree. Having children is like having a dog, or a car, or a big house, IMO ... if you can afford it, great, have one ... have three or four. If you can't afford it, then make plans and better yourself, work hard until you CAN afford it ... then have a kid or get a dog or buy a car. That's basic common sense to me ... if you can't feed it, don't have it. I work for a living. I'm a single parent. I have never taken a penny of public assistance funding. I support myself and my child. It was my choice to have a child, therefore I should pay for him. It wasn't anyone else's choice for me to have a child ... why should I expect other people to give me money for something I chose to do? We all need to take responsiblity for our own actions, and their consequences. Even if wanted to have three or four kids, (which I don't!), I couldn't afford to, and therefore I wouldn't have them. I wouldn't go ahead and have them and expect someone else to pick up the tab. How is that fair?

I think it's all very well and good that we feel we can tell poor people what to do and not do with their lives as we sit on our nice sofas and talk to each other online.
Well, first of all ... I worked hard for my nice sofa and my internet service. I earned the right to have these things because I have a job, and I bust my rear to earn enough money to live, and afford the things I want. I don't expect someone to hand them to me. If I earn the money, I have every right to reap the benefits of that effort. Secondly, aren't people who have child after child after child and can't afford them basically telling us what we can and can't do? You bet they are! They are telling us that we will pay to feed, clothe and educate their numerous children through our tax dollars. We have no choice but to comply. They are telling us what we will do everyday, as determined by how much of our disposable income goes to the government via taxes. I think if I'm forced to pay to raise someone else's six kids, I ought to have a say in the matter of whether they have two more.

Sorry to be harsh about this, but this is one of my big soap boxes.