^^^Fair enough in regards to private monies vs. government monies. Let's compare apples to apples.
We do put limitations on other government funds. As I stated before we have unemployment insurance, we all put into the fund and if we find ourselves unemployed we draw from it, but we only get money if we are actively searching for a job.
Some schooling grants/funds available (govt. provided) stipulate that you cannot be employed while attending school, for programs that were funded with said dollars.
When government funds are used in private industry (military contracts for weapons, transport equipment etc.), ISO 9001 compliance is required, security standards must be met (for apparent reasons).
What about research grants? Stem cell research is a primary example. Government funds are no longer to be spent on new embryos for embryonic stem cell research. You don't comply, funding is pulled. This may seem like a far parallel to the topic at hand but...
In all these scenerios a program was applied for (or a proposal submitted), much like with welfare assistance. You mention government intrusion, hardly. This was invited when the application was signed.
Its easy to forget where this 'government money' comes from- our tax dollars. If this was a privately funded operation there would be no questions. Let's take the government out of the picture for a sec. No one is forcing me or you to apply for welfare. When a person applies for welfare what they are saying is that I currently have some unfortunate circumstances which prevent me from providing for myself and I need your (tax payer's) financial assistance for a bit. With that said, how do we say its ok for you to pop out another dependant when you can't provide for yourself? If you can't afford your current lifestyle, do you then go out and buy a new car?
I hope I don't come off as insensitive. I do understand we are dealing with people's rights. Typically my views would be labeled "liberal". I do think the government has already taken too many of our rights away, but this isn't something where the government just arbitrarily picks who can and can't have [more] children, you had to apply for the assistance. We (the taxpayers) are 'investing' in the person applying for welfare, with the hopes that they will become productive members of society. Having them pop out another kid seems like a very bad investment to me.
Let's make this even simpler. Forget I said sterilization. Let's just require that a person who is on welfare is not allowed to concieve a child- if they do, we pull their "funding".
On a tangent, I thought I'd leave you with some more abuse of the system. My g/f works at a higher end hair salon. First off, if your on welfare, you shouldn't be here. I recall a time she mentioned to me how this gal was able to spend 70 dollars to have her nails done yet was on welfare. To be honest, I've got more respect for the some of the panhandlers in downtown than I do for these leeches. :x