We've all heard about the lost boys and about underage marriage of girls, about essentially pedophilic behavior that is cloaked in the garb of religion, about brainwashing and odd women who have been coached to insist it's all sunshine and happy families in the compound. What no one is asking is how do they afford those huge SUVs and fifty children per man?

One phrase: welfare fraud. Note the news stories about how the authorities are resorting to DNA testing to identify the parents of each child, since the children have been trained NOT to say who his/her parents are. Know why the FLDS do that? Because they are practicing what they call "bleeding the beast," meaning they are taking as much government money as they can get, and they feel religious righteousness in doing so. All a "spiritually married" sixteen year old with four kids has to do is apply for welfare and claim not to know who/where the father is. If the kids can answer a normal question like "who is your father?" the scam falls apart.

Another fun scheme: sister-wives who have no legal husbands apply for government grants to pay them for "working" in their own business---providing child care for sister wives, who get stipends for the child care so they can hold down jobs in that very same "day care center." Can you say "quarter million dollar ripoff"? I knew you could.

Kudos to Texas for having the balls to raid that roaches' nest.

One Of Two - Gary Chapman Lyrics

Jill, so in love
She can't think, think enough of him
She's in love with Jim
Jim, he's the same
Just the thought of her name brings a thrill
He's in love with Jill
And though the road of life is sometimes hard
It begins and ends in their front yard
They're just glad to have the others face in their view
And with God adding it all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
He makes one of two

Early on, we are taught
One and one is not a lot, that's true
But it's more than two
Less and greater than, they reverse in God's hand, they do
One is more than two

And though the road of life can seem so long
It moves fast if you've got someone next to you
And with God adding it all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
He makes one of two

As long as God's adding all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
I want to be one of two
Amy, we are one of two

who is your daddy

it is the time of the season for love

One Of Two - Gary Chapman Lyrics

Jill, so in love
She can't think, think enough of him
She's in love with Jim
Jim, he's the same
Just the thought of her name brings a thrill
He's in love with Jill
And though the road of life is sometimes hard
It begins and ends in their front yard
They're just glad to have the others face in their view
And with God adding it all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
He makes one of two

Early on, we are taught
One and one is not a lot, that's true
But it's more than two
Less and greater than, they reverse in God's hand, they do
One is more than two

And though the road of life can seem so long
It moves fast if you've got someone next to you
And with God adding it all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
He makes one of two

As long as God's adding all up
One and one is more than just enough
'cause in love he does something only God can do
He makes one of two
I want to be one of two
Amy, we are one of two

I have a better question.

Much is made of the possibility of underage sex. Perhaps there will be prosecutions for welfare fraud.

It is my understanding that polygamy is illegal. Why is there no attempt to prosecute these people for the obvious crime?

it appears Texas may be planning just that, but it may be in for a freedom of religion fight.

No easy answer. In reality collecting welfare is proof even they know they are not married. And of course they are not. As for the states, they are stuck with genuine single mothers raising children. Here in Utah that seems to be common knowledge but I have yet to read that an investigation has been conducted to verify it though there may be some that have been and I just don't know about it.

The only thing that could impact them not getting welfare is how the rules are applied with a man in the house and the total income of the household. I don't know that even then the state can deny it.

The DNA testing has good, immediate prospects for changing this situation. I don't know about every state, but a lot of them have pretty good success in establishing paternity and enforcing child support repayments against "absent" fathers. These "elders" might be facing massive financial judgements and collection action for the support of all those kids.

They can say goodbye to the Hummers and Suburbans and hello to the old minivan that they will drive the rest of their lives.

tonto_goldberg:

The DNA testing has good, immediate prospects for changing this situation. I don't know about every state, but a lot of them have pretty good success in establishing paternity and enforcing child support repayments against "absent" fathers. These "elders" might be facing massive financial judgements and collection action for the support of all those kids.

They can say goodbye to the Hummers and Suburbans and hello to the old minivan that they will drive the rest of their lives.

well, if we silly Gentile taxpayers are stuck in the minivan because of having to pay Uncle Sam to pay the Beast Bleeders, that seems like karma :D

Tonto, The Reverend and I were just talking about this topic this morning. This is going to be a riot to see these guys be held financially responsible for paying the county and/or state back the money that they've gotten illegally, for years, for 50 or 60 kids each!

Plus, they'll be legally responsible for paying ongoing support for the children they're determined to be the father of and if they don't they'll have their driver's license revoked, permits revoked, bank accounts liened, jail time enforced. They'll be lucky to even drive the minivan after it's all over.

Because then it would call into question the constitionality of the marriage contract in general. There is no rational reason for the government to restrict marriage as a civil contract based on gender, race, sexual orientation or the number of participants.

I am not sure any of those guys have actual trades or professions aside from "religious leader/con artist". The primary industry seems to have been welfare fraud. I wonder if they have a criminal non-support law in Texas?

Let those old fools walk if they need to go somewhere. It will make an fitting close to their fond memories of making it (oops, I am sure I meant to say spiritual marriage) with younger and younger women every year.

Yes they do Tonto. Texas is pretty strict with regards to child support etc.

Anyone else remember "The Children of God" cult? AKA "The Family"

Thanks! I was thinking that Texas was a compact state but I have been out of that field for a while. So the buzzards have to go to Mexico or try and find a non-compact state?

Heleva:

Anyone else remember "The Children of God" cult? AKA "The Family"

Apparently, they still exist.