1. “A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him.”

2. “If his mother had been insured.”

3. “If his family had not lost its Medicaid.”

4. “If Medicaid dentists weren't so hard to find.”

5. “If his mother hadn't been focused on getting a dentist for his brother, who had six rotted teeth.”

All of the suggestions in this story imply that this boy’s death is the fault of the government and that the government should ramp up its welfare programs so that other children won’t die of bacteria spreading to their brains due to rotting teeth and abscesses.

I have a different thought – how about this boy died because his irresponsible mother, who is probably on welfare and government programs, was to irresponsible to train and enforce her children to be responsible for cleaning their teeth on a daily basis. Did this mother even buy dental floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash for her children? This article does not mention anything about these children’s teeth cleaning routines at home. If a mother is on welfare and other government programs then there is simply no excuse for not getting her children to a dental check up at least once a year. This is simply pure irresponsibility.

I am not young and my teeth and gums are beautifully clean and healthy because I floss, brush, and use mouthwash after each meal daily.

My opinion, after reading this story, is that Mary Otto, the Washington Post, and MSNBC, all want taxpayers to shore up more financial and medical support for people like this Boy’s mother so that she can have more children and keep the cycle of irresponsibility continuous. All the while blaming others for their problems. I personally feel sorry for children who have parents like this mother.

In conclusion, any mother with children who is on welfare has free access to fundamental health care and materials for her children to prevent such a tragedy as this. The only reason this tragedy happened is because the mother is irresponsible and should be held accountable, not the government and/or the taxpayers.

I’m going to go brush my teeth right now!