Posted: Thu Jul 5 2001
Poor Couple Decides Not To Have Children, May Be Kicked Out Of Poor-Union.

At first glance, Gerald and Marie Hadly may seem like any other proud, dirt-poor couple in any other city in America. But look a little closer and you'll see something odd, even disturbing: Gerald and Marie have no children, and they intend to keep it that way.

Marie, age 24, feels that it wouldn't be right to have children until she and her husband make enough money to properly take care of them, "We're just going to wait a few years before we even think about having kids. Some of the others at the union want to kick us out for that."

"Medium-speed" Eddie, local Poor-Union #305645 President, says "We've got to be firm with our members. If we let them [Gerald and Marie] do this, it hurts all of us. Kicking them out will send the message 'No kids, no benefits'."

Gerald and Marie stand to lose many of the perks regularly handed out by the union. Topping the list: free Jerry Springer tapes, junked cars for lawns, and pre-dirtied shirts for Gerald.