I'm with Simon on this one. I firmly believe that one reason we have an increase in juvenile crime -- a larger increase than any other crime group -- and we have children who have no remorse over rape, murder, etc -- is because they are being forgotten, left behind. So many children need loving homes. To make the foster care program work will help these kids get the foundation that their parents couldn't or wouldn't provide them. They are the forgotten kids, the children of parents in prison, in drug re-hab, or dead. Are we supposed to say, tough luck? Suck it up? We have a duty and an obligation in our society to help those who, through no fault of their own, can not help themselves. I think children are the most vulnerable and the most deserving of our love and compassion.
I commend Bill Simon for talking about this important issue, an issue that may not be a hot button, rally the team issue, but something that is just as important.
Let's put this in perspective, shall we? If you go to Simon's website, you'll see that he has numerous ideas and proposals. This is only one of them. It's not like his entire campaign is being run on foster care! Realize that the press is only going to report what they are interested in.
Go Simon!
A noble sentiment but not on point.
My point and my suggestion would be to fix the problem using a local revenue stream.
Say a 20% surtax on the income of all statewide Democratic office holders and their support staff.
We would then have a program that was truly supported by the California legislature and the governor's office. A program we could point to with pride.