The Expense of Spirit (A lesbian’s sperm donor is hoist with his own petard.)

City Journal ^ | 25 October 2005 | Theodore Dalrymple

[freekitty]

Yeah, and how about the other part of the Lesbian team absolving all responsibility? Real good person there, NOT

[bill1952]

That won't save you from crazy liberal judges.

Men in NJ have been found liable for support even for children that have been proven to not be their children.

[expatpat]

Any man who has sex with a woman runs the risk of being a father, whether he wants to or not. There is only one solution....let's see if any of the poor fellows on this board can figure it out. Here's a hint: it is foolproof and free.

Homosexuality?

[Tax-chick]

In states in the U.S. that have alimony, the higher-earning spouse is expected to pay.

[LowOiL]

Interesting turn of events there. I wonder if someday anonymous donors might actually succeed in impregnating their own sisters?

[RedStateRocker]

Exactly. He's the Father, period. The only thing is that he didn't even have the fun of the boink; not that any of my college acquaintances had, er, relations of which they had no memory of once sober:-)

[expatpat]

Actually, that's really an old principle from common law -- a child born to a married woman is the husband's responsibility.
The State just wants to find the nearest 'scapegoat' so as to avoid any responsibility on its part.

[BackInBlack]

"The legal reasoning is that child support is a right of the child rather than the parent, and as such any contract by the parent waiving it is invalid. I can't speak for Sweden, but US courts have upheld the principle on numerous occassions."

Yes, it's the right of the child. That's why the non-related lesbian should have to pay child support. I was under a different impression, though admittedly a very vague one, about the rights of sperm donors in the U.S. I mean, I realize it's not good to have a fatherless household, but forcing this guy to pay won't change that; all it will do is screw over this guy who made clear from the very beginning what he was doing. He might be a liberal douche, but that doesn't change the financial responsibility of the lesbian who was with the mother at the time.

[BackInBlack]

Why shouldn't the other lesbian have to pay?

[Slings and Arrows]

I'm familiar with the idea of paternity fraud, and while I realize that there are no guarantees (particularly in states where any children of a marriage are legally assumed to be the offspring of the husband), a vasectomy and remaining faithful to any hypothetical Mrs Slings and Arrows should minimize (albeit not eliminate) my risk.

[BackInBlack]

"The right to be supported by parents to the extent possible is possessed by the child. The court is simply enforcing the child's right. The father's belief that he was doing the mother a favor is of no moment."

Why shouldn't the other lesbian pay?

[Slings and Arrows]

No argument - the other lesbian does indeed share moral repsonsiblity. Practically though, the view of the govenment is "Your genes, your cash." (Or worse, in numerous paternity fraud cases.) This example pretty much epitomizes the situation.

[bill1952]

True, but in America, we aren't supposed to be ruled by common law.

[bill1952]

Well, you got me there.

A vascetomy should do the trick. *Shudder*

[Slings and Arrows]

A vascetomy should do the trick. *Shudder*

In some states it WON'T - and that's part of what's screwed up.

[pepperdog]

You are too funny!! I don't mean funny, funny--just giggle funny. And that's the wrong answer.

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

Hoist by his own petard. What is a petard, anyway? A rope of some kind?

I feel very sorry for the children, and like kicking the behinds of everyone else in the miserable story. Using children as pawns. Like people who say "I'd enjoy having children." Well, sometimes they're "enjoyable" and sometimes they're not. Having children because you think it'd be fun is not a reason to have children.

Freepmail me and DirtyHarryY2K if you want on/off this pinglist.

Well written article!

[BikerNYC]

Adoption can replace one parent with another. The child's right is then transferred to another adult. If the other lesbian had adopted the child, I think she should have to pay.

[CindyDawg]

Why shouldn't the other lesbian have to pay?

That thought crossed my mind but to do so would mean that they had a legitimate relationship. They were playing house. Posting HTML

[bill1952]

Expecting people to use sense will give you a headache.

Well Tax-chick, that is certainly right. What was I thinking? 8^)