Posted on 7/10/2002, 3:41:56 AM by Mr_Pacific
What is the basis for having child support laws?
In my mind, the intent of child support laws is to force departed fathers to keep the children alive, because we all know women can't support kids on their own.
Wait, no, that can't be. Women are fighter pilots, CEOs, and astronauts these days. Women have just as much power over their own lives as men. Why aren't the feminists railing against child support laws?
Maybe the reason for child support laws is that once a man decides to get her pregnant, she has no choice but to carry the baby, and give birth.
Nope, can't be that. Any woman can go get an abortion any time regardless what the father, husband, pastor, her parents, or anyone else wishes. She doesn't even need a good reason, "Being a mother now would interfere with my goals." will do just fine.
But then, if she decides to have the baby, she has to stay at home and take care of it, eliminating the opportunity to develop her career, leaving her helpless.
Wrong again. Day care. Doesn't the government even subsidize the cost of child care if the mother can't afford it and wants to work?
In this day and age, a woman can only have a child if she wants to, and can't be compelled to give birth if she refuses. The women hold all the cards, they make all the decisions, and have ultimate power over the business of bringing children into the world. Heck, they don't even need contact with a man, they can go buy some stranger's seed, or if they're famous, rich, and/or gay, they can adopt a bunch of kids.
So, why the child support laws?
I can hear my conservative friends yelling "so we don't have to pay for all that welfare!"
I don't like paying for other people's bad decisions either, but the whole thing about "cracking down on deadbeat dads to reduce the welfare rolls" is a myth.
Why can't a new father-to-be decide to abort his fatherhood just like a new mother-to-be can. Under today's societal dictates, all things being equal, a man should have the same ability to back out of the parenting position as a woman.
A guy finds out he knocked up his girlfriend: "sorry, I'm not ready at this point in my life to support a child." Hey, it's his body...and bank account.
The only difference between the guy backing out, and the woman backing out, is no bloodshed results when the guy calls it quits.
With power comes responsibility. If women are to have all the say, while men are viewed as having nothing more to contribute than ejaculate and one third of their income, perhaps the responsibility needs to shift to the power holders.
Please don't get me wrong. First and foremost, I think men should stay with their children and nurture them emotionally as well as financially. Those that end up divorced should support their child in the best way possible, as should the fathers of unexpected kids.
But the same government that tells men that childbirth and abortion is none of their business, unless the woman makes it so, has no place telling them how much to pay.
Ok, then why can't the child support laws apply only to the parent that has custody of the child? Actually, they already exist - it's against the law to let your kid starve.
The children can be taken care of by the one who gets to make all the decisions about whether the child is even born in the first place, what extent the father will play in the child's life, etc.
Let me relate a story that kind of puts things in perspective. When my first boy was born, the nurse came to the hospital room to discuss circumscission with my wife. I began to state my opinion on, and the nurse interrupted me with something to the effect "It doesn't matter what you think about it, the only one who approves or disapproves the procedure is the mother."
I said, "no, wait, you must be confused... this isn't an illegitamate child, I'm not shacked up with the mother... we are married, that's my son."
She says, "it doesn't matter, only the mother makes the decision."
I don't even have any say over whether my son is circumscised or not, yet if my wife were to decide to leave me, I'd suddenly be forced to take part in supporting my child, and pay what the STATE thinks is right.
I'm all for supporting children, but it's none of governments business, especially as long as the government gives fathers no say over what happens with their children.
Of course the woman could do the responsible thing and seek out the child's real father but so much of this discussion is not about doing the right thing...
Most men are Dumb Asses. If Everyone would “ Just Say No “ to this BS It would stop!
But the takeover requires that you keep one group at the others throat.
And no I’m not divorced
Obviously, you're you're not divorced. You can't "just say no" to the judge who says how much you're going to pay.
Actually, you really can "just say no". Just be aware that you'll be saying it from jail.
A lot of men have tried that....a good portion of them are in jail for it. Equal protection and due process do not apply to fathers. Almost every father in this country (except for the VERY FEW true "deadbeats") wouldn't mind paying child support if they were not exempted from the constitutional rights granted to every other American, and if there wasn't any hidden alimony added to the amount that they are ordered to pay. As long as father-hating judges dominate the courts, nothing will change. In fact, expect it to get much worse in the coming years. Even if the states were to start passing legislation to help prevent fathers from becoming second class citizens, the courts decide what the laws mean, how the laws are applied and who they are applied to.
A man on our block was just awarded custody of his daughter and they're both happy. Her mom moved to the UP with her--a big no-no. Can't move out of state (Wisconsin) without the other parent's permission or consent of the court and she had neither. Not only did she lose custody, but now she's paying child support--and his legal fees. That's one unhappy momma.
She's got an amazing dad. Kudos.
Ha! i wondered how long it would be before someone made that jab. No, guess again. I'm married, and the kids are right here with me. Divorce or seperation are not in the forseeable future.
My turn to guess: You are one of those people who only care about injustices that directly effect you. Right?
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