U.S. Agents Arrest Dozens of Fathers in Support Cases

New York Times ^ | 8/16/02 | ROBERT PEAR

[Right To Life]

What bothers me in all this discussion is that financial issues are addressed primarily, and in isolation from custody issues. Custody issues should always be primary.

[PLMerite]

"That may be the solution...if everyone just played with themselves, there wouldn't be children unfortunately born into these horrible situations, would there?"

I'm doing my part. If there weren't an Internet I wouldn't have a sex life...

Somebody shoot me.

[Lorianne]

We either require parents to equally support and raise their kids or we don't. Either way, we will reap the consequences. I've lived in countries where kids are abandoned when the parents can't or won't support/raise them. And there is no social safety net. I doubt there are many here who would want to live in such societies. However, if they do, they can move. Or they can recreate the squalor, crime, and indifference to human suffering found in other countries and across time in our own country.

It would be nice to just let people do whatever the hell they want, but in the end I have to pay the price for other people's irresponsiblity. So, since I'll end up paying anyway, one way or the other, I'll continue to support things which will reduce my liability. Therefore, I'll vote every time to require parents to support/care for their kids. No excuses, no whining.

I guess it'll come down to an electoral war between people with differing visions for our future and standard of living. Given all the choices available, requiring people to take care of their own offspring seems the best option. I'm sticking with that one.