I listened to an interesting piece on NPR on my way to work this morning. Basically, it was about a growing trend for judges to order that men not father any children as a condition of their parole for not paying child support. The particular man in the story had fathered six daughters with four women though court records said it could be as many as seven daughters with five women.
First of all, are they all completely stupid or what?
I believe that the responsibility and consequences should be shared by both parties. Why aren't the women told that they can't have any more children unless they are able to support them on their own? Shouldn't the woman have to prove to the court that she's financially able to support additional children, solely on her own, before she's allowed to procreate...the same standard applied to the man?
Let me emphasize that I'm not talking about the devoted mother that stayed home while the father went to work and then was suddenly on her own with children to raise, no work experience, and a father who earns a living but won't pay support. She deserves his support and he should pay it.
I guess my point is more on the side that I've seen...when neither parent has any business being part of the procreation process. The mother doesn't take care of the children (usually it ends up being a grandmother or some other relative) and the farther doesn't pay support.
The fact that the mother isn't taking care of her existing children doesn't stop her from getting pregnant again and it doesn't stop the father from sewing more seeds either. What is even worse is when she is pregnant by another man and he gets another woman pregnant. Thus starting another round of non-care and non-support.
First hand, it is a disturbing sight.
Posted by: Bob on July 15, 2004 06:52 PM
I think the whole idea is stupid, but I don't know if I agree with your conclusion on this. Yes, both parents are responsible and should be held accountable. However, in the case where the father is not paying child support, that infers that the mother is doing her part raising the child and the father is supposed to be doing his part, paying the support. If he doesn't, there is no reason the mother should be penalized for the father's lack of responsibility.
Posted by: David on July 15, 2004 05:51 PM