Well.... I just spent a kazillion hours going through and reading this whole topic.
Mast I am sorry you are having such a hard time, but I am even sadder there is a child sitting in the middle of it. Kat and the others are right though what your previous partner does in terms of work or not really has nothing to do with you. Your only concern is your child. Is it at all possible to attempt to establish where all the angst came between you both so that somehow the differences can be put aside for the sake of your child if nothing else? Usually it takes one of you to be the better person.
Child support systems are fundamentally flawed in all countries even mine ( Australia- though ours at least seems based on the ability to pay. From memory a base subsistance rate is subtracted from the gross income before any deductions are calculated... rates are also subtracted for any children that the payee is caring for and supporting) and are rarely a fair and equitable system ...
I receive a child support payment of 21.60 per month, which is a joke and I laugh my ass off everytime that check comes in. However I will say this, If I was earning 100k plus per annum I'd still take that token cheque.
Firestreak I don't know whether you just irk me everytime you open your mouth to make a comment but give a little thought to the comments you make.
Firestreak said:
Custody of the kid becomes a bullet proof shield. The mother(not always) who has custody can do no wrong now in the states eyes. If she doesn't earn enough to support her child, then the state will pay her out of everyone's taxes.
The problem is when the mother is lazy and neglectful. The system sets mostly fair but sometimes unjust punishment on the father who isn't the primary caregiver(usually) - but simultaneously has no standards whatsoever on the mother for "the best of the child."
Because apparently it's the best of the child that his mom is living off welfare and his child support money, as opposed to living with a parent who is working, making money and then STILL getting money from his other parent.
Kick them off welfare, if they can't support the kid, give it to the other parent. Then if they don't get a job to send checks to that other parent, throw the bitch in jail! If he can get a job, no questions asked, so can she.
Welfare moms are a drain on the economy. They're parasites. And who's paying the welfare? The people who choose to work. Kat when you were out there working 2 jobs to get your daughter braces, this welfare mom was sitting at home, living off the taxes YOU paid, because the system allows such abuses. This is not an attack on you, it's an attack on then.
... With a correctly set up system both parents would be forced to work, both parents would be forced to be providing money for the children and one wouldn't be living off support while the other works two jobs and the kid still gets the bare minimum.
You said your self how expensive it is to pay for a child. But that's when you do it correctly. For these women out there who make no income, imagine what kind of care their kids get?
Given that all situations and circumstances are different, including geographic locations as well the ages ages of any children, who do you suggest would look after the said children while the custodian parent worked? Childcare ? Hmmm is it available and/or afforable? I can tell you from experience, after faily exorbitant childcare costs there was a stage where my net income was LESS than If I had stayed home and tended to my child.
I believe you also suggest taking people off welfare after 6 months, apparently you don't see a problem in creating a third world poverty system.
"Welfare moms are a drain on the economy.." Are they ? What of those truly decent welfare mothers who strive to provide support and guidance to their children, who in turn may end up become decent adults, who in turn end up paying your Old age pension ( if you guys even have that in the Land of Hope and Glory).
What about those mothers or fathers who have no workplace skills because they were the stay-at-home parent so their spouse could earn the income and who are hmm say 40 ish and find themselves all of a sudden a "welfare" parent. What exactly are their employment opportunities? Have you ever heard of age discrimination?
You even make assumptions that the non custodial parent is equipped to deal with custody of a child ...they actually may not be for a variety of reasons.
Go and look at the percentage of your GDP spent on welfare...in particular look at the percentage spent on your so called "parasites". I am going to assume the percentage is minute in comparison to other areas of wastage.
Also, define this "lazy and neglectful" for me? I am sure there is a large majority of "welfare" parents out there that didn't deliberatley set out to become that and are doing the best they can to raise decent human beings.
