03-09-2006, 05:50 AM
This is very dangerous ground to be treading upon, and there are very convincing arguments on both sides of the issue. However, I think this fact (quoted form the article) will be the deciding factor:
Obviously the system can be abused by women who specifically target certain men in order to rake in the child support, but I'm just uneasy about taking the system to the other extreme. In this case, if the woman did indeed dupe him by claiming she had a medical condition that prevented her from getting pregnant, then he should be able to opt out of the child support (and Child Services should take a hard, long look into this woman if she is indeed attempting to leverage children as a monthly payment). On the other hand, I get quesy thinking about a man getting a woman pregnant, she decides to keep the baby for moral/religious reasons and then the man washes his hands of the situation and leaves never to be seen again. Asking people to put their ethics (whether you agree with abortion or not, some people do not) on the block against additional financial burden is a big 'ol mess. Many won't be satisfied when you say "Well, you could have betrayed your beliefs. But you didn't. Your fault."
I think there's a whole lot wrong with gender dynamics in this country - the aforementioned lack of "dead-beat mommy" laws by Doc being a prime example - but this is one case where men are just going to have to suck it up and accept the fact that the system isn't 100% fair all the time. I don't like it (especially since I'm a bleeding heart idealist), but the greater good demands that the children always have enough money to be adequately cared for.
Here's a simple fix that will help 99.99% of these unfortunate situations: wear a condom unless you're 110% sure that she is medically unable to be pregnant, she's on the pill (even then it's still a good idea to wear one), etc.
Quote:State courts have ruled in the past that any inequity experienced by men like Dubay is outweighed by society's interest in ensuring that children get financial support from two parents.
Obviously the system can be abused by women who specifically target certain men in order to rake in the child support, but I'm just uneasy about taking the system to the other extreme. In this case, if the woman did indeed dupe him by claiming she had a medical condition that prevented her from getting pregnant, then he should be able to opt out of the child support (and Child Services should take a hard, long look into this woman if she is indeed attempting to leverage children as a monthly payment). On the other hand, I get quesy thinking about a man getting a woman pregnant, she decides to keep the baby for moral/religious reasons and then the man washes his hands of the situation and leaves never to be seen again. Asking people to put their ethics (whether you agree with abortion or not, some people do not) on the block against additional financial burden is a big 'ol mess. Many won't be satisfied when you say "Well, you could have betrayed your beliefs. But you didn't. Your fault."
I think there's a whole lot wrong with gender dynamics in this country - the aforementioned lack of "dead-beat mommy" laws by Doc being a prime example - but this is one case where men are just going to have to suck it up and accept the fact that the system isn't 100% fair all the time. I don't like it (especially since I'm a bleeding heart idealist), but the greater good demands that the children always have enough money to be adequately cared for.
Here's a simple fix that will help 99.99% of these unfortunate situations: wear a condom unless you're 110% sure that she is medically unable to be pregnant, she's on the pill (even then it's still a good idea to wear one), etc.
--Mith
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London