Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Tagging the ragtags

The British Child Support agency is considering new measures to make 'deadbeat dads' cough up.

I'll say it again. If the welfare state wasn't paying an income for single parenting most of the genuine 'deadbeats' wouldn't find a repository for their sperm.

And when are we going to hear about the 'deadbeat mums'? The number of fathers raising their kids on welfare is growing steadily. In NZ it is particularly noticeable with Maori. In February 49 percent of the almost 13,000 single fathers on welfare were Maori.

The Child Support agency is wasting its time and more of the taxpayers money. Deal with the problem at its heart or forget it.

7 comments:

Oswald Bastable said...

It is genetically programmed into men to spread their DNA, as if with a fire hose.

You are dead right in your reasoning, that without the lack of incentive NOT to get impregnated by Tom, Dick or Harry, we have to rely on the above players taking all precautions- something that goes totally against their programming!

It may not be PC, but the ball is in the women's court. Has been from the dawn of time. The current reproducing generation need to seriously up their game. Tom, Dick & Harry will also have to up their's- or seek professional services and pay up front.

A far cheaper option in the long run!

One of the problems in affecting change is that EVERONE knows somebody on the DBP and can't bring themself to speak out when a friend or family member is in that category.

Best harden up, as they are slowly dragging us all down...

Anonymous said...

Lindsay Mitchell - I have hesitated to comment here, but let's face it - you are a traditionalist - not a libertarian - and you give libertarianism a bad name.

Your previous posts on child support are appallingly conservative - how women are to blame for marriage breakups and carry the sole responsibility for contraception. This was the train of thought 60 years ago. Do you really want to return to this? When women were pariahs for divorcing their inadequate husbands?

Women are human beings, and should therefore have the same rights and freedom as all other human beings: This was the fundamental insight of the early generations of feminist pioneers.

I am appalled at your misogyny dressed up as opposition to the welfare state.

Anonymous said...

Ruth: Let's be honest here. In NZ libertarianism already has a bad name because of the kind of unpleasaant people who have used the term for themselves. it was ruined by a vicious radio talk show host long ago. And nothing on Lindsay's blog mentions libertarianism. Personally I think she is one but don't blame her for not using the label. It has lost it's value. Now, of course, you are right that women are entitled to all the rights of men but I never saw Lindsay argue otherwise.

Oswald Bastable said...

"...how women are to blame for marriage breakups and carry the sole responsibility for contraception. This was the train of thought 60 years ago..."

60 years ago, there was no contaceptive pill, IUD, etc. Just condoms that men wouldn't use/purchase.
Bottom line- they are the ones that carry the burden of an unwanted pregnancy and the consequent child-raising. They are very fond of reminding us of this! It necessarily follows that it is in their self-interest that they take the practical steps to stay out of this mess.

Part of which is laying down the rules to men- no party hat, no party!

Surely this is empowering- women in control of their own destiny!



"Do you really want to return to this? When women were pariahs for divorcing their inadequate husbands?"

What return?- now you can live together without the stigma of past generations and discover each others inadequacies first. Days gone by there was no such oportunity. Also gone is the absence of contraception and information about the same.

Michael said...

Ruth - Liberterianism is a freedom from the state in both social and financial sense. Lindsay is arguing that by making parents responsible for their actions - men and women - then we are all free from the state to make our own choices regarding reproduction.

In 1972, when Labour (under Kirk)came to power and started social welfare. The aim was that you recieve an income equal to a low wage earner so you can fully participate in society. It was predicted that welfare recipients would fall. There has been a massive blowout in numbers of welfare recipients and now we have an underclass of long-term beneficiaries.

Why? The incentives in the system are geared against mnaking a go of yourself. Despite these incentives, thousands make a go of it and get somewhere. However, thousands make an equal go of taking advantage of those incentives - among them young men who think with their penis.

If girls knew that getting pregnant to a man who couldn't support them and their child (with no backstop) would you have unprotected sex? If the man knew that having a baby meant a heavy financial burden would he have unprotected sex?

It's often been pointed out that you need a licence to own a dog but they let any old butthead be a parent.

Anonymous said...

"It's often been pointed out that you need a licence to own a dog but they let any old butthead be a parent."

Well said!....and I suspect rather close to the bone for our Ruyh! ;-)

Anonymous said...

"Ruth" I meant! ;-)