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Forum Post: A living wage for parents

Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 8, 2011, noon EST by VladimirMayakovsky (796)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Should parents have to work? Isn't raising kids the most important job in the world? Shouldn't society subsidize parents who are raising kids who are the future of society, who themselves will become parents one day and raise the next generation of parents?

What about a living wage for both parents so that they can stay home and raise their kids? Do we really want schools to be raising kids?

18 Comments

18 Comments


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[-] 1 points by Rico (3027) 13 years ago

Not all parents are qualified to be parents, and we perpetuate the welfare class when we raise children in an environment that teaches them nothing but drugs and violence.

Here's a REALLY RADICAL idea for you to chew on ....

Perhaps those that can't afford to stay off public support should be employed on public infrastructure projects and their children raised in state monitored (not run) orphanages until such time as the parents can get back on their feet and provide for them. In this way, the children are not raised in a dysfunctional environment and we break the cycle of poverty.

I KNOW this is radical, but it's not unlike what often occurred during the Great Depression. My father was one such Depression orphan. His parents left him at the orphanage while they went to different places in the country where they could find work. Once things got better, they reclaimed him. He had nothing but fond memories of his time at the orphanage and often stated it was likely far better for him than traveling around with a parent, living in a worker camp, etc, as he had a stable "home," stable friendships, uninterrupted schooling, etc.

By the way, are you an American Citizen ?

Perhaps

[-] 0 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

Is this a solution you are proposing for MikeD's ghetto of white trash families residing in Alameda, or are you proposing this nation wide?

Come to the party: http://occupywallst.org/forum/a-living-wage-for-mothers/

[-] 1 points by Rico (3027) 13 years ago

The thought was spawned watching the PBS special on how we might fix the graduation rate of African American's in our inner-city High Schools. Much of the discussion by the teachers centered on the problems dealing with the environment the children are raised in. I remember my father's experience and thought perhaps that's ONE solution to breaking the cycle. There may be others.

It might apply at ANY level from the community to the Nation.

[-] 0 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

OK thanks. I'll tell Mickey D about it.

[-] -2 points by VladimirMayakovsky (796) 13 years ago

I do not agree. Parents should be raising their kids not strangers. Trouble is parents these days have to work to raise their kids which was not the case in the past. Bring back those good days before the 1% stole all the wealth of the 99%

[-] 0 points by Rico (3027) 13 years ago

What about the case where the sole parent is a drug addict living on welfare ?

[-] 1 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

This link provides interesting information pertaining to your suggestion.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/a-living-wage-for-mothers/

[-] 0 points by VladimirMayakovsky (796) 13 years ago

Why should fathers be left behind? Don't fathers deserve a living wage too? It is sexist to just allow mothers to stay at home.

[-] 1 points by powertothepeople (1264) 13 years ago

Equal opportunity troll posts!

[-] 0 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

Agreed, but your comment would have a stronger effect in the other discussion. You're isolated in the cold here. Come back inside to the party.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/a-living-wage-for-mothers/

[-] 0 points by Snoggles184 (19) 13 years ago

Sounds like you don't want to work. Laziness sir.

[-] 0 points by TaggartRR (1) 13 years ago

I agree. This is great. As a father of 3 I would love for someone to pay me to stay home and raise my children. Where do I sign?

[-] -1 points by jayp74 (195) 13 years ago

No, parents shouldn't have to work. There is already a system in place for this. It's called TANF ("Temporary" Assistance for Needy Families) and is why there is an endless cycle of poverty in every ghetto in every major city in America. It's goes like this:

For females: Step 1: Get pregnant at 15. Step 2: Raise child yourself with help of 30 something grandmother while collecting welfare, buying food with food stamps and living in government subsidized housing and getting free healthcare. Step 3 (15 years later) - see step 1

For males: Step 1: Drop out of school and join gang at 16. Step 2: Get female pregnant. Step 3: Go in and out of jail for rest of life (if not killed) - getting free food, housing and healthcare.

This system already exists. What do you propose to change?

[-] -1 points by raines (699) 13 years ago

A living wage for parents so that they can stay home and raise their kids? That's called WELFARE.

[-] -1 points by JohnnyO (119) 13 years ago

Yeah! Give them a house, food and a little booze too.

[-] -2 points by VladimirMayakovsky (796) 13 years ago

I also think grandparents shouldn't have to work because kids learn a lot from their grandparents. Come on, we are talking kids here, the next generation of Americans who will have their own kids and raise those kids to produce more kids in turn. How can we not subsidize parents and grandparents.

PS: Great grandparents and people without kids and the 1% can work. Everyone else should get a free ride.

[-] -2 points by VladimirMayakovsky (796) 13 years ago

I am an American citizen and I think it is a shame that working class parents have to work when the 1% are so rich. Why not redistribute the wealth so that working class parents can do the most important job in the world - raise their kids?

[-] -1 points by JohnnyO (119) 13 years ago

The 1% don't pump out a lot if kids. Neither do many of the mid to upper classes. It's the poor that love to reproduce like rabbits and we taxpayers get to pay for their kids.