A Modest Proposal

Today's print column is up. It's about a mom trying to get child support from the ultimate deadbeat dad.

Here's Spencerblog's suggestion: End parental rights for fathers who have not married the mothers of their children. Also end the legal responsibilities of fathers who have not married their children's mothers. Make it a completely voluntary system, worked out by the parties involved.

If it is a "woman's right to choose" whether or not to have a baby or kill it, it should be a man's right to choose whether or not to be a father to it and support it.

Such an approach will end the preverse incentive for young women to get pregnant outside of marriage, believing that the biological father can and will be forced to support their children.

What? You say. Young women get pregnant by mistake, not intentionally. You'd be surprised at the number of girls who get pregnant on purpose. In any case, sexual carelessness and promiscuity should not be subsidized.

Society should not positively incentivize the creation of single-parent families for they are the greatest predictor of failure in children to grow up whole and productive.

Across all race and class lines, it's kids who grow up in two-parent families who do the best in school and the best in life.

There are, of course, plenty of kids who do fine as the products of divorce or growing up in single family homes. Divorced parents who care about their kids will work hard and together to mitigate that tragedy. And divorced men should be required by law to financially support to the children that had while married.

But women who choose to have children out of wedlock would have to do so with the understanding they are on their own as far as the government is concerned. They will be at the mercy of their families and social networks they have and can build.

In Eve's case, she met and had a second child with another man, with whom she lives. Presumably he supports her, his son and the deadbeat's son. Good for her.

Is Spencerblog being cruel? No. Tough? Yes. Especially by today's standards. But at least it will make clear the daunting task of single parenthood for the one person who will be most responsible if they get pregnant and carry the baby to term.

There will, of course, still be plenty of charities, adoption agencies and other helpful civic organizations concerned about the welfare of children. Strong CYS departments will still be needed to investigate abuse and neglect cases and take children away from abusive or neglectful mothers or fathers.

Having a child is an act of heroism. Raising a child requires, patience, hard-work and sacrifice that is well-mitigated by the love a parent gets in return.

But mothers, fathers, children and worst of all FAMILIES, are not helped by a Domestic Relations system that pretends to work but doesn't.