Comment by georgeburdell
5 months ago
Ham-fisted reactionary policy versus attacking the root cause, which is 1) cost of living has now increased to require two working parents 2) The government values housewives at about $2k per year in tax credits. Let women stay at home and raise their children as they know best, and pay them for the cost of the service they provide.
You have a point but I live in New Mexico. It's not like many of these moms are suddenly going to become stellar parents with a $2K tax credit. The state has real issues with poverty, education and work ethic and it's often generational.
Giving children some stability, role models and nutrition early in life seems like a pretty good investment from my perspective.
If the state pulls it off without the usual mismanagement and graft remains to be seen but I applaud the effort.
In Canada, you cannot file taxes jointly, so income tax brackets are on an individual basis instead of on a couple basis. It really makes it expensive for a single parent to stay home as one person making 100k pays about 30% more income tax than two people making 50k.
Don’t give me free daycare, just make it so much less punishing to stay at home and take care of my kids.
All of it is kindof dumb, I pay a higher tax because joint filing is not a thing, and my increased tax pays for subsidized daycare…
So, what, pay someone a full time salary for caring for 1 or two children? Pretty sure that doesn't scale
If governments aren’t willing to value women at what their work at home is worth, they’re not serious about tackling the birthrate problem. Show me a country with universal childcare with a TFR above 2.1. It’s a cheap substitute for the love and attention only a mother can provide young children
Outside the home childcare is not 24/7. It's for a portion of the day. Also, it's really weird to be making this argument for mothers and not fathers.
Having childcare available gives the opportunity for both parents to spend more quality time with their children.
8 replies →
It doesn't have to be mother at home. Roles can be reverse. I think it's very important to point that out.
What if the husband wants to stay home and raise the kids?
Also no, women (or men) who stay home don’t “know best” by default. That knowledge is earned and requires intent.
Exactly. I was raised by two working parents who were very involved in my life, and I wasn't a "latchkey" kid by any means. While the "traditional" spouse at home does work out pretty well if the single wage earner can do well, to be sure. That doesn't mean other situations can't prosper. It's not a magically set up that is the solution for everyone.