Repairing The Child Support System in America

Resolving the child support system in the Unitednearly 25% of the fathers income to support a child
States would be a very complex maneuver forhow come they pay so little?
anyone to tackle and most politicians do not want toFurthermore the father has to provide health
because of the severe ramifications of the outcome.insurance for his children. Well, this is not a bad thing
It is always said that we should do something abouteither; but, let us see how it goes. The father pays
the deadbeat dads. There are several of themfor health insurance and if he does not or can not
anyone would agree. This is not the only problemprovide it that is alright. Sure it is , the state gives
though. There are mothers who also abandon theirthe mother medicaid and the father gets to
children and a father has the same problems areimburse the state for the costs of any services
mother would. The only exception would be the childrendered.
support system. A father has a harder time receivingThe big to do is that the father usually has to work
benefits to help his children than a mother would.so much to make ends meet that he has little time
Back to point though is the fairness of the childwith his children. That is unless the mother needs a
support system to the parents. If a man and womanbreak or the child is trouble for the mother. At which
divorce with a child, the court takes a percentage ofpoint she does not relinquish custody but lets the
the fathers income. Now I am not arguing the pointchild stay with the father daily.
that a father should not support his child. He shouldThe best way to curb abuse of the child support
at whatever the cost as should the mother. Thesystem is quite simple really. Assuming no parent is
percentage of income a father has to pay, dependingabusive, or a substance abuser, or in any other way
on his job, is quite substantial.going to harm a child custody should go to the
If a man makes $15 an hour here in Tennessee, thatparent who has the ablility to provide and raise the
is $600 weekly. For one child he must pay 24% ofchild without monetary support from the state.
his income only after social security has beenAs far as young mothers, well, someone should have
deducted which is $144 per week. This coupled withtaught them how to plan their lives and know what
food stamps and an AFDC check for the mothercauses pregnancy. If this was done then she should
usually means the mother does not have to seekhave known better. What it all boils down to in a
gainful employment or further her education. I knownutshell is the child is the one we do not want to
there is talk of making mothers find work. It happenssuffer. I do not care if the father has to work two
occasionally, and continuing her education, well, if shejobs or more and I do not care if the mother has no
wants and we can foot the bill for that as well.social life and has to work for minimum wage. The
The same mother can go to the department ofchild is the one that should not be hurt and should be
human services and apply for her AFDC check andcompensated for. Not the parents. For this to happen
say that she does not know who the father is andthough both parents should be treated as equals and
here in Tennessee her check is a little over $100 perthen custody go to the parent that can provide for
month. Now, if the state seems to think it takesthe childs wants and needs.