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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 val

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.

russdill 11mo ago
So, what, pay someone a full time salary for caring for 1 or two children? Pretty sure that doesn't scale
- georgeburdell 11mo ago
  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
  - russdill 11mo ago
    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.
    - frumplestlatz 11mo ago
      > Outside the home childcare is not 24/7. No, but it is during our most productive, aware, and valuable daylight hours. > Also, it's really weird to be making this argument for mothers and not fathers. In the context of human history, it’s not weird at all. > Having childcare available gives the opportunity for both parents to spend more quality time with their children. How? It reduces the time children spend with a parent, and it creates a world in which both parents have to work just to afford having children.
      - russdill 11mo ago
        I suppose in the context of human history, you might argue to enslave a population based on racial characteristics in order to provide childcare. For many families, both parents have to work. Most time spent not working or sleeping is spent doing a task simultaneously with childcare. Cleaning, preparing meals, repairing things, laundry, etc. Even for families where one individual shoulders the bulk of the burden this is largely the case.
        frumplestlatz 11mo ago
        Equating racism with the inherent biological sexual dimorphism of childbirth and infant care is certainly a take.
        russdill 11mo ago
        Look, if you want to justify your position by just pointing out that it's the way things have historically been done, expect to have it pointed out how ridiculous you are being. Anyway, Equating child care with the inherent biological sexual dimorphism of childbirth is certainly a take.
        frumplestlatz 11mo ago
        You conveniently left off “infant care”. Only one gender lactates, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If you want to talk about “ridiculous”, ignoring reality doesn’t make it any less real, no matter how much you might find it ideologically inconvenient.
        russdill 11mo ago
        You're the one moving the phrase from "child care" to "infant care". And by 6 months the majority of parents are using formula anyway. And there's a percentage of women that for whatever reason can't properly breastfeed. You're really grasping at straws here.
    - sib301 11mo ago
      The fact he only supports women staying at home should tell you everything you need to know about the caliber person you’re dealing with.
  - EasyMark 11mo ago
    It doesn't have to be mother at home. Roles can be reverse. I think it's very important to point that out.
__turbobrew__ 11mo ago
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…
sib301 11mo ago
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.
- EasyMark 11mo ago
  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.
mythrwy 11mo ago
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.

russdill 11mo ago

So, what, pay someone a full time salary for caring for 1 or two children? Pretty sure that doesn't scale

georgeburdell 11mo ago
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
- russdill 11mo ago
  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.
  - frumplestlatz 11mo ago
    > Outside the home childcare is not 24/7. No, but it is during our most productive, aware, and valuable daylight hours. > Also, it's really weird to be making this argument for mothers and not fathers. In the context of human history, it’s not weird at all. > Having childcare available gives the opportunity for both parents to spend more quality time with their children. How? It reduces the time children spend with a parent, and it creates a world in which both parents have to work just to afford having children.
    - russdill 11mo ago
      I suppose in the context of human history, you might argue to enslave a population based on racial characteristics in order to provide childcare. For many families, both parents have to work. Most time spent not working or sleeping is spent doing a task simultaneously with childcare. Cleaning, preparing meals, repairing things, laundry, etc. Even for families where one individual shoulders the bulk of the burden this is largely the case.
      - frumplestlatz 11mo ago
        Equating racism with the inherent biological sexual dimorphism of childbirth and infant care is certainly a take.
        russdill 11mo ago
        Look, if you want to justify your position by just pointing out that it's the way things have historically been done, expect to have it pointed out how ridiculous you are being. Anyway, Equating child care with the inherent biological sexual dimorphism of childbirth is certainly a take.
        frumplestlatz 11mo ago
        You conveniently left off “infant care”. Only one gender lactates, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If you want to talk about “ridiculous”, ignoring reality doesn’t make it any less real, no matter how much you might find it ideologically inconvenient.
        russdill 11mo ago
        You're the one moving the phrase from "child care" to "infant care". And by 6 months the majority of parents are using formula anyway. And there's a percentage of women that for whatever reason can't properly breastfeed. You're really grasping at straws here.
  - sib301 11mo ago
    The fact he only supports women staying at home should tell you everything you need to know about the caliber person you’re dealing with.
- EasyMark 11mo ago
  It doesn't have to be mother at home. Roles can be reverse. I think it's very important to point that out.

__turbobrew__ 11mo ago

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…

sib301 11mo ago

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.

EasyMark 11mo ago
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.

mythrwy 11mo ago

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.