Report Claims That Single Parenting Costs the Nation $112 Billion Per Year
Tuesday April 22, 2008
I get so tired of the blame that society places on single parents. A prime example is a report released last week, titled "The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing: First-Ever Estimates for the Nation and for All Fifty States." In it, researcher Benjamin Scafidi, an economics professor at Georgia State University, claims that "family fragmentation," a result of both divorce and unwed childbearing, costs the American public an estimated $112 billion per year.
I find it interesting that the report was sponsored by four groups: The Institute for American Values, The Georgia Family Council, The Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest. As far as I can tell, the intent behind the report is to gain support among legislators and policy makers for funding pro-marriage education and programs.
Now, I'm sure such programs would have merit. However, I don't believe that disparaging hard-working single parents is the only route to gaining the funding and support these groups seek.
Perhaps the report's researchers don't intend to place the blame on single parents, but isn't that the conclusion that the general public reaches when they read headlines such as Study: Single Parents Cost Taxpayers $112 Billion?
And let's face it, preventing tomorrow's divorces is noble, but it isn't going to change the costs associated with assisting the nearly 14 million single parents who are currently raising children on their own in the U.S.
And let's not ignore the fact that the current total "deficit," if you will, in unpaid child support also surpasses $100 billion. What if instead of ragging on single parents, we actually held "deadbeat" parents accountable for the financial costs associated with raising their own children, and put even a fraction of the money these four organizations hope to allocate to healthy marriages into support programs for single parents? Imagine what a different outcome that would produce for the 21.2 million children being raised in single parent families today!
Related: Single Parent Statistics
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I find it interesting that the report was sponsored by four groups: The Institute for American Values, The Georgia Family Council, The Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest. As far as I can tell, the intent behind the report is to gain support among legislators and policy makers for funding pro-marriage education and programs.
Now, I'm sure such programs would have merit. However, I don't believe that disparaging hard-working single parents is the only route to gaining the funding and support these groups seek.
Perhaps the report's researchers don't intend to place the blame on single parents, but isn't that the conclusion that the general public reaches when they read headlines such as Study: Single Parents Cost Taxpayers $112 Billion?
And let's face it, preventing tomorrow's divorces is noble, but it isn't going to change the costs associated with assisting the nearly 14 million single parents who are currently raising children on their own in the U.S.
And let's not ignore the fact that the current total "deficit," if you will, in unpaid child support also surpasses $100 billion. What if instead of ragging on single parents, we actually held "deadbeat" parents accountable for the financial costs associated with raising their own children, and put even a fraction of the money these four organizations hope to allocate to healthy marriages into support programs for single parents? Imagine what a different outcome that would produce for the 21.2 million children being raised in single parent families today!
Related: Single Parent Statistics
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Comments
I have been a dead-beat dad since Nov 20, 2003. My ex told the state my job paid me $19.60per hour, when I have a last pay stub of $11.00per hour, I try to alway’s keep a job, and with over $50,000.00 in arrearage it just keeps getting worse. I was broke during our 13.5yr marriage, I brought my money home she had the entire check for family, and she worked. Her father told her (an only child to share herself) she left me in Kansas returning to NJ with our two sons, and I have not seen my youngest since he was 2yrs old, I can not afford representation, she wants it this way and so does the state of NJ. check out this story (609)267-3951 Monique was my wife, Isaiah and Elvon are our children, Monique is an only chld, and her father Mr. Jerome F. Hurley of 521 Stevens Drive was playing the pimp for his only child, and daughter. She had two pimps, the one on the street would kick her butt cause she would come home like she was in war, she worked for the burlington coat factory on 1800 Route 130 in Burlington NJ. I have contacted Gail Maller of the Federal Child Support Enforcement in Washington, the Governor, the Burlington County Superior Court. I have proof of the NJDOL code of ethics, along with many violations performed by the hearing officer, I am in the process of contacting the Secretary of state, whom revoked my pass-port privilages, by doing so imprisioned me in the very country which proposes to have freedom along with innocent until proven guilty. I am awaiting information from the I.R.S. as to figure out how the NJDOL could report wages of $11.00 per hr and $12.00per hr. yet take child support based on a nonreported job of $19.60per hr. being a citizen, in contract with the Federal Government, aren’t I to pay towards the National Deficit, and should it not reflect the same job of $19.60per hr. if it’s worth placing on my credit, reporting to Choice Point, and with an arreage of over $50,000.00 I am now a felon. Note: Three classifications of life-styles from loving husband & Father to Felon evading the law, yet holding jobs in the same line of work, yet living well beyond the self-sufficient level, homeless, and the only people that even know this job ever existed is the state of NJ., and they are keeping it a secret from the Better Business Bureau, I.R.S.. Fact is; Research Division Internal Revenue Service, looking since October of 2007 until present and yet to establish any job reporting my social number being paid $19.60per. hr. how is this possible when the I.R.S. files my taxes, and is responsible for reporting wage earning to the Federal Government for payment towards the National Deficit, It is my belief the State of NJ, is proving the I.R.S. to be moron’s of the hightest caliber. To date I receive no pay, sometimes just enought to wash at the laundry, and a few canned vegetables to last the week, because the homeless centers are feeding when I am working, and have completed when I finish work. I am doing all I can to see to it, that one day I will have my day in court. I have been frost bitten in my hands to the point of discoloration of my skin, the skin on my hands is so hard it breaks often and blood just flows, because of this courts decision. There is no doubt in my mind this “Child Support Hearing Officer; Mr. Larry M. Pauer” utilized his position as a weapon to commit my murder. His actions are not any different than any other person whom would take an individual out in the desert and leave them bound hands and feet, and just depart the area never to return. Is this not also murder, well maybe he feel that because state government is Soverign, and myself being a mere citizen and non-custodial parent my belief is he has modified the old slave law remember the 3/5th’s law which made is okay to hang colored people because they were not actually human, they came from the ape. Well it is my belief (Attorney Larry M. Pauer Esq., Child Support Hearing Officer, State of New Jersey Superior Court, Burlington County 08060.)being a non-constodial parent living this situation on a daily basic’s it is now legal in the state of NJ to kill the “Non-Costodial Parent” just as long as you deem it is in the best interest of the children and state that to the best of your knowledge it was for the almighty good of “CHILD-SUPPORT”
I never asked the state to do anything for me or my children, I am not on any state assistance, so why should my children need child support, Monique was the one with the white areas of her eye’s grey not white or red, staying out till 3am, leaving her job without clocking out to have sex with her johns, I told the court in the divorce proceeding, I worked hard and am a work aholic, and if this is what has me here today then I was attempting to pay all the bills I did not create, and my being here is well overdue, though it comes hard earned and well deserved. I never was one to have sex with another woman, try to figure what was under all the other ladies skirts, I made every attempt to be able to afford the one woman I married and support my family. Now I have all these individuals attempting to utilize nature and positions to kill me, my FICA score is based upon the untruths these individuals have written. I have spoken to many judges and each time my paper-work is incorrect now it is to the point I can not afford a stamp, they take $262.00 after taxes for child-support for two children, there are times at my job the work is so slow, I did not make 25hrs work week for three weeks straight, yet I return to work and during weeks like this, it does not matter the law say’s “You can’t take over 50% that was not written in the court order, nor was allow the non-custodial parent some type of contact information that telephone calls to children may be made, or ability to see where/how the children’s living arrangments are. From the beginning of this case FM 03-955-04 it began with me having arreage, by providing me with a false $8.60 per hr. difference in pay, and stating it was verified, since we have experienced cost of living increases to the now amount $260.00per week for two children, never has one letter been received to show what the money is being spent on, or how, I do not mind the money for child support, the way it is being conducted is truly a disposition. Each employer sees me a felon, I am watched all shift for possible company theft, my last job was so sweet to me they provided me with “Laid-Off Due to lack of work” and it they are experiencing a lack of work, it is one heck of an illusion. When the credit check is performed employer’s are afraid of dead-beats, doesn’t mean you are one, however if Attorney Larry M. Pauer Esq. Said you are a “Dead-Beat” you will need the “Proclamation to the Declaration of Independence” To even begin to turn things around, cause with what i am going throug i refuse to give up until I have him on the stand in a Federal Court room on trial for murder and punitive damages on three separate counts, Counts are to include and not limited to Isaiah Charles, Elvon Charles, father Edward Charles. I am also attempting to find out whom hired this individual to work for the state of NJ, for his performance is not what we the citizens expect from those with titles or Soverign represenatives.
Mr. Edward Duane Charles
PO Box 171316
Kansas City, Ks. 66117-0316
email: analysiscentralreview@yahoo.com
I agree that this report is very much a tool for the sponsors. If divorce is such a burden on society, why don’t states work harder to keep marriages together? The great state of Colorado, where I live, states in its statutes that Colorado supports marriage. However, all you need is $35 and you can file for a divorce for no reason at all!
Divorce must cost the divorced MUCH more than it costs society. All of a sudden, one family needs 2 homes, extra cars, extra gas, legal fees, travel costs, etc…. AND the divorced need to figure out how to support and provide for their family while still being there for their children. It’s a tall order for anyone!
I have (almost jokingly) told my friends that I believe that we could cut down on the divorce rate overnight if we just implement one simple rule: the parties that get divorced MUST have one of their fingers amputated! That might sound draconian, but they DID say “til DEATH do us part”, no? Compared to death, losing a digit doesn’t seem like all that much, does it? This would certainly ensure that only those that REALLY want to/need to get divorced, would do so. Knowing this going into it, young lovers will think three times about whether they really mean “til death do us part”.