ON DEADBEAT MOMS AND DADS, AND A LITTLE HISTORY PART 2

I decided to post the third comment from "Anonymous" that appears after "On Deadbeat Moms and Dads..." because I wanted to discuss it briefly. Here is the comment:

"So why aren't you paying your child support if you love them so much? Do you think that clothes, food and the rest just fall from the sky? Do you think your excuses put food on their table? Although, truthfully they may be better off not knowing what a deadbeat their father is. What kind of man doesn't financially provide for his minor children? (that's a rhetorical question, by the way)"

And here is my rebuttal:

Anon's comment is typically American; it is one that ignores the body of the issues and focuses solely on one small aspect, and that aspect is always dollar-driven. Shortsighted, knee-jerk comments and actions are an unflattering trait we in the United States have developed over time, and they have led to debacles such as the Iraq War.

Your comment, "Anonymous" is the "drill baby drill" chant all over again.

"Anons" inability to look beyond today and look to the brighter future (thus the reason I am pursuing my University education) has become synonymous with American Culture today: Trade long term (future) stability for a quick profit today.

This mind set has driven our nation into deep economic trouble, just as the policies of the OCSE have driven families into deep economic trouble.

Couple the discriminatory policies of the OCSE with Conservatives, Democrat and Republican alike, that continue to allow the outsourcing of good manufacturing jobs, continue to slash money for education, and continue to slash social programs (while propping up our defense department) and you get economic hell for working families.

The Conservative Democrats and Republicans believe, as you probably do "Anon," that scrapping food programs for the poor children of our nation, or denying health care and education to millions of Americans is going to force poor working families into the middle class or beyond, so magically the world becomes an economic utopia for all.

That idea was bullshit when Ronald Reagan and Milton Friedman sold it to us in 1981 and it remains bullshit to this day.

"Anon"- get the back story right next time, read my posts in their entirety, and realize abusive comments designed to denigrate me regarding support and visitation with my children create not only dysfunction in the children, they also strengthen my tenacity (and my desire) in the fight for equality in this horribly skewed, abusive "child support" system in place in the U.S. today.

Thanks for the comment, "Anon", don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.

Peace, Searchers, we do need a systemic change in America.

Oh Yeah-The face of a true "Deadbeat Dad" Arkansas State Representative Pat Flanagin:
image

COMMITING MYSELF TO A CRUSADE (JIHAD) FOR CHANGE

Over the past 15 years or so I have had the distinct pleasure of dealing with the Office of Child Support Enforcement in the state of Arkansas. It has been a rocky and contentious decade and a half, with corruption, discrimination, bureaucratic bullshit, and general apathy from the government toward families. This is going to change. I cannot devote this blog exclusively to the child support problem but I will give some place to it.

I spoke with Dan McDonald today, administrator of the Office of Child Support(Extortion) Enforcement for the State of Arkansas. We had a 40 minute conversation with me outlining the issues working families face when the Government steps in and robs working families of at least 50% of pre-tax income. In this particular situation, the money that is taken from my paycheck is used to pay down a debt acquired by the custodial parent when the custodial parent applied for and received certain types of state aid.

As Mr. McDonald indicated the C.P. is required by law, that is forced, coerced, etc., to give up rights to any child support collected by the state. In other words, the state is robbing one family and taking the money and putting it in the state coffers. This policy is reprehensible especially coming from such an obviously Christian state. Hell they're right in the middle of the bible belt yet they extort money from families to give it to the greedy bureaucrats.

I also spoke briefly with state Senator Paul Miller, and bless his heart he sounds like a confused old man, the equivalent of John McCain wandering around the stage during the Presidential debate, just a guy on the verge of dementia. Don't get me wrong, his picture makes him look nice enough, but it was like talking to your old grandpa that just isn't firing on all cylinders

I have attempted to contact state Senator Tracy Steele today to no avail, back after it tomorrow.

Over time I will identify more and more my stances on issues regarding the OCSE. Suffice it to say, I believe a consensus can be reached that will benefit families, although the state will definitely lose revenue, because it isn't about the state you dumb asses, it is about the families.

I full believe that the current policies in place by the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement lead to:
1. Increased alcohol abuse

2. Increased drug use.

3. Mental health issues

4. Physical health issues

5. Domestic violence.

By his own admission, Mr. McDonald doesn't agree with parts of the 34 year old system but until I get reform pushed through, he made it clear that he is, in fact, just another mid-level bureaucrat interested in maintaining the status quo.

As stated earlier, I will be contacting various elected officials around the State of Arkansas as well as Washington State, as Washington has a reciprocity agreement with the other 49 to commandeer paychecks and keep working families trying to obtain an education in abject poverty. This is a fact, a despicable one, and it is a discriminatory practice, an injustice I intend to rectify.

Stay tuned, Searchers-
Peace and Onward!

Post Script-for the future I am going to refer to non-custodial parents as NCP's and custodial parents as CP's...peace