Does America want Moms to stay at home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Does America want Moms to stay at home?
987
Mon, 12-12-2005 - 11:28am
It was actually dh that suggested that America (gov't I suppose) wants Moms to stay at home. From what I have learned from these boards daycare is hideously expensive and maternity leave is very short. Many have said they couldn't afford to work because of daycare costs. Compare this to Canada where we have $7 a day daycare and Quebec is increasing maternity leave to 2 years at 55% pay or 1 year at 75% pay in January. With the $7 a day daycare Moms can easily afford to work, and with the paid maternity leave Moms can easily afford to stay home. It seems that in the states you're 'forced' into situations because it's your only option. Can't afford daycare? Stay at home. Maternity leave too short or have to work to support the family? Go back to work. Would any of you prefer if it would be easier financially to make either decision like it seems to be in Canada or are you fine with how it is?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:36pm

>>Do you think your tax dollars should pay for my health care? I only spent a year and half working full time.>>

Yes, I do. I don't think your access to healthcare should depend on your work status.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:37pm

<>

Yep. I'm preparing right now, grant proposals for literally $5-6 million in federal funding. And that's just this week. Our University, in 2005, received (and then expended back into the economy) over $33MILLION dollars in federal research funding.

Laura, if you're reading this ... does Sweden have programs like this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:37pm
As far as I know health insurance doesn't even cover those things, and you're paying for it. You don't see any benefit for basic healthcare being available to all?
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:38pm

You are suggesting we need to make it easier for Americans to evade taxation? I guess that's part of having old money - knowing the most advantageous tax havens..."

I'm telling you you are missinformed if you believe that the rest of the world has higher taxes. Which you implied when you said that we'd need to take their "taxes and other policies" along with the extended maternity leave.

This has nothing to do with old money...it has to do with having made money overseas...and comparing the tax treatment of other expats with my own. That and working in financial services in a tax haven for 5 years PNJ.

I think 12/16 weeks is fine. "More than enough" as in, we don't need a year with partial pay for maternity leave."

You might not "need" it but most working women I know would like to have the option. It wouldnt be mandatory so those who didnt "need" it like you -- could go back in a few days if you'd prefer! No one was stopping you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:39pm
Watch it CM, you're slipping to the left...
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-11-2005
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:39pm
thank you once again cm for your true honesty! her dh isn't working his a$$ off anymore than many dhs do........my dh worked his a$$ off working 2, 3 jobs after graduating h.s., being the first one to graduate college in his whole family and not having the luxury of even hand me downs when we first got married..everything we own, from stocks and bonds to our children's adorable sleigh beds in their rooms is very very very hard earned.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:40pm
B/c I am not married to my money. I am married to my husband.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:40pm
And it's not as if those things are bad. It's just that the country as a whole would have to decide what they'd rather have. When was the last time that the country as a whole agreed on anything. Joe may want to cut research grants, Bob may want to cut environmental spending, Larry may want to cut support for national parks, Earl may want to cut spending on transportation. Never happen. Unfortunately.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:42pm
I know I know. I still don't believe in minimum wage and I support a flat tax though. Wehre does that put me... ;)
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 4:42pm

And for many companies, long maternity leaves result in a huge increase in cost (hiring temp replacements, training, loss of production, etc). Implement it as mandatory and small businesses all over the country shut down and millions lose their jobs."

You could easily exempt small businesses the same way they are exempt from offering other benefits that large companies must offer.

Which is why I think companies who will benefit from it (those you spoke of) *should* offer it. Not because the govt says they have to, but because it is good for them. And those companies who won't benefit from it, shouldn't offer it."

Sounds fine but it doesnt work that way. Like SOX compliance; companies need to be told to do it (and that's a good example since SOX is only for public companies, not small private ones) or most all won't.

It's called a free-market economy."

Gee...so ya think we should do away with all business regulation? We can have business regulation and free-market economy...oh wait...we already do.

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