Well, I agree completely with the axiom "you make 'em, you pay for 'em".
It's not even the money that angers me, as there is no accountability, to
anyone, of how child support is spent.  The State of Ohio is only too glad
to garnish my check, but their involvement stops there.  Lo these many
years, I've campaigned in Ohio for "payment in kind" vouchers where the
custodial parent got a percentage of the utilities paid, or clothing
vouchers, etc.--basically anything but cash.  This way, the non-custodial
parent's obligations could be met, but there would be "some" assurance that
the money was being used for the kids.

I plan on continuing to work for that cause even after my personal
obligation stops.  It's incredible how the media hypes the "dead-beat dad",
when there really is no norm to support it.  How do I know this?  I manage
the county's CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency) information center (as
well as all public media for the county: sherriff, coroner, board of
elections, etc.

The Columbus, Ohio metro area is considered one of the best "test markets"
in the country because our demographic almost perfectly matches that of the
whole US.  So, I can extrapolate child support data from what I know about
my own little microcosm.  The data does not bear out mass-media's portrayal
of "most" non-custodial dads being dead-beat.

Last night, the History Channel had a program outlining the German National
Socialist (Nazi) eugenics program.  Folks like us were either being
sterilized our killed outright.  The propaganda was that "eugenics"
(creating a pure Tuetonic race) was the only way to ensure Germany's
survival.  Any "cripples", "idiots", etc. were to be done away with for
their own good as well as for the good of German society as a whole.  German
media played this up and the people bought it, silly as it was.  Same thing
for the "dead-beat dad" syndrome.  The media created this "man" and the
public and politicians have latched onto it as gospel truth.

Sorry for the tangent.  BTW, did anyone else see this program?  If so, could
you believe that 94 year-old Nazi doctor was still spouting this drivel?
Incredible!

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: kate [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 6:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: current events


Kyle

I have had a couple of friends over the years  who lived on a supporting
parents pension + money from their ex husbands.
They had a much better time of it than I do.

I have always thought it is better to have a job. I tried to encourage my
friends to work even if it is just a few hours or one day a week. They could
not see the point. I felt they were not teaching their children that work is
a good idea.

Also met a lady who complained of paying her ex husband a lousy $25 a week
in child support (she did not work) and did not want to because she did not
want to pay more money!!!

I think child support should be paid for children and not be money for the
ex partner to muck around with.

Kate


Subject: Re: current events

Ah well, in Ohio, "Tender Years Doctrine" is the standard, meaning that a
child under age twelve will remain with Mom at all costs, unless Mom is
committed or in jail.  I didn't see the advantage in putting Adrienne
through the trauma of not seeing her Mom--my options were that 1) she remain
the residential parent or 2) I press charges that she had raped her sixteen
year old boyfriend in order to have her committed.

So, I paid my child support, purchased every stitch of clothes the kid ever
wore and bought groceries for her every week.  I am upset that the states
mandate support, but do nothing to ensure the money is being spent on the
child.  So, I was paying $550/month in support while Adrienne was in her
mom's home.  I will now be paying $1100/month for her to attend a private
liberal arts college near Philly (actually, the tuition is $26K/yr--she has
an academic scholarship for the other $13K).  My joy is based that my ex can
no longer live off her daughter's child support (and will have to rely on
the support from the other fathers whose children she bore).  Yes, one can
actually live a rather comfortable life living off of one's children.

But, I am a man, therefore I am suspect from the beginning, right Trisha?
Possibly you don't remember situations that were discussed prior to your
timely hiatus from the list?

If you are wanting to "pick a fight", let me know now.  I will not fight
you, nor will I respond to any more of your posts, public or private.