A UK judge questions imbalance in father’s rights and Metafilter doesn’t, apparently, like it. “Yeah, yeah men get the shaft. Bla, bla, bla…. can we please move on.” Sadly, this generally sums up society’s view as well.
What is the answer? Let me say it, yet again.
1. A pill for men
2. Abolish “no-fault” divorce
3. Eliminate family court “guidelines” and enact standardized federal family court laws
4. Parents held equally accountable
1. A pill for men: It’s long overdue time to establish a means for birth control for men besides condoms, a vasectomy or, “just keep your pants on.” We hold women in no similar contempt.
2. Abolish “no-fault” divorce: Divorce rates rose 50% almost instantly when states adopted “no-fault” divorce standards. 40 of the 50 states don’t require both parties consent. Marriage isn’t a trap for domestic slave women anymore, it’s become one for men… only now it’s women who are left with the escape hatch. It plainly and simply would lower divorce rates as men and women will be judged equally by their actions in marriage. The American male is the most undervalued asset in our economy right now. There is virtually no incentive to find and keep a good one. Especially as long as unscrupulous women can exploit a system designed to reward them.
3. Eliminate family court “guidelines” and enact standardized federal family court laws: Currently, there is no such animal as “family law”. There are only guidelines. Each state has some laws that mainly govern parental conduct and support/visitation enforcement. However, within each state, the counties are responsible for trials and executing what little laws there are. That leaves 3086 independent jurisdictions, with multiple courts, making decisions about families independently… good decision and bad decisions alike. It’s time to take randomness and subjectivity out of the hands of the judges, state enforcement agencies, friends of the courts and family Independence agencies. There must be a way to author standard family laws that can still leave room for judicial interpretation and deviation in decision-making when needed. The focus has been too long upon making divorce easier for women. It needs to be focused upon making it harder for parents to get a divorce and easier for children when they do get a divorce.
4. Parents held equally accountable: Parental roles have changed irreversibly, women are no longer completely financially dependent upon men. Just as men are no longer completely dependent upon women as caregivers. It’s time for lawyers, friends of the court, family independence agencies and particularly judges to stop automatically “awarding” child custody to females by default. This is slowly changing, still the male is always listed as “Defendant” on court proceedings, even if he is the custodial parent. That is exactly the kind of thinking that must change. However, since financial matters are almost always top priority in these courts, then reform should move there next. For example, it’s long overdue time force to mothers to pay back state welfare “grants” using the same guidelines as fathers who must pay child support to the prospective states. Additionally, mothers who earn more money than fathers should receive a proportionate amount of support. Support guidelines are, quite frankly appallingly out of date, inaccurate, and discriminatory. To compound matters, judicial interpretation of those guidelines is the final bit of randomness and subjectivity that leads to complete disaster time and again in family court. Simply put, parental obligation does not end with financial duties with men, it’s due time that it is expected of women too.
Finally, women who defy court rulings should be jailed as quickly as men, pure and simple. Currently, family court is the only court under the constitution where a person can be arrested, charged, convicted, sentenced and jailed without an attorney present at any point of the process. How is that for discrimination?