Help me understand human nature

[Elok]

Yes, and that is the only thing keeping many SPFs alive. But those disintegrate as people move around and lose their support networks. And SPFs work poorly for generating extended families, because half the set in each generation is off who-knows where instead of bringing home revenue and building a stable future.

[Bereta_Eder]

In many countries an extended family is not what keeps SPF alive or make them flourish.
It's simple state laws put in order in such a way that each parent shoulders his/her part of the responsibility.
SPF could be harder than the two parent ones, and they could be a lot easier.

But I would say that SPF work splendidly for getting together extended families (there's an incentive and a real need). I suppose though that this would also depend on the family in question.

[Ben Kenobi]

It's simple state laws put in order in such a way that each parent shoulders his/her part of the responsibility.

One, it's more costly to the state (consumes resources) to enforce support payments.
Two, it's less productive to do it this way.
Three, the burden of having to support two households consumes considerable resources.

[Kidlicious]

Comes down to kids and dads go together like chocolate and peanut butter. The feminists are wrong. Told ya.

Sadly, too many people think kids don't really benefit from daddy. Even mediocre fathers benefit kids, and uncles are no real substitute.

[Ben Kenobi]

Kid was associating homelessness with addiction levels.

A substantial proportion of those homeless are addicts.

[C0ckney]

There's a snowball effect at work; single-parent children tend to have single-parent children of their own, and so on. And since SP is associated with earlier pregnancy, earlier sexual activity, worse academic performance, etc., the problem is going to increasingly erode the social safety net designed to contain or mitigate it. You can't tax predestinate paupers in order to support them. The problem isn't so bad now, but it is getting worse. As to what could be done: nothing by force or fiat. But if the problem gets bad enough, I imagine that the social mores which rolled in one direction will start rolling in the other. Of course, it will be much more difficult to roll them back, and the increased poverty will be vicious and painful, but . . .

i think most of this is true, but perhaps we could sum up the various problems in one word: poverty; at least in relative terms.

i don't agree that social mores are likely to roll back in the other direction. the factors that have contributed to the present situation are not going into reverse. i suspect that in the long term the solutions are likely to be collective, but non-family ones. we already see this to an extent with state crèches and similar measures, combined with financial support, are likely to employed for the foreseeable future.

[Ben Kenobi]

i don't agree that social mores are likely to roll back in the other direction. the factors that have contributed to the present situation are not going into reverse.

Who's going to pay for it all, Cockney? You're not even going to run things on your own little island anymore, let alone have any say on anything ever again. It's not going to be your decision.

[C0ckney]

i have no idea what you're talking about.

[Ben Kenobi]

i have no idea what you're talking about.

Aren't you British? That whole, referendum thingy?

[C0ckney]

what does that have to do with the price of tea in china?

[Kidlicious]

i think most of this is true, but perhaps we could sum up the various problems in one word: poverty; at least in relative terms.

i don't agree that social mores are likely to roll back in the other direction. the factors that have contributed to the present situation are not going into reverse. i suspect that in the long term the solutions are likely to be collective, but non-family ones. we already see this to an extent with state crèches and similar measures, combined with financial support, are likely to employed for the foreseeable future.

People tend to get very reasonable in the face of failure.

[Bereta_Eder]

Actually the UK is among the vangaurd countries in respecting and aiding single parent families.
On that note, I'd like to point out the increasing number of people sporting the british flag on their t-shirts on the streets.
A kind of vintage, weathered unionjack. It's quite pleasing aesthetically.

[Bereta_Eder]

On the matter of some opinions presented here, those fortunately are firmly confined to the timechest of history.
Their reiteration only serves in further marginalizing the culprit.
Normally, I'd feel some sympathy for the weak and the defeated but in this instance I just get the urge to laugh at them like everyone else.

[regexcellent]

I'm still amazed that this thread got from pictures of Jennifer Lawrence's boobs (DEAR FBI: TOTALLY NOT PRESENT ON MY HARD DRIVE) to the social dilemma of single parenthood.

That said, since we're on that topic now--I think a large factor in single parenthood in the United States is aid for families with dependent children (AFDC) and our welfare system encouraging parents to split up or never get married. A guaranteed income of some kind is probably a better solution.

[Kidlicious]

On the matter of some opinions presented here, those fortunately are firmly confined to the timechest of history.
Their reiteration only serves in further marginalizing the culprit.
Normally, I'd feel some sympathy for the weak and the defeated but in this instance I just get the urge to laugh at them like everyone else.

People who say "divorce won't hurt my kids," hurt their kids.