I'm pro-family. Are you?
There is so much in the world of politics and religion to blog about: the Social Security "crisis", the Condi "I didn't say WMDs were in Iraq" Rice confirmation hearings, the Alberto "torture czar" Gonzalez (un)confirmation hearings, and of course the fact that SpongeBob Sqaure Pants is gay.However, to avoid looking like I just tear down, I've got another positive option for pro-family, evangelicals to adopt. Why not extend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)? Why not legislate that women can have 6 months paid maternity and that fathers should have 2 weeks off with pay? In Britain the current rules are that mothers get 6 weeks at 90% pay and 20 weeks at about £100 a week. The Liberal Democrats have rolled out a program to increase that amount to £170/week if they get elected in the yet-to-be announced general election on May 5, 2005.
If Evangelicals are a positive force for the family, where is the problem? Fathers spend time with their newborn, mothers can care for their children during some of the most crucial phases and the family has a few months to transition to a lower income level. I am sure that some women have abortions because they don't think they can afford it and this would solve that one part of the problem.
Would this cost money? Sure. How much are stable families and strong relations between mothers, fathers and their children worth to you? The fact that one friend had to use up all his sick days and holidays to take 2 weeks off to spend with his newborn daughter is criminal. Now he must work for 52 consecutive weeks AND NOT GET SICK or his pay will be docked. Or another friend that had to use "short-term disability" to take off time with her newborn. Having a baby is a "disability"? Is this the culture of life we want to create? This is a law that everyone that is pro-family should be in favor of. Businesses may be against this extension, but again I ask you... How much are stable families and strong relations between mothers, fathers and their children worth to you? and to the Lord?
posted by Anonymous @ 8:55 AM
