| Glenn
Sacks Opinion and perspective on the state of fathers and children in the U.S. |
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During my debate with Brown she made a point to say that they often have ‘deadbeat moms’ on their list, although they didn’t happen to have any on this time. Many times when I’ve debated child support enforcement officials or chest-thumping law enforcement officials they have advanced this justification–'we do the same thing to women.' Jefferson County, Kentucky Attorney Irv Maze, who I criticized in my co-authored column Persecuting Low Income Parents (Cincinnati Post, Kentucky Post, 8/26/05), is one example. This argument–even when it’s true–doesn’t do much for me, since I don’t want to see noncustodial mothers manhandled by the child support system any more than I want fathers to be. However, there is a sharp gender bias here, and it is important to point it out. According to US Census data, noncustodial mothers are 20% more likely to default on their child support obligations than noncustodial fathers. This is despite the fact that noncustodial mothers are less likely to be required to pay child support, and those with support obligations are asked to pay a lower percentage of their income in child support than noncustodial fathers. To learn more about so-called “deadbeat moms,” see the Fox News article “Moms Can Be Deadbeats, Too.” Back to Cynthia Brown and the Ohio controversy: Butler County CSEA’s child support warrant list has 63 “deadbeat moms” on it, out of a total of 400 “deadbeat” parents. By the percentages, one or two of them should’ve ended up on the pizza box. Brown may be telling the truth that it’s just a coincidence, but I have my suspicions… |
| Glenn Sacks is a well-known commentator, broadcaster, and columnist in the United States. The opinions presented are his, and do not necessarily reflect those of World Fathers Union. For more information about Mr Sacks' work, please visit his website, Glenn Sacks.com |