Homeless mom prosecuted

I'd like to hear what you guys think of this one. A homeless mom was prosecuted for sending her son to a school at in a better school district. She used a friend's address to do this and now she is in trouble and her friend, whose address she used, was evicted from her public housing. I think the consequences are a bit much...you?

Infertility in America

Hi All
A few weeks ago the comment was made that possibly a reason for a lack of policy dealing with infertility issues is due to a lack of need. It has taken me some time to be able to respond to this because this is an issue that touches me very deeply. After five years of trying to conceive and two miscarriages my husband and I are officially dealing with infertility. Infertility is described as a womens inability to concieve over 12 consecutive months. According to the CDC and the Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of US Women report (2002) there are 7.3 million women in the US between the ages of 15 and 44 that have an impaired ability to have children (around 11.8% of all women aged 15 to 44 in the US) and 2.1 million women who are unable to get pregnant.

This has significant implication for the women and couples who are facing infertility and desire to have children. The medical treatment of infertility (in all its numerous forms) is expensive and often not covered by health insurance. The use of various hormones that are prescribed to help treat infertility is not monitored or regulated tightly and often hormones are prescribed with little research into their long term effects or their actual helpfulness. My own doctor, who is wonderful, described it as "voodoo" as she was writing out a perscription for me. Ulitmatly infertility treatments may or may not work to assist a family in conceiving biological children and they often drive many couples into debt.

Another alternative is adoption. Though there are numerous policies and laws about adoption it is still a somehwat unregulated affair. Here in Utah the cost to work with an adoption agency to adopt an infant is around $20,000 to $25,000 dollars. International adoptions can cost from $20,000 to $40,000 dollars. There is little indication of what this money actually goes to and is probably one of the reasons the adoption business is booming. An alternative is to work with the state to adopt a child/children in the child protective service system. Well less expensive this system is set up to support the biological parent in reunification (and rightly should) but does little to account for the needs of prospective adoptive parents. For example, in Utah every biological parent is given an 8 month window to work towards reunification (which is hardly enough time for them but is an eternity for a child and its potential adoptive parents).

What is the point of all of this? I guess it is this . . . infertility is an issue in this country and it is growing for a variety of reasons including environmental hazards and delaying child bearing. However, we rarely talk about it and any policies that do exisit only touch on it in a round about way. But one has to ask the question . . . Is the ability to have children a human right? Should every qualified and suitable adult be allowed to parent? Or is it a privelage for the wealthy? Right now it costs a small fortune if you are infertile and want a child and there is little government support (though there is a tax credit for adoption) or protection. If we don't start having conversations about infertility and what it means for families in this country then we will never find a way to help solve the problem.

Obama administration eases pain of Medicare cuts

This article talks about a $6.7 billion infusion into Medicare Advantage plans that received average scores in a national health care plan rating system designed to identify quality health care plans, which would receive bonuses for their quality. The Obama administration states that they will now be giving quality bonuses to Medicare Advantage to promote raising quality and reducing costs. Correct me if I’m wrong but if you wanted to encourage low and average rated health care plans to improve quality to that of 4 and 5 star rated plans, wouldn’t you only give quality bonuses to the 4 and 5 star plans? I also have a hard time believing that this was not part of a larger political agenda designed to improve older American’s perspective of the health care plan. That’s politics for you…

And yes, the bonus money does come from the Medicare Trust Fund. Government does an excellent job at cutting costs, doesn’t it? I’m sure this money could not have been spend more wisely in other medical or non-medical programs.

Dangerous trends in religious freedom

I found this article on religious freedom interesting. I do agree that it seems that government, while claiming neutrality, is becoming more involved in religious debates. Yet at the same time, religion has always played its part within government. It is somewhat amusing and sad to me that in the U.S. people are so incredibly sensitive to phrases like, “In God We Trust”, “One Nation Under God” which have been a part of the nation from the beginning that they fight venomously against them being on coins or saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. While on the other hand look at religious belonging of presidential campaigns as a requirement and sometimes discrediting if not religious or from a wrong religion. It’s too bad that people focus so much an little things like this rather than larger issues, religious or not.

A few other points in the article that I thought were interesting included that 70 percent of the world population did not experience religious freedom, which is a lot higher than I thought it would be. I am sure that it is devastating to families to deal with religious persecutions. It can even be more troubling if family members are members of different religious groups. I know that when my father was baptized into the LDS church in Germany at 17 years old, his parents kicked him out. Fortunately, he has made amends with his father but his mother was very anti-LDS until her death even though my family, the only LDS members on my father’s side, were the only people willing to take care of her. If it wasn’t so sad and often destructive, the intolerance people have towards each other would be almost comical.

Also interesting is that the UN would probably not be able to pass a religious freedom declaration today like the one that exists; o.k. that really isn’t very surprising but it is still refreshing to hear someone say it out loud.

The Rights of Man: A founding father discusses Child Benefits and Social Security

Thomas Paine should be well-known to anyone who has even a superficial knowledge of the founding of our country. His work "Common Sense" was one of the driving forces behind the colonies' eventual declaration of their independence, and his series "The American Crisis" ("These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman") are regarded with almost religious reverence by patriotic citizens. They are also rather entertaining, if you are interested in that sort of thing. A close associate of the authors of the Constitution, he was dedicated to the principles therein and wished everyone to have the benefits he perceived as resulting from our form of government.

This is why he wrote and published "The Rights of Man," returning to his native country of England for the purpose. One Edmund Burke had written a pamphlet about how rotten the French revolution was and how wonderful it was to have an aristocracy and a king. This made Thomas Paine quite angry, and led to the aforementioned text about how rotten having a hereditary government was in that it crushed the natural rights of man. This in turn led to him being condemned to death in England, but, having left to France, Thomas Paine was unavailable to receive this recognition of his literary accomplishments.

In the following quotes, Paine has, for the time being, finished explaining how the aristocracy and monarchy were simply drains on the financial resources of the country, the only contribution in return being mismanagement and self-serving policies, crushing the natural, inalienable rights. This being the case, he argues that they must be tossed out. After getting rid of the aristocracy and monarchy and lowering unneeded expenditures on various government functions, he notes that there will suddenly be many pounds of taxes now in excess. That he suggests that the taxes then be lowered should not come as a surprise to anyone, nor that he suggests that more of it be used to reduce national debt. What he proposes next may come as a surprise:

"It is easily seen, that the poor are generally composed of large families of children, and old people past their labour. If these two classes are provided for, the remedy will so far reach to the full extent of the case, that what remains will be incidental, and, in a great measure, fall within the compass of benefit clubs, which, though of humble invention, merit to be ranked among the best of modern institutions..."

"Having thus ascertained the greatest number that can be supposed to need support on account of young families, I proceed to the mode of relief or distribution, which is,

To pay as a remission of taxes to every poor family, out of the surplus taxes, and in room of poor-rates, four pounds a year for every child under fourteen years of age; enjoining the parents of such children to send them to school, to learn reading, writing, and common arithmetic; the ministers of every parish, of every denomination to certify jointly to an office, for that purpose, that this duty is performed. The amount of this expense will be,

    For six hundred and thirty thousand children
     at four pounds per annum each                    L2,520,000

"By adopting this method, not only the poverty of the parents will be relieved, but ignorance will be banished from the rising generation, and the number of poor will hereafter become less, because their abilities, by the aid of education, will be greater. Many a youth, with good natural genius, who is apprenticed to a mechanical trade, such as a carpenter, joiner, millwright, shipwright, blacksmith, etc., is prevented getting forward the whole of his life from the want of a little common education when a boy..."

"Besides these there will be constantly thrown off from the revolutions of that wheel which no man can stop nor regulate, a number from every class of life connected with commerce and adventure."

"To provide for all those accidents, and whatever else may befall, I take the number of persons who, at one time or other of their lives, after fifty years of age, may feel it necessary or comfortable to be better supported, than they can support themselves, and that not as a matter of grace and favour, but of right, at one-third of the whole number, which is one hundred and forty thousand, as stated in a previous page, and for whom a distinct provision was proposed to be made..."

"To pay to such person of the age of fifty years, and until he shall arrive at the age of sixty, the sum of six pounds per annum out of the surplus taxes, and ten pounds per annum during life after the age of sixty. The expense of which will be,

    Seventy thousand persons, at L6 per annum      L  420,000
    Seventy thousand persons, at L10 per annum        700,000
                                                      ———-
                                                   L1,120,000

"This support, as already remarked, is not of the nature of a charity but of a right. Every person in England, male and female, pays on an average in taxes two pounds eight shillings and sixpence per annum from the day of his (or her) birth; and, if the expense of collection be added, he pays two pounds eleven shillings and sixpence; consequently, at the end of fifty years he has paid one hundred and twenty-eight pounds fifteen shillings; and at sixty one hundred and fifty-four pounds ten shillings. Converting, therefore, his (or her) individual tax in a tontine, the money he shall receive after fifty years is but little more than the legal interest of the net money he has paid; the rest is made up from those whose circumstances do not require them to draw such support, and the capital in both cases defrays the expenses of government."

Here Thomas Paine argues for a measure to reduce child poverty and provide for those that are past their prime, issues that are not irrelevant to our discussions in class. Or is this irrelevant? Does it have any bearing on what we are discussing in class? Does his treatment on poverty back then relate in any way to poverty today? Does his suggestion to support children in poverty with a yearly amount taken from taxes surprise anyone? How about the financial support of the elderly as a "right?" I am very interested to hear your reactions and comments.

Easter, Immigration, and Retirement

I thought these were prevalent with Easter on its way and our topics for the week.

Should we Praise or Not?

http://www.nea.org/home/42298.htm

My mom, an educator, sent me this article. It talks about how generally praising children (i.e.: You're so smart) can often work to the child's detriment. Being specific in praise (i.e.: You worked so hard on that painting) can be more beneficial. This article was very interesting, especially with the 'Tiger Mom' article in mind. Where do we draw the line? Is there a line to be drawn? Should there be a policy implemented in the school systems where teachers can only use specific types of praise? If so, what if certain children (those with disabilities) never hear praise because they don't seem to be as good as the other students? What are your thoughts?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Families

I'm posting a story about a family that recently had an encounter with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department here in Logan, Utah. I'm looking forward to next weeks debate. One morning a man opened his door to go to work and found four men from the ICE department waiting for him. Before taking him away they gave his wife a number she could call to find out information about where he would be. Later that day she received a phone call from him letting her know that he was in Salt Lake and to try to get a lawyer. That evening my husband and I went to visit her after hearing what had happened. She was very distraut - beside herself. She did not know what was going to happen to her husband, to her, or their daughter. She was a stay at home mom and did not have any money. She didn't even have access to her husband's bank accounts. She didn't completely understand why her husband was taken away since he did have a work permit. The number she was given was useless to her because she did not speak English. The next day I offered to call to see if I could help her get someone who knew Spanish to let her know what was happening. When I called and asked if they had someone who spoke Spanish that she could speak to, they said they did not. The lady also informed me that if someone wanted to call a United States government office, they should know English. I then asked if there was some other resource that they offered when the family does not know English. I also became flustered and asked if they had a resource for the families, a way to make sure the children were okay and not abandoned. I recovered my cool and proceeded to ask for the general process that detainees went through. I knew I could not get specific information because I was not family. But I hoped to be able to inform her of the process so she could have an idea of what was happening. She said it would take about a month to process his papers for deportation. She also gave away information about him, saying that he had not been interviewed by them yet, he was just in jail. So I asked something about if they provide a list of lawyers for him to contact. And she said that he would not need one. He is getting deported there is no question. I asked if he had rights, she said no. So needless to say I finished the call very frustrated. I am not meaning to focus this account on whether the man was at fault or not. I just want to illustrate the difficulties that the family goes through. She was left in the dark. Yes he called her, but he did not know much himself. She was ready to pack things up and leave to her parents' house - she was going to be left without a breadwinner, and a husband. She had a daughter to take care of and figured she needed to take action. In the end, she moved out of her apartment that weekend. One or two weeks later, he was released and they are now back together again. So fyi, yes he got a lawyer, yes he had rights, and now he's home. So what would have happened if he was a single dad? Sure he would have been able to make that phone call to tell someone, but what about the hours in between? If there was no immediate family who would the child have gone to? What about the trauma to that child? I will be looking at ICE's policies pertaining to this area. I'll let you know if I find any. I will also be researching reports on the Swift company's ICE raids and what happened then. In the mean time, do you think that the ICE department or the INS department has a responsibility here? Should there be policies in place that better inform the family no matter the language they speak, or can't. Should there be policies that require them to contact a resource to inform the family? By resource, I mean some kind of agency that helps these families? Lastly, I wonder what you think should happen to the children of individuals who are deported and no other parent is around? Should they be sent to their parent's country? I should look up the story about that Cuban boy - I can't remember his name. Well, I look forward to your replies.

Utah refusing extension of unemployment benefits

I was surprised when I read the title. After reading the article, I understand why a little more. Not really sure what I think though. I think for some people it's been really hard to find a job and 13 more weeks would be pretty beneficial. I think I'd offer it to people but attach some pretty tight strings to the money I didn't agree with the comment that it's not the role of government to provide jobs for people. I think if the government can find jobs for people until they can find better jobs, that would be a good thing. I don't agree with just giving them money without having them work for it. Especially right now when unemployment is still pretty high and it's hard to find work for some people. Giving them a temporary job that contributes to society, could make it easier for them to find a real job. I wouldn't pay a ton so they want to find a new job, but a little more than welfare amounts. That way they have the incentive to work, but also the incentive not to stay with that job forever.

"abortion culture" to blame for Social Security woes

I saw this and thought of the upcoming entitlement program discussion. The statement from Santorum is a little surprising but it brings up a lot of issues, like abortion, social security, and the declining birthrate.
I kind of liked Santorum until I read this comment. I disagree with his statement, but it is interesting considering China's recent proposed relaxation of the one child policy. We talked in class about European countries birthrate problems. I think I recently read the the US birthrate dropped below replacement levels(not considering immigration and also the impact of the recession). I wonder if the US needs to be concerned about birthrates?