Parenting in the US

[Nakosis]

"In 92% of U.S. families with children under 18, at least one parent works, and in 67% of married-couple families with children, both parents work. Yet many of these parents struggle financially — and often, the need for child care makes it either logistically difficult or very expensive to work."

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-the-u-s-economy-became-so-hostile-to-parents-and-who-benefits-5bca5111

The American system fails families. And supports only the wealthy. Survival of the financial fittest is unsustainable.

"As families’ reliance on paid child care has grown, the cost of such services has increased at a faster pace than overall prices, even housing prices. On average, child care now costs more than rent in all 50 states. The recent involvement of investors, including private-equity firms, in the child-care industry increases pressure on these businesses to turn a profit — either by focusing on affluent families who can pay more or by reducing compensation for staff, according to journalist and child-care advocate Elliot Haspel. "

We worked separate shifts.
Also we had relatives near who could help if necessary.
Currently my son and his wife have adopted the same setup. With me being the relative to help when their shifts occasionally overlap.

Depending on a private daycare to take care of your kids always felt risky to me. One of those things you probably should but likely don't take into consideration when you decide to have a family.

 

[Kathryn]

The problem as I see it is the piecemeal way that US does everything, because we are too afraid of government help. Always fearing the worst. So things are patchwork across the nation ,with little to no consistency. (The laws in my professional field suffer the same piecemeal issues).

'"Because America’s child-care, labor and educational systems are all set up in piecemeal ways, “individuals are responsible for stretching the gaps when they occur within and across the system,” Terri Friedline, a professor of social work""

What we are afraid of is higher taxes. I just sent off nearly $7000 to the IRS.

 

[The Hammer]

What we are afraid of is higher taxes. I just sent off nearly $7000 to the IRS.

Well thank you for paying. That was about the size of my return.

 

[icehorse]

What sorts of changes do we think could help benefit American families?

Child tax credits?

Money and gov't supports for parents?

Businesses required to pay for employees child care?

Edit: Family benefits like child benefits and child-raising allowances?

Family-friendly policies, such as paid parental leave, affordable pre-school facilities?

Most of those are probably good ideas, but they're all temporary / partial fixes.

The underlying problem is that we now live in an oligarchy. The system is geared to primarily benefit the super rich, not the middle class. We need to undo the oligarchy. Step one, return to seriously taxing the super rich. They'll deal with it, they did back in the 40s and 50s.

 

[Kathryn]

Well thank you for paying. That was about the size of my return.

Some people pay but most get returns, which I find interesting.

 

[The Hammer]

Some people pay but most get returns, which I find interesting.

Upping the amount the government takes from you ensures you get more back. I put myself in the highest withholdings bracket on my W4. Ensures I never owe.

 

[Kathryn]

Upping the amount the government takes from you ensures you get more back. I put myself in the highest withholdings bracket on my W4. Ensures I never owe.

Oh I am retired but I still owe. You know when I didn't owe anything? When a Republican was last in office.

 

[The Hammer]

Oh I am retired but I still owe. You know when I didn't owe anything? When a Republican was last in office.

Yeah, idk? I've never owed a thing in 20 years. Talk with a tax advisor they can probably figure out what's going on.

 

[Kathryn]

Yeah, idk? I've never owed a thing in 20 years. Talk with a tax advisor they can probably figure out what's going on.

Oh I know what's going on. But thanks!

 

[The Hammer]

Oh I know what's going on. But thanks!

Ah you just want to say only a Republican candidate can fix it?

Was that the whole purpose of our conversation? I was just trying to be helpful and polite.

 

[Kathryn]

Ah you just want to say only a Republican candidate fix it?

Nope. I would like not to owe anything but oh well.

 

[The Hammer]

Nope. I would like not to owe anything but oh well.

Then leave society. Taxes are a part of being a civilization.

 

[Kathryn]

Then leave society. Taxes are a part of being a civilization.

I pay taxes already. I just don't want to have to send them $7000 more. And it will be even more for 2024.

 

[Spice]

Oh I am retired but I still owe. You know when I didn't owe anything? When a Republican was last in office.

You are quite fortunate to have an income over SS. You've already paid taxes on that money once, so to have "new" money is a blessing. Congrats!

 

[Kathryn]

You are quite fortunate to have an income over SS. You've already paid taxes on that money once, so to have "new" money is a blessing. Congrats!

Yes, but even if I just had SS, it would be taxed as well. Ask me how I know.

 

[Kathryn]

Yes, but even if I just had SS, it would be taxed as well. Ask me how I know.

I feel taxed to death.

 

[Subduction Zone]

What sorts of changes do we think could help benefit American families?

Child tax credits?

Money and gov't supports for parents?

Businesses required to pay for employees child care?

Edit: Family benefits like child benefits and child-raising allowances?

Family-friendly policies, such as paid parental leave, affordable pre-school facilities?

We may be forced to enact those kinds of reforms. The US birthrate has been falling for a while and it is very likely to be an economic issue. You may be unaware of this, but rumor has it that raising children is very expensive. For the Republicans out there, investing in children is investing in America's future. Helping parents out will make more money in the long run.

The Mystery of the Declining U.S. Birth Rate | Econofact

The U.S. birth rate has fallen by 20% since 2007. If sustained, this could impact economic growth, productivity, and social insurance programs down the line.

econofact.org

 

[Subduction Zone]

Yes, but even if I just had SS, it would be taxed as well. Ask me how I know.

Only if you are well off. For the poor SS is not taxed. Stupid people like me that set up a retirement account on top of SS will be paying tax on SS.

Seriously we live in a society and we have to pay for that privilege. The US government protects your wealth. Without their protection you could easily have nothing. So rather than complaining about the taxes that all of us who have done well have to pay you should be advocating for wise spending. And that does not mean cutting spending. There are areas where we need to continually invest to keep the country going. For example our infrastructure has not been maintained for decades. You profited from that, even if you do not realize it. Now that we have to invest in it again is not an excuse to pee and moan about the money that it will cost us.

 

[The Hammer]

You are quite fortunate to have an income over SS. You've already paid taxes on that money once, so to have "new" money is a blessing. Congrats!

Speaking of SS.

https://thehill.com/business/4944798-social-security-funds-could-run-out-in-6-years-under-trump-plans-analysis/

 

[Pogo]

We may be forced to enact those kinds of reforms. The US birthrate has been falling for a while and it is very likely to be an economic issue. You may be unaware of this, but rumor has it that raising children is very expensive. For the Republicans out there, investing in children is investing in America's future. Helping parents out will make more money in the long run.

View attachment 98919

The Mystery of the Declining U.S. Birth Rate | Econofact

The U.S. birth rate has fallen by 20% since 2007. If sustained, this could impact economic growth, productivity, and social insurance programs down the line.

econofact.org

Unless we increase our immigration rate.
AI Overview
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Immigration contributes significantly to the U.S. population growth, and in 2022, it accounted for 81% of the country's population growth:

• 2021-2022: Immigration added over 1 million people to the U.S. population, while natural increase added 245,000.
  
  
  
• 2024-2054: Immigration accounts for about 70% of the population increase, while births account for the remaining 30%.
  
  
  
• After 2034: Net immigration accounts for all population growth.
  
  

Immigrants have a higher fertility rate than natives, which helps keep the U.S. fertility rate closer to the replacement level. In 2017, the total fertility rate for immigrants was 2.18 children per woman, compared to 1.76 for natives.


The U.S. population is aging rapidly, with the percentage of people over 65 increasing from 13% in 2011 to 17% in 2023. The U.S. fertility rate has also declined to 1.8 children per woman, which is below the replacement level of 2.1.