I played Devil's Advocate and to my shock....I THINK...I agree with conservatives?!

[habsheaven]

Ah....that makes more sense to me.

But, if women are going to be paid I believe it is ONLY FAIR that expecting FATHERS also get paid.

I will say that, I believe 12 months of paid leave is too much though.





















It shouldn't take THAT long to return to work.

3 months is a good amount.

It isn't a matter of being able to get back to work. It is a matter of the well being of the child and the bonding that takes place over a longer period of time. The 12 months can also be split between parents in any fashion they choose.

[37jetson]

Why do you all suppose other western countries look at maternity/paternity leave as a GOOD THING for parent and child, and put in systems to allow for it?

Countries such as Sweden go even further with paternity leave for the father over the first 7 years or so of the child's. They are doing it to fight the declining Swedish population.

[duane1969]

Just for clarification, in most, if not all of those other countries the cost of maternity/paternity leave is paid by the government as part of the employment insurance programs. It is not a cost to businesses.

I forgot to respond to this. Technically it is paid for by the government, but the government is funded by the people, so in the end it is still a people funded benefit.

37jetson brought up Sweden, so I will use them as an example:

Corporate tax:
Sweden - 22%
US - up to 39% for the largest earning businesses, but the average is around 13%

Payroll tax:
Sweden - 31%
US - between 5.8% and 18.2% depending on salary earned

Sales tax:
Sweden - 25% except 12% for hotels and restaurants and 6% for publications, travel/concert tickets and other paper goods
US - 0%-11.75% depending on the state you live in

So yes, countries like Sweden and France have these social benefits, but the people and businesses still pay for them.

[habsheaven]

I forgot to respond to this. Technically it is paid for by the government, but the government is funded by the people, so in the end it is still a people funded benefit.

37jetson brought up Sweden, so I will use them as an example:

Corporate tax:
Sweden - 22%
US - up to 39% for the largest earning businesses, but the average is around 13%

Payroll tax:
Sweden - 31%
US - between 5.8% and 18.2% depending on salary earned

Sales tax:
Sweden - 25% except 12% for hotels and restaurants and 6% for publications, travel/concert tickets and other paper goods
US - 0%-11.75% depending on the state you live in

So yes, countries like Sweden and France have these social benefits, but the people and businesses still pay for them.

Well of course people pay for these social benefits in one way or another. My point was; in other countries individual businesses are not paying for them. Businesses and employees pay an employment insurance premium that gets lumped into disability leave, maternity leave and employment insurance. It comes down to: is it important to your society to provide families with more options to raise their children? Is it important to help with circumstances that affect the career growth of women?

Not much different than the whole concept of health care, are you a COMMUNITY or an INDIVIDUAL?

[duane1969]

Well of course people pay for these social benefits in one way or another. My point was; in other countries individual businesses are not paying for them. Businesses and employees pay an employment insurance premium that gets lumped into disability leave, maternity leave and employment insurance. It comes down to: is it important to your society to provide families with more options to raise their children? Is it important to help with circumstances that affect the career growth of women?

Not much different than the whole concept of health care, are you a COMMUNITY or an INDIVIDUAL?

I don't disagree with any of that.