Comments on: Paid Parental Leave In 18 Countries

By: Class Privilege and Parental Leave « Welcome to the Doctor's Office

Class Privilege and Parental Leave « Welcome to the Doctor's Office — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:31:59 +0000

[...] guaranteeing exactly zero weeks of paid time-off from work upon the birth or adoption of a child. Japan offers 14 weeks of paid job-protected leave, the U.K. offers 18, Denmark 28, Norway 52, and Sw… (yes, that’s over a year of paid time-off to take care of a new [...]

By: David

David — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:46:31 +0000

Why is it that many of the countries that have the greatest paid parental leave also have the lowest birth rate? Are these generous benefits there to attempt to increase the birth rate through policy decisions? Perhaps they can afford to give such benefits because to few people take advantage of this?

It’s a very existential view to take that having children is a personal lifestyle decision. Whether it’s looking at the survival of the species, or at future demand for goods, a steady to growing population is better for everyone. It’s a bit myopic to say that personal responsibility ad absurdum is the best model for society. It’s too bad that we can’t hold everyone who would opt out of safety nets to this position. Many will eventually need help in some way, or a family member will need some help, and they will be all too eager to get help even if they don’t appreciate it.

By: mconnor1967

mconnor1967 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00:14 +0000

Yes, and if you choose to walk around, you should build your own sidewalks, install your own crosslights, and fund your own sewer system. Just because you choose to deficate, why should we have to pay for it?

By: mconnor1967

mconnor1967 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:56:56 +0000

Social security payments cannot be refused, but you could easily donate them to a charity. You can also buy private fire insurance, private security, and (as a matter of principal) refused to use public roads. Good luck on that.

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:16:21 +0000

I find it interesting that a few of you are so anti being a parent. Have you ever thought of why you are here? Someone somewhere had you too. And you couldn’t find a partner, spouse, friends, etc, if someone wouldn’t have had them. Criticizing humans for having children is a ridiculous thing. Someone has to do it to continue the human race. I feel sorry for you that your life is so ridiculously hidious that you have to wish there were no more people coming into this earth. On the issue of Paid Paternal Leave it is a much overdue and needed benefit in this country. You forget that the children born today could be the adults taking care of you in a nursing home one day. Which you rather have a caring nutured adult to care for you? Or someone who read your post about disliking children and who would rather see their mom hop on the bus from the hospital back to work? You never know when you are going to need help, and realize you are blessed to never have to take any assistance from anyone, or use your healthcare coverage or go to the doctor or fill a prescription. Children cost way more per year per child than any tax break so you are still more fortunate in your finances without the breaks without a child as someone with.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:53:23 +0000

I don’t want your taxes for medicare, social security or anything else. I don’t want those programs, period.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:52:18 +0000

If you want to have kids, *you* should deal with the consequences. The burden is not mine or anyone else’s. It’s a lifestyle choice and a decision that you make, don’t suck me into it.

By: Paid Holidays/Vacation Days in the U.S. Versus Other OECD Countries » Sociological Images

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:02:06 +0000

[...] I show figures like these (and there are many of them, parental leave, work hours, military spending, class inequality, etc) to my students, they are STUNNED. Most [...]

By: WALK: Pro-Life Is Pro-Women | THE POLITICIZER

WALK: Pro-Life Is Pro-Women | THE POLITICIZER — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:25:41 +0000

[...] strengthening reproductive resources, such as access to prenatal care, mandatory paid maternity and paternity leave, comprehensive sex education that include abstinence and contraceptives, and increased [...]

By: Thoralf Will

Thoralf Will — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:52:32 +0000

That attitude is exactly the reason why the rest of the world is looking with big non-understanding eyes at certain U.S. rules, e.g. child care, health care, education, etc.

It’s pretty impressive how this freedom thing turned into a greed and selfishness above everything paradigm. One day it will bite your ass and you wish you would have cared more for other people than for your bank account.

I happily pay my ~48% taxes here in Norway, knowing that when one day I’ll need it my neighbors will happily keep paying their taxes so I can live a decent live without fear to starve or be homeless the next week.

You may call it socialism. I call it humanity.

By: Thoralf Will

Thoralf Will — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:45:03 +0000

This kind of question is forbidden by law in Germany and women who get asked anyway are allowed to lie without fear of prosecution.

By: Thoralf Will

Thoralf Will — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:43:45 +0000

The rules have changed as of 7/2009 and now it’s 54 weeks and 10 weeks paternity leave. Something is reserved for the mother (quite a few weeks, not sure how many though) and the rest can be split at will.

By: P

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:27:55 +0000

Why should I take a financial hit because I choose not to breed? …

Why should I as a non-parent have to pay for someone who decides to have children through taxes?

Because today’s children are tomorrow’s taxpayers who will be funding your lonely and cranky retirement through Social Security and Medicare, among other things.

By: Vince

Vince — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:40:55 +0000

What? The United States doesn’t punish those people who don’t want to have children. How is that a bad thing? Why should I as a non-parent have to pay for someone who decides to have children through taxes? Why, if I become a parent, should I expect others to pick up my tab for a “personal decision”? No, it’s absurd, if I decide to have children then my family needs to be prepared for that, it’s not a willy-nilly decision where I know I can rely on the government’s dime.

Personal responsibility.

By: John Christer

John Christer — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:48:29 +0000

mark: Unpaid leave.. wooo

I am from Norway and yes those weeks are divided between mother and father in a way they see fit, but both have a minimum they have to take. And they get almost full (or full) salary unless they earn ALOT all of the time. It is also planned to prolonged to one and a half year.

Also, in addition to this there is the possibility of working less or not at all afterwards for one of the parents and then they get a certain amount of money. This only applies to very young children though.

the US is stupidly afraid of Socialist ideas. And no, I am not even a socialist, but a socialliberal. (and no not a liberal in the utterly messed up way it is used in the US but the way it is used in the rest of the world).