[ladyjane]

It's not the system that creates the bureaucracies and government jobs - it's the irresponsible parents who fail to take care of the children they've created. It's sad all the way around. The children always suffer. The custodial parent frequently suffers because they see their child doing without. Friends of the non-custodial parent suffer too. They have to listen to the rantings of the person who feels the payments are unfair.

[Gabz]

it's the irresponsible parents who fail to take care of the children they've created.

The problem is that those are actually a minority, and are causing the problems for the vast majority who do wish to take care of their children.

Because of the minority of the deadbeats there are now mandatory wage garnishes on all support paying parents in some states. And if for some reason they lose their jobs....their unemployment checks are garnished....for the same amount as when they had a job, even though we all know that unemployment is often no where near enough to cover basic necessities.

It's a vicious cycle.

[sauropod]

"The custodial parent frequently suffers because they see their child doing without."

Neither my kids nor my ex are "doing without."

They have a much higher standard of living than I do.