Gov. Bush Wants To Use Genetic Testing To ID Newborn's Fathers

http://www.nbc6.net/news/4125445/detail.html ^ | 24 January 2004

[lilylangtree]

Sounds like a good idea. Might even help the welfare rolls.

[independentmind]

Big Daddy State.

[Pondman88]

Hey, as long as everyone, when they ae born, gives their dna to the govment...should make it easy to implement this nice "conservative" proposal.

[Gunrunner2]

Yeah. . .at the time of birth the dad may ask for a DNA test. . .and the decision to have the test should be confidential, i.e., not tell the mother (to avoid any fights, and hey, its HIS choice for th test).

If the kid is his then let things go, if not, it is the choice of the "dad" if he wants to keep the results quiet or to begin separation/divorce, thereby avoiding the burden of being stuck with another man's child while the courts say; "Yeah, he's not yours, biologically, but for the past X-years you have supported him, so keep it up."

[Gunrunner2]

Like I said, the dad "may" ask for the test. That would be the best approach.

[hoosiermama]

Wonder how many are living with the mother, but still drawing child support payment, medical care for children, and rent assistance...It works in this area

[Idisarthur]

I don't understand why women don't aggresively pursue these men. I once heard that the women would have to give the father custody rights in order to have him pay or have him lock up in jail.

My question is why would these woman want him free and not paying the bills?

I know many free men/deadbeat dads who have children with 3 or 4 women.

Whoa, the self-esteem issues.

[SolidSupplySide]

This should get bipartisan support. It fits into the Republican othodoxy of personal responsibility for one's actions. It fits into the Democratic othodoxy of sticking it to men.

However, because Republicans support it, Democrats won't.

[1john2 3and4]

In other news, Jerry Springer is said to be top choice to run the program....

This may be being couched this way as a smokescreen...."see, we're going after deadbeat dads!" when in reality, the biggest problem - by far- both economically and socially, are those 'single mothers' who use their status to game the welfare system.

[Idisarthur]

The Dems won't support it because they are pro-criminal and they rather spend tax dollars on wellfare.

[Esther Ruth]

The world has gone quite crazy, when this is what the "good guys" come up with as solutions....

[traderrob6]

LOL....yep sounds about right, but I think it makes too much sense for the Dims to fight it successfully

[traderrob6]

Well they game the system best when they have the kids to use as there Poka chips. I say put a fair amount of the onus on the dad. Make him start paying attention to NOT fathering additional welfare recipients

[Recovering_Democrat]

Fine with me. Find these jerks that are letting their kids wallow in poverty and make 'em pay. Great idea, Jeb.

[1john2 3and4]

I would also like to say that it's the men who need to be held accountable, which is the main reason welfare stinks. As it is, men can go on their merry way, sucking up to the (different) mamas only when they have to, near the end of the month.

[1john2 3and4]

yes....see 16. I got stories!

[antiRepublicrat]

I'm just wondering, for dads currently paying child support, if they are found not to be the father will they be let off the hook? I've read cases where the non-father was required to continue paying support.

[traderrob6]

Abstinence baby....the only fail proof protection for everything from disease to paternity suits

[CurlyDave]

Let me give you an example in real of just why this is a bad idea.

We knew a homeless guy, 28 at the time, through a program to help disadvantaged youth. In his entire life, he had never held even the most menial job for longer than 6 weeks, and his jail experience outweighed his work experience byab out 5 to 1.

It turns out that he met a 19 year old girl from a good family who was going through a rebellious phase. After about 6 months together, she became pregant. In about her sixth or seventh month she finally came to her senses, realized that a baby and homelessness were not going to be compatible, and went back to her family.

I don't know what happened, but I advised her not to put the father's name on the birth certificate.

There were several good reasons. He was completely irresponsible and should not be making decisions in his child's life. There was no chance at all of ever collecting any child support--this guy might work 30 or 40 weeks during the rest of his life. And, most compelling of all: What happens if she meets a much nicer man sometime in the future. There is a chance, however slim, that she might be able to marry a decent guy and that he might adopt the child. There is no chance of that happening if the biological father is named on the birth certificate and can no longer be found.

While there are some men who shirk their responsibilities, there are a lot more who are capable of fathering children, but have no employment prospects and no money. We are going to spend more public money chasing these guys down and attaching their non-existant wages than we are ever going to collect from them.