And if he brings home $3000 a month, he's going to pay at least half of that in child support while his ex continues working at her $40000 a year jobWell, as a female living in Washington state, it's the opposite. They have charts that set out the prescribed amount of child support based on total combined income, then they give each person a percent they are responsible for- based on their percent of that income. It makes it more fair for the husband when the woman works and makes good money, but it rewards women who don't take initiative to support themselves.
For instance, my brother in-law pays his ex-wife double what my husband would pay me, although they make close to the same amount- all because I stay employed.
That's all true ---but what about the mother who stays at home to raise the children and it's by mutual agreement? I've seen all kinds of cases ---both sides so in some ways I think it's hard to make a system that is completely fair. I've known men whose wives wanted out of the marriage because they got bored and found another man, and still expected full custody and child support. I know some women just don't feel like ever working and figure if they manuever things right, they will never need to work. But there are women who give up careers thinking it's best for the kids and there should be some protection for them too, if they have to start a job for the first time when they are in their 40's or 50's.