[ninenot]

With modern times in the west, comes the need for both parents to work full-time. I believe it's mostly economic.

Actually, it's mostly Gummint greed.

Look at ANY chart describing the percentage of individual income stolen by Gummints (USA) from 1945-present and you will find out WHY mothers "have to work."

When I was a young'un, (the fifties, smartass) the combined Gummint bloodsucking was only around 15% of my father's income.

Now it's more like 40%, and some say it's 50%.

So THAT'S where the disposable income went--and don't try to tell me that "investing in Gummint" is productive investment, with the exception being defense...

[stuartcr]

Even in Europe, nothing gets cheaper, or stays the same. It's a fact. You don't really expect costs to go down do you, either for the govt, or private enterprises.