There are two fundamental problems with the way child support is administered in our society:
- The amount to be paid is based on the income/wealth of the father when he is well to do (a very tax-like arrangement,) but on the needs of the child when he is not (which often requires a father to pay far more than he can afford, and far more than he would have to pay were he married to the mother of his children)
- Fairness requires that the parent able to contribute the greatest amount to a child's needs should be the custodial parent, if willing. But of course, that is not how things usually turn out. Whatever happened to 'no taxation without representation'?