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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
So are smokers who smoke near their children.
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Agreed.
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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
I have to disagree with you because there is a difference between being unwilling to pay and not having the ability to pay. If you've tried your best to make payments, but you're impoverished, would you consider it child abuse if you seriously couldn't afford the payments? What if the ruling didn't take into account employment income and living expenses? I'm not sure how the courts establish the payments, but I'm wondering if it's based on ability to pay. If it is, then this is another issue altogether.
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Courts make fair and impartial decisions, or at least they're supposed to. If the Judge's decision is viewed to be unfair, there are ways to challenge that.
The decision (at least within the State of Florida) is based upon the "lifestyle to which the child's become accustomed" and each parent's income at the time of separation.
If you're impoverished, I'd have to ask why. Your children shouldn't have to pay for your poor choices. I've had periods of unemployment and other extremely tough circumstances throughout my lifetime. But no matter what, my children have always had a roof and food, even when I had no job and no support. Sometimes one has to get off their high horse in order to provide for their kids. Irresponsibility is not an excuse.
If a parent can say they'd take a bullet for their child and sound oh-so-noble, they need to be willing to work an extra job or sweep at McDonald's and move to a smaller place, lesser neighborhood, or live in the streets in order to take care of them.
EDIT: I would like to add that I have seen some parents who somehow get charged with payments that are way beyond their means. This is ludicrous as well and ideally all decisions are fair to both custodial and noncustodial parents. But there is recourse if this should occur.