Activism

[zonewombat]

The United States is one of only four countries (out of 168) to not have any national form of paid leave for new moms. This petition supports a bill, titled The Balancing Act, which includes paid leave for all new parents. It’s time for our policies and programs to catch up with our modern economy. These days most families need two working parents to stay afloat. In fact, nearly three-quarters of moms are in the labor force. Paid family leave is just plain common-sense policy. Tell Congress: Pass paid family leave for all new parents.

Comments

[cashmerepett.livejournal.com]

We visited with friends who are expecting their second child in two weeks.

She's a social worker and her husband is a police officer. She's only got 8 weeks of paid leave. 8 FREAKIN' WEEKS. Which is criminal in my mind.

With accrued sick/vacation time (which I HAD to take) with Owen, I saved up enough to get paid full time for 8 weeks. Then the company paid me 60% for two more weeks. And I worked for a non-profit with a lot of women. *shrug*

I'm sick of conservative "boot strap" thinking and how government shouldn't be taking care of kids. People need to realize that it's cost effective and taking better care of kids now will result in better citizens later on.

[zonewombat.livejournal.com]

I don't even know that it's "bootstrap" thinking. I mean, sure, a lot of it is, but conservatives are awfully good at thinking the government should take care of big business and the rich, rather than all its citizens. I think it's the conservative belief that women shouldn't work and should stay at home and raise kids.

But I also think most Americans miss the point of what an investment in our future raising kids is.