Its Child Support Guidelines That Need Surgery...

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

--
THE mens movement website:-
http://www.angryharry.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------
--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.

Andre Lieven wrote:

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

Our Australian dads feel that they have got a raw deal too, but because of
the differences between the 2 systems, i won't comment further.

Doug.
--
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you
can.
- Danny Kaye.

Andre Lieven wrote:

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

Our Australian dads feel that they have got a raw deal too, but because of
the differences between the 2 systems, i won't comment further.

Doug.
--
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you
can.
- Danny Kaye.

Andre Lieven wrote:

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

Our Australian dads feel that they have got a raw deal too, but because of
the differences between the 2 systems, i won't comment further.

Doug.
--
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you
can.
- Danny Kaye.

Move to Kentucky, live there for a while, then re-post this.

"Andre Lieven" wrote in message
...
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

--
THE mens movement website:-
http://www.angryharry.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------
--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.

Move to Kentucky, live there for a while, then re-post this.

"Andre Lieven" wrote in message
...
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

--
THE mens movement website:-
http://www.angryharry.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------
--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.

Move to Kentucky, live there for a while, then re-post this.

"Andre Lieven" wrote in message
...
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive...acks051704.htm

It's Child Support Guidelines that Need Surgery, Not 'Deadbeat
Dads'

May 17, 2004

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by Jeffrey Leving and Glenn Sacks

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Kentucky judge D. Michael "Mickey'' Foellger has offered men who
are behind on their child support obligations a choice: have a
vasectomy or spend 30 days in jail. However, according to a new
study of child support, it is Kentucky's child support guidelines
which need surgery, not so-called "deadbeat dads."

The study, "Child Support Guidelines and the Equalization of
Living Standards," was conducted by psychology professors Sanford
Braver and David Stockburger and will appear in the soon to be
released book The Law and Economics of Child Support Payments.
Braver and Stockburger conclude that "under current child support
guidelines, the majority of custodial parents currently have
higher standards of living than their matched noncustodial
parents." Of the seven states they studied, Kentucky's guidelines
are among the most inequitable.

In addition to unreasonably high support levels, Kentucky
noncustodial fathers also have to contend with a rigid child
support system which is often impervious to the economic
realities of modern life. Fathers who are laid off, suffer wage
cuts, or are injured on the job are often unable to get downward
modifications on their child support. In such cases, the amounts
owed mount quickly, as do interest and penalties.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the federal Bradley
amendment bars judges from retroactively forgiving child support
arrearages, even when they determine that the arrearage occurred
through no fault of the obligor. As shared parenting advocates
Dianna Thompson and Murray Davis of the National Family Justice
Association note, "Society holds noncustodial parents, mostly
fathers, to an unattainable standard to never become physically
or mentally ill, never get disabled, and to never lose a job or
get laid off in a poor economy."

The pot of child support gold--which hard-line judges and
Attorneys General often insist they're going to find if we'd just
get tough on deadbeats--simply does not exist. Numerous studies,
including the largest federally funded study of divorced fathers
ever conducted, have shown that unemployment, not willful
neglect, is the leading cause of child support noncompliance.

A look at Kentucky's list of top 10 "Most Wanted Parents"
illustrates the point. Far from being a list of well-heeled
lawyers, accountants and bankers, only one of the 10 "deadbeats"
listed appears to have any education at all, and the most common
designation for occupation is "laborer." These men do low wage
and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which most
could never hope to pay off.

Judge Foellger says his "vasectomy or jail" edict is only given
to men have fallen $10,000 behind on their child support and who
have had four or more children with three or more women. While
Foellger is correct in condemning these men's irresponsible
conduct, one might wonder why the mothers of their children
receive neither sanction nor condemnation. They too had kids whom
they evidently cannot afford to support.

Foellger insists he's not forcing sterilization on anybody, since
the offenders in his court can choose 30 days in jail instead.
However, most men who fall behind on child support have led
law-abiding lives and legitimately fear for their safety and
mental stability if they are incarcerated.

For example, in McCracken County earlier this year a man slit his
throat in the courtroom after being sentenced to two years in
jail for being $7,000 behind on child support. According to
newspaper accounts, the man pleaded to the judge "Don't put me in
jail, I'm going to kill myself" before taking out a razor blade.

By threatening to jail the men, Foellger is in effect impelling
them to get sterilized. In fact, Foellger says that all but one
of the men offered his "deal" have chosen vasectomy over jail.

This represents a serious human rights violation. Kentucky's
child support guidelines need to be overhauled to ensure that
support obligations are in line with obligors' ability to pay. In
addition, the system needs to be more flexible and responsive, so
men who are down on their luck don't become criminalized. And
while the public may be legitimately annoyed with these
"deadbeats," nobody should be jailed or sterilized for the
"crime" of being poor.

Jeffrey Leving & Glenn Sacks

This column first appeared in the Cincinnati Post and the
Kentucky Post (5/12/04).


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jeff Leving is one of America's most prominent family law
attorneys. He is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard-hitting and
Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Visit
his website at www.DadsRights.com.

Glenn Sacks is a men's and fathers' issues columnist and radio
talk show host. His columns have appeared in dozens of America's
largest newspapers. His radio show, His Side with Glenn Sacks,
can be heard every Sunday in Los Angeles and Seattle. Glenn can
be reached via his website, at www.GlennSacks.com or by e-mail at
.

--
THE mens movement website:-
http://www.angryharry.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------
--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.