Reply to Texas GOP proposes tax cuts for heterosexual parents who’ve never been divorced

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]FTR, I’m a lifelong Dem.

My FT job has related to antipoverty work for decades.

The most common poverty indicator is a single parent. It transcends race and other demographics.

There are decades of studies backing this up.

And ICYMI: the Feds have thrown money at this problem for a long time. But investing in ngo-led efforts to promote marriage and coupled-parenting only goes so far.

The research seems to indicate subcultural norms that frustrate marriage.

If you are interested in learning more, google the research or visit one of the many reputable think tanks with decades of research and recommendations (they exist on both sides of the aisle).

Anyway, incentives like money have worked in a number of efforts to change behavior. I’d keep an open mind. A federal tax credit that incentivizes marriage for parents rather than a marriage penalty could work if properly communicated to those at the lowest end of the spectrum. But ultimately it takes a lot more to change subcultural norms.

I think everyone realizes that two incomes are better than one, right? And delaying parenthood until you have a healthy relationship and sufficient wages and housing makes life better for your family, right? It also decreases poverty rates, instability, stressors, community resources such as police/courts/public assistance, etc.

BIPOC single-parenting rates dramatically outpace those of whites. Perhaps the biggest end result is more stability and money in the two-parent white households which has prompted better outcomes for whites for generations. Bipoc families with two-parent HHs have similar outcomes. In short: there’s legit data backing up the (very obvious) reality that HHs with two parents are better than those with just one.

Note: data would support gay married parents as well. No need to draw that distinction. [/quote]

History also reminds is that black families were destroyed and torn apart for generations because of white-created slavery, segregation, lynching, and racism. Generational trauma is a thing. So how does society repair what it ripped apart?[/quote]

You have to start somewhere, right?

Maybe you incentivize stability with tax credits or cash?

ICYMI: plenty of federally and locally funded cash incentive pilots have been implemented (several related to truancy, at risk youth, etc).

At some point you need to focus on the future and work like hell to break the dismal cycle of generational poverty (which still occurs in whites btw).

Honestly, I don’t think this is simple. It’s simple at the individual level but seemingly impossible to scale to the masses absent a massive shift in societal norms as well as…wait for it…seismic shifts in education and job opportunities in every community across the country.

I could spend hours typing up my manifesto on why the US is struggling and what it would take to fix things, but I really should get back to work.

But to answer your question: Personal responsibility. At some point everyone must play the cards they were dealt and do the best they can regardless of what life throws at them. Easier said than done, but what’s the alternative? Meanwhile, good people will continue to fight for systemic change through law, policy, and investment in infrastructure and services. [/quote]

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