Fractelle, beautifully put. I have known a few women who thought that the kid were their by default but then I used to spend a lot of time around borderline christain fundies.

R0bert

Thank you R0bert, I was beginning to think that I had wandered into an alternative universe, but you understand me. Foxy has forgiven me. Piper still has the driest sense of humour, so all is right with the world; mostly, a little concerned where the real Examinator has gone.

Fathers in Australia have been deserting wives and children since the first fleet where often, abandoned children had to be placed in orphanages by their destitute mothers.

Rape, sodomy or bestiality by a husband was introduced in the UK and Australia in the mid 1800s (for good reason) as grounds for divorce while divorce reform for desertion (plus five years imprisonment) was not introduced as grounds for divorce until 1911 and then, only in WA. Sole parenting during those days would have incurred many hardships.

As one historic account on life during the gold rush era states: “Wife beating was by no means uncommon, and almost every month some wife brought her husband to court for assault, or for threatening to murder her.”

It appears that little has changed except now deadbeat dads are fleeing the country to avoid paying child support. “These parents owe around $90 million in unpaid child support, but the Australian Government is about to crack down on them” according to a 2008 publication.

Since the advent of the Family Law Court in Australia, we have estranged fathers continuing to lay the blame on the mother for all sorts of reasons, however, it is only since this law reform that errant fathers are able to find fewer opportunities to escape their responsiblities.

While taxpayers (including the responsible dads) pick up the tab for these missing fathers, perhaps they should be grateful that a mother, no matter her “faults”, abandons her children far less frequently.

After centuries of a patriachial system in control, we now have the emergence of aggrieved and estranged fathers howling all over the web on how unjust the present legal system is.

Prior to reform in the 80s, two thirds to three quarters of fathers failed to pay the full amount of court awarded support within a few years of divorce and many more sole-mother households relied on income support.

And in 1992, in the US, $27 billion in child support went uncollected.

If the current system appears unfair, remember reforms are only implemented because the previous one failed - for obvious reasons.

*Fathers in Australia have been deserting wives and children since the first fleet where often, abandoned children had to be placed in orphanages by their destitute mothers.*

Gawd Dickie, you do make it sound dramatic! Perhaps you have not
read "The Floating Brothel".

http://www.gould.com.au/Floating-Brothel-Female-Convicts-p/hod002.htm

or

http://www.aussiereviews.com/article1012.html

The first boatload of women sent to Australia were extremely practical
women, who worked their way around the world, making a quid at
every port.

They knew how to charge for their services, so forget the tearjerker
stuff. These girls could clearly take care of themselves in what was
a tough world all around, not just for women.

Examinator and others.

There should be *limited* self indulgent options when it comes from the public purse.

It would be rather simple to convert these welfare payments to a ‘debit type’ card whereby the money can only be used to purchase food, cloths and other necessities conducent to a child’s needs.

A system like this would ensure the monies paid were used for their intended purpose rather than being wasted on items not associated with the well being of the child.

Protagoras,
It appears that little has changed except now deadbeat dads are fleeing the country to avoid paying child support.

You are forgeting that these are not dads by choice, rather a participant in a one night stand. It's the mother who has decided to have the child, not the father.

Now on the other hand, if a father leaves after the child/children are born, then you are entitled to call them whatevr you wish.

Rechtub

"You are forgeting (sic) that these are not dads by choice, rather a participant in a one night stand. It's the mother who has decided to have the child, not the father."

ROFL

Yeah, sure, we mothers hide behind bushes, jump out on unsuspecting men, attach their dicks to a vacuum hose then head for the nearest turkey-baster.

I can write a load of bollocks too.