Anti >>You wouldn't notice another $5 a week either, I reckon.

The key word here is 'ANOTHER'.

That's the problem, $5 is nothing, but another $5 is where the problem is.

Just remember, from the beginning of time, no child has ever wanted to be born as they are the result of two peoples actions and, it is those two people who are responsible for them, nobody else.

Now on the other hand, should someone wish to volentraily assist, then that's thier choice, but it should not be either pushed on to them, or expected.

After all, we are already expected to fund to many of other peoples financial shortcommings. The old, 'don't worry, some else will pay for that'.

Finnaly, if all custodial and non-custodial parents would do the right thing and willingly support the child/children they helped bring in to the world, there would be no need for bodies such as CSA.

After all, although I have not heard one good thing about CSA, they are simply there to sought out somebody elses mess because some responsible adults can't do the right thing.

What goes around comes around Rechtub.

Your line/view:
"Just remember, from the beginning of time, no child has ever wanted to be born as they are the result of two peoples actions and, it is those two people who are responsible for them, nobody else".

Wrong. It should read: "It is those two people, as parents, who 'should' be responsible for them [children] and no-one else".

The operative word/term being "should" in an ideal world if there were such a thing as "ideal" parents.

Yet "ifs" as most know are an illusion.

How selfish a train of thought and belief? that it is totally a parents responsibility to pay and raise their children on their own, through all obstacles, without assistance from our community at all.

Do you have children Rechtub? Have you sacrificed for any other peoples children, the way I and many other Australian parents have, to assist other children, in times of need?

I would never ever begrudge assisting children and teenagers who genuinely need support when their parents are unable to give it on occasions. Dozens of teenagers from around the country are supported regularly by fellow Australians [parents]. Do I hear these beautiful warm loving people moaning about paying $10 dollars out of their taxes to feed and clothe children whose parents spend it on alcohol, drugs and pokies [ie on themselves]?

All I can say is that when you retire [no super as a result of eaten up on administrative fees], or are unable to run your business given whatever the cause, you remember all of your sentiments, when you require some assistance financially in the future from whatever source.

My extensive experience with people from all walks of life, including business people, is that one day, on one occasion, every person requires either financial or emotional support, most of all, children and teenagers.

Antiseptic:

In reference to your thread CSA/C/Link, yes the system has required an overhaul for many years. This may be your journey and life purpose/obstacle brought your way to overcome and change the system for future separated parents. After all the hurt and wrongdoings you have endured; I offer you some consolation.

Most parents and families over the years I am friends with [40's, 50's and 60's] myself included, have endured gross wrongdoings and been let down shockingly in other ways, by the 'system. Some have suffered bankruptcy, lost their homes, savings, in addition to, more importantly, losing their children for many years as a result of a controlling dominant parent using the 'system'.

I have been a victim of corruption at a high level. One day, when my work is finished, I may publish the book from notes I put together. A story of the 8 year nightmare my family and self were forced to live through. Proven we were victims of crooked people and judged wrongfully by corrupt people in the 'system'. My heart and mind has healed for the most part. Yet those years caught in a trap, were wasted years for our children, years that can never be returned to them. However on a positive note, it has made us all stronger and more sympathetic to other people as victims.

I have always sympathised with your situation, yet admired you immensely, for raising your daughter, who was 13yrs old, by memory, in earlier posts Antiseptic. Be proud of yourself as a father; at the end of the day, your childrens respect and attitude towards you, will be the most important thing in your life. No-one else other than your childrens love and respect will matter.

...and you would know this already!

You are a kind person we are unique, your family is lucky to have you I am sure.

There is a great emotional cost to fighting 'the system' and one wonders sometimes if the cost is greater than the rewards or hope for change (or accountability).

Maybe sometimes these small inroads do make a difference. I was thinking of Andew Wilkie the other day in this context and while whistleblowing on WMDs did not achieve a withdrawal from Iraq, and in many ways cemeted what was quickly becoming apparent, the Government in it's usual character continued to maintain the fraudulent facade.

In the meantime Wilkie and many like him whose cases never reached the media, the actions merely served to make his life much harder and I am sure emotionally very challenging in the same way as the medical whistleblowers in the health system.

However in the long term his actions and those of others should always be viewed as worthwhile because each small inroad makes it easier for the next and ultimately for change and better accountability.

Sometimes it takes an anger (even if it appears misdirected) to muster the courage to report wrongdoings or fraudulent behaviour, or in the case of the CSA discriminatory practices and irregularity in the application of the guidelines.

rehctub:"The key word here is 'ANOTHER'."

Fair enough,in that case, let's take $5 from one of the middle-class welfare measures. How about we reduce the childcare subsidy for those in work by $5 a week? Means test the Family Tax Benefit? Reduce private school subsidies? There are lots of possibilities that could be considered to rejig the system without imposing a new special-purpose levy, but I like the idea of a levy for a couple fo reasons.

Firstly, it's specific. The money can't be rolled into consolidated revenue and taken by a Government to pay for political advertising.

Second, it's overt. Each time people pay their tax they will know they are paying this specific sum for this specific public good. It gives everyone a vested interest in those kids whose parents might be a bit substandard or otherwise disadvantaged.

Third, it separates parents financially. If Mum and Dad want their kids to have additionalopportunities, they will pay for them if they are able, but Mum won't be able to drive Dad into penury simply because she doesn't feel like getting a job.

Fourth, it saves close to $500 million a year through abolition of the CSA.

Moreover, we are currently enjoying the lowest personal taxes we've ever had in Australia. The average wage,according to the ABS is $60,000. $260 per annum is less than 0.5% of that. If the levy were set at 0.5% it would raise all the money needed with some left over to pay for sacking all the useless maggotts in the CSA.

Children are a common good. You rely on other people having children to produce staff for your business. You get the benefit, so what's wrong with contributing a bit to the production costs?

we are unique:"those years caught in a trap, were wasted years for our children, years that can never be returned to them."

That is precisely right and it encapsulates neatly something I've been trying to ind the words for. The current system says nothing about the well-being of the children except in certain very narrow ways. Financial stability is important, but it's not the only important thing.
My kids' constant lament has been that Mum and Dad aren't close and that we can't do things as a "family". The system has created that situation and has continued it will-nilly for 10 years. Yes, it may be partly due to corrupt officials, but I say it goes far deeper.

The doctrinally-based ideology that has created the laws and empowered those corrupt officials is pervasive in our society. So much so that it became, tangentially, a topic of discussion during the recent campaign. There are enormous amounts of Government funding given to organisations that promote it and it is perforce unquestioned by all senior public servants. That ideology is Feminism and it brooks no argument.

I am all for our society offering equality of opportunity, as long as it is genuine equality. Feminism as it is done today does not promote equality, but special treatment for women. The Ombudsman's report makes clear that such a thing is unacceptable within the CSA and that should be a warning to all organisations.

we are unique:"at the end of the day, your childrens respect and attitude towards you, will be the most important thing in your life"

Got that in one.