A Horrible Example of Deadbeat Politics...

Galesburg, Illinois has come up with an innovative way of forcing dads to cough up support payments.

Politicians in Galesburg, Illinois think they have a plan to be a “demonstration county” for Illinois child support enforcement. Knox County State's Attorney Paul Mangieri and Judge Harry Bulkeley plan to lock up poor men behind on child support payments from Friday evening until Monday morning.

This situation is an excellent microcosmic study which pristinely isolates the damage done to society and family in more complex world of politics.

Justice has been set aside entirely in civil nonsupport cases. Incarceration does not constitute removal of one’s freedom (thus requiring a high standard of scrutiny). It is considered a method to compel a person to do whatever the court wants. The fact that one’s freedom has been revoked is immaterial. In these cases the reasonability of the support order, and whether the father can earn the amount ordered, are not defenses and cannot be pled. The only question before the court is “did you pay or not”.

What a marvelous idea. Make it impossible for poor men to be fathers (so they cannot parent their children), and turn them into workaholics for the state. This is in addition to seizing any and all assets, taking away driver’s, business, and professional licenses so men cannot work or get to work, and inventing child support tables that pretend the father has no living expenses of his own.

Gee, I am glad I am gay.