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From: eris@tc.fluke.COM (Chris Beckmeyer)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: child making and rearing
Keywords: SUBSIDIZING
Message-ID: <1990Aug28.162019.12972@tc.fluke.COM>
Date: 28 Aug 90 16:20:19 GMT
Sender: ambar@ora.com (Jean Marie Diaz)
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 35
Approved: ambar@ora.com

and while we're at it... why does medical insurance cover prenatal care and
delivery?  pregnancy and child birth is RARELY an accident anymore, and is
in itself, NEVER an illness.  goddess knows, many many women spend years
and thousands of dollars getting pregnant in the first place.  to me, this
makes it definitely an ELECTIVE procedure, like a face lift which isn't
covered by any insurance policies i know of.  pregnancy is certainly more
ELECTIVE than crooked teeth requiring braces or vision loss requiring
glasses which insurance doesn't cover either!  i'm not saying that PROBLEMS
with the mother or fetus should not be covered expenses, but a normal
pregnancy and delivery???  NO WAY!!!  then i get it all the time, "if it wasn't
for insurance i couldn't afford to have children!"  then why are you doing it?
the pregnancy/delivery is the smallest expense involved in having children and
you CAN'T AFFORD IT?  give me break!
 
to brian delaney re: (mild soap box)-  thank you.  one of the most sensible
articles i've seen on the net.

to dave desjardins re: public education--it's not exactly a social benefit
bestowed on the masses out of kindness and foresight.  no handy references, but
my sociology/history education pointed out the fact that mandatory public
education came about as a result of pressure from labor unions to keep children
out of the job market, thus protecting adult jobs and enabling them to demand
a higher wage (good thing) in light of the reduced labor force.
 
re: parental leave--here in washington the leave is required, but it is not
required to be PAID.  however, the employee's salary is minor compared to the
rest of the costs incurred by the employer... temporary help at $25 to $50
per hour, lost production while training the temp help @ double what the
employee made, etc. etc. etc.

just some thoughts...flame away

chris
"don't patronize me"