I'm not a parent. But goddamn if I don't want parents to give their children the best possible early childhood that is available. If that costs me 30% of my salary, so that our society is healthy, educated, safe, well-balanced I'll pay it. Anyone who can't see that without an excellent early childhood plan in place our society is doomed is living with their head in the sand. I don't understand the vitriol on this website for parents and that legislating so that they have a chance is somehow socialist evil.
That leave is paid back several times over. A skilled work force is the greatest asset any country has. The first few years of life are the most important; spending money on a child for the first few years of it's life should result in significantly increased benefit to society throughout their later working life.
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The countries mandated by legislation do not force parents to take leave
They force parents (as well as people who choose not to become parents) to pay for that leave whether they take it or not.
I'm not a parent. But goddamn if I don't want parents to give their children the best possible early childhood that is available. If that costs me 30% of my salary, so that our society is healthy, educated, safe, well-balanced I'll pay it. Anyone who can't see that without an excellent early childhood plan in place our society is doomed is living with their head in the sand. I don't understand the vitriol on this website for parents and that legislating so that they have a chance is somehow socialist evil.
That leave is paid back several times over. A skilled work force is the greatest asset any country has. The first few years of life are the most important; spending money on a child for the first few years of it's life should result in significantly increased benefit to society throughout their later working life.
It's hardly clear that this is true. The most recent study I've seen suggests it is actually a waste of money.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2348505
Do you have any info suggesting otherwise?