Human Nature

Child Support ["Deadbeats R Us" by Katie Allison Granju, Vol. 8, No. 12] is a hot issue and one that begs for a knee-jerk emotional response. The truth is that this is an extremely complex issue that can neither be covered accurately nor thoroughly in a one-shot article. What is clear is that this is an extremely easy issue to sensationalize and for one to draw the wrong conclusions.

As expected when I was interviewed, critical facts were omitted. One omitted fact provided by the US Census Bureau: 79.1 percent of all noncustodial parents pay their child support. Where this gets distorted is when agenda-driven activists bury this fact, or worse yet, don't even state it. They simply overlook the facts which do not align with their cause and instead, concentrate their attack on the most extreme cases. Out-of-wedlock, Title IV-d, and low income cases, where child support compliance is abysmally low, are not the examples on which we should base our policy making.

The truth is that nearly 80 percent of noncustodial parents pay their court-ordered child support, and over 90 percent of those in a joint custody, shared-parenting arrangement pay theirs. Gee, where were these statistics? I just wonder when we will wake up and realize that human nature plays a very big role in this issue: The more a noncustodial parent is involved in the child's life, the higher the compliance rate with child support payment.

It is high time that we as a society realize that the current winner-take-all child custody laws are at the root of noncompliance.

BOTH parents should be made explicitly financially responsible for providing for their children. If the custodial parent were held to the same financial standard as the noncustodial parent, welfare roles would shrink and children would have more of what they deserve. For those of us who have taken the extensive time required to thoroughly research this subject, one of modest intelligence would cringe at the archaic assumptions inflicted upon the citizens of our state. If we as Tennesseans truly want what is best for our children, it is essential that we update our laws to a shared-parenting, shared-responsibility model.

Scott Roy
Pres., Dads Against Discrimination

You're Welcome

Once again, I owe Metro Pulse a big "Thank you!" A little over a year ago, when I was in the process of leaving Gov. Sundquist's senior staff, your paper referred to me as a "hometown hero." Of course, the gist of that article was that Don Sundquist was a "one-termer" with no hope of getting re-elected. My, my, what a difference a year makes.

In your April 23 issue, I am referred to as part of the "Bean machine." I don't know if such an apparatus exists or not, but I do acknowledge that I am a long-time friend and supporter of Lillian Bean. In any event, I thank you for mentioning me in this context. Like my relationship with Gov. Sundquist, I am likewise proud of my association with Richard and Lillian Bean.

I am a little troubled by Betty Bean's description of a letter I wrote to Sandra Clark as "scathing." If this letter is "scathing," I shudder to think how my daily correspondence to other lawyers might be described by someone as obviously sensitive as Betty Bean (no relation to Lillian Bean).

Again, thanks for mentioning me in such a positive light, yet again.

Billy J. Stokes
Knoxville