Sunday, September 4, 2022

Bill Crawford: State Could do More to Reduce Fatherlessness

 Good “Dads Matter” study from State Auditor Shad White emphasizing the tragic impact of fatherlessness on children, but he offered feeble solutions.

“Fatherlessness creates myriad costs, both social and economic,” the study notes. Drawing from data provided by the National Fatherhood Initiative, the Family Research Council, and others, the study cited higher school drop-out rates, unemployment rates, incarceration rates, and teen pregnancy rates for boys and girls who grow up in fatherless homes. 

“Fatherlessness poses threats to both the economic and social wellbeing of Mississippi communities,” the report concluded.

White called for strengthening JROTC and mentoring programs to aide children from fatherless homes, but suggested nothing to actually reduce fatherless homes. 

A significant cause of the rise of single parent families has been well documented – means-tested welfare programs. “It is no accident that the collapse of marriage in America largely began with the War on Poverty and the proliferation of means-tested welfare programs that it fostered,” stated a 2014 report from the Heritage Foundation. Means-tested welfare “penalizes low-income parents who do marry,” the report continued. “When a low-income mother and father marry, they will generally experience a sharp drop in benefits, and their joint income will fall. The anti-marriage penalty is often most severe among married couples where both parents are employed.”

So long as single-parent moms are better off under means-tested social welfare than living in low-income two parent settings, fatherless homes will persist. As will the “cruel” cycle of dependency Gov. Tate Reeves laments but does little to fix.

The fix to put fathers back into homes and break the cycle of dependency requires changing means-tested programs so that they encourage, rather than penalize, two-parent families. 

One of those is Medicaid. A non-working mom with young children is covered in Mississippi. Add in a husband making minimum wage and neither parent is covered. Another is the much abused TANF program. Means limits are higher for SNAP, Section 8 housing subsidies, and other programs but still penalize two-parent families. Even federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Care Credit programs, which encourage and enable poor families to work, have marriage penalties.

While the state has limited control over means-testing required by federal programs, it does have three options it could pursue to reduce fatherless households. 

It could expand Medicaid. Not only would this mitigate the anti-marriage barrier it would also improve healthcare and expand the economy. 

It could better coordinate programs to maximize benefits for two-parent working families. The National Governors Association provided examples in its “Two-Generation” demonstration project.  

It could put in place state programs. For example, in 2014 Gov. Phil Bryant proposed – and the Legislature killed – a state Earned Income Tax Credit program to reduce taxes for low-income working families. 

It is one thing to point out Mississippi’s systemic problems, but quite another to go all in to fix them.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” – Galatians 6:9.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

He points fingers at the governor but neglects to hold the legislature responsible or part of the solution.

Anonymous said...

Didn't the government start this whole problem themselves? Now they are going to solve the problem. Does anyone think they will do anything except make the problem bigger and more severe?

Anonymous said...

Come on Bill, this stuff just makes too much sense to implement. Plus it would get in the way of the conservative war on the poors. How else are the ones in power supposed to force them the poors to submit? It's hard to crush their dreams if the have the ability to improve their lots in life.

Anonymous said...

A CEO, a Tea Party member and public employee sit at a table, with 12 cookies on a plate. The CEO grabs 11 cookies and tells the Tea Party member, "You better watch him. He wants your cookie."

The CEO took 11 out of 12 cookies. This isn't a question of what's fair. The CEO has the economic power to take 11 cookies, and he does.

A conservative blog explained this point of view. The CEO deserved 11 cookies. Without the CEO, the 12 cookies would never have been baked. No one would have anything without the CEO. Not only did the CEO deserve 11 of the 12 cookies, but if we somehow had 15 cookies, the CEO would deserve 14. If the CEO made 24 cookies in China, he should get 23. The Tea Party member and the public employee should thank the CEO for their one cookie.

Wouldn't want those "lazy" poor people (who work) getting 2 cookies, now, would we?

Anonymous said...



Fatherlessness would be reduced if those that get someone pregnant would marry or take responsibility for the mother and child. Continuing to push “their” responsibility to others is complete bullshit for those of us take take our parenting seriously. Don’t give me the crap about it reduces costs, it just serves “fatherlessness” with more handouts.

Anonymous said...

1:19, Hear, hear!

Or simply use contraceptives, which are simple and cheap. And since it's the women who get stuck with the kids it should be them on the pill.

Anonymous said...

I got 30 days in the Facebook hole for quoting LBJ although I redacted the N word. I was accused of 'hate speech'.

If you can't quote a president of the United States, who can you quote? Why redact or pretend the President didn't say what he said. It's our history.

“I'll have them niggers voting Democratic for the next two hundred years. [Said to two governors regarding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to then-Air Force One steward Robert MacMillan]”

― Lyndon B. Johnson

Anonymous said...

I'm here to say that Biden's inflation has left me with very little cookie.

So, big brain Bill's answer is to give more free stuff.

Who will pay for said free stuff? Will it just materialize out of the air?

Anonymous said...

I have wrestled with making this post for a while. Kingfish can print it, or not, it will still be true.

The fatherless problem isn't the government's responsibility to solve. There is nowhere else to point the finger of blame, except at the silent pulpits of churches.


Anonymous said...

After the 2nd 'fatherless' child on the dole ... the mother AND father need to be sterilized. End of problem. Can't feed 'em - don't breed 'em. Make them stand in line for food, government provided cheese, peanut butter, canned ham, bread, beans, crackers, etc. Just like before this welfare crap. No one was hungry and they didn't have a plastic card to buy junk food. We spend hundreds of millions a year on processed junk food. This won't be published ... but oh well.

Anonymous said...

“strengthening JROTC”

What a f’ing joke.

How about requiring child support by the fathers of these bastards?

How about actually requiring single moms to pay for their own kids?

How about some shame in getting knocked up?

Anonymous said...

The Family Research Council is one of the most hate filled morally bankrupt groups in the country.

Anonymous said...

2:21 is exactly correct. LBJ was the one who signed all of this into law. I do not know what his ulterior was but only to benefit the Democratic Party by any means possible. To allow a sector of society to become totally dependent on another sector is the most dangerous ideology one can conceive. It creates anger, bitterness and hatred toward those who don’t have to do anything to get something for nothing yet enjoying life while the rest of us are working from sun up to sun down and can to can’t to provide for our families.

Anonymous said...

i know of someone who has three kids and does not work so he can avoid paying any child support. in turn, he sponges off his wife (who is a co-worker)

how is this the governments fault? how could the government help?

he’s sticking it to people on one end and sticking another for his living expenses.

nothing that biden, trump, reeves, lumumba, shad white or the state of ms, city of jackson can do that will make less absentee fathers. they don’t want to be fathers but enjoy the act of making babies.

Anonymous said...

More excuses. I grew up fatherless and motherless, but I did just fine. There’s plenty of people who would have done better without their own kin raising them.

Anonymous said...

I grew up and was working at age 2, full time. These lazy poor people always want a GubMint handout. Not like the PPP program or Farm Welfare or bailouts, where we earned that extra money!

Anonymous said...

Here's what Shad failed to mention about JROTC: 95% of the students enrolled in Jackson Public Schools in JROTC get college scholarships.

People who go to college have far fewer out-of-wedlock babies.

So do female athletes in High School.

Anonymous said...

Democrats have to keep em poor and dependent so they continue to vote Democrat in return for promises of more free stuff. It’s the 21st century version of slavery.

Anonymous said...

The various federal programs were intended to help the blameless children, not the parents.

Anonymous said...

2:21 PM, its undeniable what leftist Democrats have done to the poor people in our country. It won’t be long and some of those poor people will be paying their housing rents to the hard working immigrants coming from places like Mexico.

3:00 PM is correct. The silent pulpits are more concerned with 501 c 3 status and making sure they don’t lose any members i.e. tithers than to risk being politically incorrect.

7:57 AM nailed it! In addition to keeping em poor and dependent, Democrats keep crime rates high on purpose. Can’t have low crime cause people would move back into leftist controlled cities like Jackson that possessed enough intelligence to vote their sorry asses out of office.

Anonymous said...

What kind of job did you have at age 2. Asking for the Department of Labor.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.