Universal Childcare?

[Kaddidle Care]

Basically means everyone would pay additional taxes to the government and then the government will divvy out "free" childcare to the masses. You know how kindergarten is free? Obama thinks every family should have access to free preschool in the same way.

NOTHING is FREE - it is paid by the property owners of the town. This too will be paid by the taxpayers.

I sure hope those that voted for this man are happy. I still think the whole election was rigged. There aren't very many people that I've talked to that voted for him.

Then again, my dear friend who votes only for her party did and was complaining to me about how her Co-Pay went up. Yeah...

I love my friend but she's not the sharpest tool.. could be all the meds she's on and guess what? It's not so cheap to be on them anymore.

You know how Tax Freedom Day is April 16th? Well soon it will be November 16th. The American people are becoming enslaved to their debt and taxes.

Forgot to say.. it's not "for the children".

[nanglgrl]

Exactly!

I watched one child full time for all of 2012. The mother paid a whopping $620 for childcare and Child Care Assistance Paid the rest. She makes over $14,000 a year and is getting about $6000 as a tax refund. She dresses her child in brand name items, has her hair done, goes to concerts and has the newest phone. Its ridiculous. I see this all of the time and it's the main reason I decided to start being choosy about accepting state assistance. It was getting to the point where I was going to say something that I regretted.
Of course there are plenty of others that are using the assistance to go to college and they work at the same time. I've seen plenty of people that deserve a little help but it seems that there should be some sort of cap. It seems at the least their tax returns should be taken to pay back what was paid out on their behalf.
The worst part here is they don't give any sort of counseling on budgeting to these parents and there is a crazy "drop off" point when you make a little more money. One parent I know had $1 an hour raise, so a whopping $160 a month before taxes. Before her raise her childcare for 3 children was being paid for completely by the state (no copay), after the raise she made too much so now she had a $1500 daycare bill each month. She quit her job.
I don't even know what to say as far as Universal Childcare. I just feel sorry for these kids. Are my eventual great grandchildren going to start some sort of infant academy shortly after delivery?
Kids need to be kids and as long as they are with some one who cares about them they are getting what they need. I think the problem stems from so many parents out there who can't/don't parent. It seems more and more I hear parents say, "I can't handle them at the grocery store", "she wouldn't go back to bed when I told her", "She refused to wear her coat".....the fact that these parents don't realize that they are the boss and they are supposed to be raising their child to be a productive member of society is the root of the problem in our society and nothing can be fixed until lack of parenting is tackled. Children are becoming bragging rights and an accessory and it's so very sad.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I support Obama, and my personal and business taxes have gone down during his administration. My property values have gone up. My unemployed nephew has gotten a good job. I am looking forward to pursuing health insurance soon. So no complaints here about our President. I too did want to hear more about immigration, unemployment and bringing manufacturing back to the US.

Now.....on to the topic at hand:

I happily accept state subsidized childcare vouchers, and my state allows (encourages us, actually) to charge subsidy parents the difference between my published rate and their rate. In other words, accepting subsidy does not hurt my bottom line, and actually brings me joy to know I am helping someone by accepting it. My place is quite pricey, most
(if not all) of other pricey places refuse subsidy.

I do not like the current free preschool for 4 year olds, and I do not support it for 3 yeaoldsYes, it hurts my business. However, if I can figure out a way to participate without it meaning a pay-cut, I WILL! When the market changes, I feel it is my.duty to adapt, or be left behind. I don't count on any politician to make the right decisions. I count on myself. I don't want to be the Blackberry of the child care industry, I want to be the Iphone.

I don't think this happen on a federal level. It might on a state level. But I doubt it. So until it does, I am not going to get my panties in a wad over it, I got bigger things to worry about.

[Willow]

NOTHING is FREE - it is paid by the property owners of the town. This too will be paid by the taxpayers.

That's why I put free in quotations

[saved4always]

I'm really sorry to all of those Obama supporters out there but I think Obama's an idiot ... Maybe I'm just tired of hearing all of his promises and then him doing the complete opposite later but I think he's doing a horrible job as president.

I mean, did you hear what he said?!?! Does he hear what he is saying?!?! He proposed almost 30 new government programs and then said that it wouldn't increase the deficit. How does that even remotely make sense? Especially when the government is already going downhill and the deficit grows.

Absolutely agree with this. You can't give new handouts without bringing in more money...meaning more taxes. Lovely.

[Kaddidle Care]

That's why I put free in quotations

Ahh - but you didn't in the Kindergarten part. LOL

[itlw8]

while I do believe every child should be able to attend a high quality preschool program at this point where would the money come from. Head Start is not providing services to all those who need it and qualify because there is not enough money.

Universal preschool would be provided through public schools usually so 9 months out of the year. It would mean you would need a BA in education. And except for summer and christmas break we would only be able to care for infant /toddlers. Me personally I will get out of the business.

[kathiemarie]

while I do believe every child should be able to attend a high quality preschool program at this point where would the money come from. Head Start is not providing services to all those who need it and qualify because there is not enough money.

Universal preschool would be provided through public schools usually so 9 months out of the year. It would mean you would need a BA in education. And except for summer and christmas break we would only be able to care for infant /toddlers. Me personally I will get out of the business.

From what I understand, at least in California, Headstart is a epic failure.

[itlw8]

From what I understand, at least in California, Headstart is a epic failure.

I would call Head Start a success in our area. But funding was cut last year and many children did not recieve services. Why would you call it a failure?

[jokalima]

Wow! did not expected this when I asked LOL Don't have much to say, but I am reading and try to form my own opinion about it, was talking to my husband about before reading all the replies, and basically what i am reading goes along with what I had in mind. Interesting, keep posting opinions

[MN Mom]

Before I duck out of this thread, because I really have nothing nice to say, if you ever are at poverty level I hope you have no intentions of using food stamps, Medicaid, daycare assistance vouchers, TANF, school lunch assistance or WIC. And I certainly hope you aren't on the food program, don't drive on city streets and don't use public transportation!

I AM at poverty level. We have been for YEARS. I have never...NOT ONCE taken advantage of the "free" programs to survive. Last year we made 25K (that is including our tax return income). I have 4 children and a mortgage on a 165K property. My husband and I are able to put food on the table every night for our children. They have clothes, a roof over their heads, and a mom and dad who LOVE them very much. So please don't come here and spout that bull crap about NEEDING it to survive. I don't NEED it. Would my life be less stressful? Yes. But I wouldn't have the motivation I have now to work HARD every day to provide for my family and build my online business. We work HARD and save so that we can do fun things like vacations with the kids, even if they aren't the most luxurious. Welfare and subsidized programs are good for those who really really NEED it, but the definition of a need vs a want is SOOOOOO screwed up in this country it makes me PUKE.

[MN Mom]

Great story, well said.

I have been a dual income poverty level family. I had a kid at 16, dh was 19 and we BARELY made it. We qualified for everything, we didn't get it, we got SECOND JOBS. Sorry, but everyone who DOES qualify doesn't NEED them, they chose to use these programs. Most of the programs enable people to continue using them and not improve their situation.

In the last 13 years since my daughters birth, my dh and I paid all of our bills ourselves and on time, had 3 more children, paid off tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills (had a preemie and dd has kidney disease). purchased cars, improved our credit rating from 400-750, purchased a home, sold it and purchased another using equity as down payment, and more than quadrupled our income by simultaneously starting a business and working FT jobs.

THIS IS AMERICA. If you can't better yourself here, you couldn't MAKE it in other countries.

I believe that SOME of the entitlement programs are necessary, but I think they are ridiculously overused and extremely poorly managed/run. (like EVERYTHING the government touches!)

Well said daycarediva! happyface

[Blackcat31]

I AM at poverty level. We have been for YEARS. I have never...NOT ONCE taken advantage of the "free" programs to survive. Last year we made 25K (that is including our tax return income). I have 4 children and a mortgage on a 165K property. My husband and I are able to put food on the table every night for our children. They have clothes, a roof over their heads, and a mom and dad who LOVE them very much. So please don't come here and spout that bull crap about NEEDING it to survive. I don't NEED it. Would my life be less stressful? Yes. But I wouldn't have the motivation I have now to work HARD every day to provide for my family and build my online business. We work HARD and save so that we can do fun things like vacations with the kids, even if they aren't the most luxurious. Welfare and subsidized programs are good for those who really really NEED it, but the definition of a need vs a want is SOOOOOO screwed up in this country it makes me PUKE.

A few years ago, my DH and I decided to adopt a family and do something nice for the holidays for them. We decided we were going to give them all the trimming for a holiday meal and a few spending dollars for gas or gifts for their children.

My DH and I started out dirt poor doing everything ourselves without the help of anyone other than our own need to survive. We wanted to pay our good fortune forward.

When push came to shove and we were ready to start buying stuff for our "care package" we were startled to realize that we couldn't really find a truly needy family. :confused:

Oh, don't get me wrong, we knew lots of families that struggled and were maybe on assistance or really had a hard time paying their bills but when we really looked at them we realized all of them smoked, had newer cars, went to the casino's, dressed in name brand clothing, had cell phones and tattoos etc etc

So in all honesty, we really couldn't find a truly needy family.

I KNOW there are families out there who are struggling and really really do need the help.....but I didn't have any idea where to find them.

[Country Kids]

A few years ago, my DH and I decided to adopt a family and do something nice for the holidays for them. We decided we were going to give them all the trimming for a holiday meal and a few spending dollars for gas or gifts for their children.

My DH and I started out dirt poor doing everything ourselves without the help of anyone other than our own need to survive. We wanted to pay our good fortune forward.

When push came to shove and we were ready to start buying stuff for our "care package" we were startled to realize that we couldn't really find a truly needy family. :confused:

Oh, don't get me wrong, we knew lots of families that struggled and were maybe on assistance or really had a hard time paying their bills but when we really looked at them we realized all of them smoked, had newer cars, went to the casino's, dressed in name brand clothing, had cell phones and tattoos etc etc

So in all honesty, we really couldn't find a truly needy family.

I KNOW there are families out there who are struggling and really really do need the help.....but I didn't have any idea where to find them.

Not a family but some senior citizens really need the help. It saddens me to see them struggling like they do-

I know of one that receives SS, $1,200 or so. Sounds like a lot but they really struggle on this and only receive $20 food card. Once they pay their rent, food, utilities, doctor bills, medications there is usually very little left. They have canceled everything, gone to barebones everything. They know they are very blessed because every month everything is covered but I can see the stress of just surviving.

Alot of seniors will forgo medications or food so they have a little money just in case. Most of them get paid at the beginning of the month and if anything happens (doctor, meds) they may not have the money and forgo going to the doctors or something.

So maybe next year when you want to do a food basket look to a senior and you will see true happiness/appreciation in their eyes!

[Springdaze]

My whole take on the "programs" thing is that there is no longer any incentive to do better. Raise the minimum wage because people on it cant survive? Then strive for a better job than minimum wage. If you qualify for financial aid, go to school to get the better job. If people dont have to work hard to survive, some wont and if brought up that way, more and more generations will become people with no incentive. To be honest, government control scares me! I think I am intelligent enough to figure things out on my own. Yea, universal healthcare sounds great until its between your mother and a young person who needs care and there isnt enough for both. guess whos dying?