It will always be interesting to me that the right wing will argue "we should do X,Y,Z because europe does it" for laws they want. Such as most of europe being to the right of the US before the repeal of roe v. wade.

But then on the other hand, when there is something that the right wing doesnt like - they argue "we cant do that because of socialism"

I would be fine with a paid maternity leave for 8-12 weeks for the first two kids.

FIFY

Matt and Tyler will argue against it just because Biden is for it.

The reality is the vast majority of Republicans support paid family leave. Trump ran on passing it in 2015 and as President signed the bill that gave it to all 2 million Federal employees…….but if Biden says he wants to pass it the MAGA crowd starts screeching “Socialism!!”

I didn't argue against it. Just pointed out the flaws in your argument... because people want it! Hell, kids want chocolate and TV all day, and would "vote" for it... like 6th grade class presidents offering McDonald's and a soda machine.

and yet amazingly we seem to need it in an inflationary environment at exactly the time

that the guy who is losing all his parties important demo's wants to give away free stuff in order to buy votes.

Inflationary effect is probably pretty weak, being phased in over 10 years, and having hard caps. Just speculation, haven't seen the CBO crew weigh in on possible effects.


I don't know what "losing important demo's" means, but indeed it's very common for Presidential candidates to promise populist measures in election years, and this is a popular/populist measure. Certainly intentionally rolled out in an election year with political purpose. Vs. having pushed it the prior three years. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea, though.

And the other major candidate is also rolling out popular/populist ideas in an election year...when he had 4 years to do it the prior time.

Fundamentally, elections are a form of popularity contest. So this isn't unexpected from either side.

The United States is the only nation in the developed world that does not require paid family or medical leave from work.

You didn’t point out any flaws. You posted a bunch of strawman that had nothing to do with the topic……but you knew that.

and yet amazingly we seem to need it in an inflationary environment at exactly the time

that the guy who is losing all his parties important demo's wants to give away free stuff in order to buy votes.

Wrong again Matt. "18 year paid leave" "4 hour work week" etc. are just simplistic strawmen......but you knew that so you now resort to your usual insults and deflection.

Why shouldn't America have paid family leave like the rest of the world? Try to answer with specifics, not deflection, insults, and strawmen.

You didn’t point out any flaws. You posted a bunch of strawman that had nothing to do with the topic……but you knew that.

Wrong again Matt. "18 year paid leave" "4 hour work week" etc. are just simplistic strawmen......but you knew that so you now resort to your usual insults and deflection.

Why shouldn't America have paid family leave like the rest of the world? Try to answer with specifics, not deflection, insults, and strawmen.

ThisIsIt wrote:

Clarification, it's other Americans. Seemingly one of the great fears of many conservatives is someone else will get something for free (in their view).

No doubt. The extravagant benefits they have received and continue to receive don't count, it is the thought of "someone else" receiving something that sets the dogs in the manger howling. The fascinating thing about conservatives' attitudes is the extent to which they are willing to waste money to protect this ideological position.

Despite being a radical communist nation, Australia was one of the last developed countries to introduce paid parental leave. In fact, more than 90% of large corporations were already offering some form of it voluntarily before it was made a formal requirement. The debate is therefor relatively recent.

What finally tipped the balance was not just the public desire for the very long list of social and wellbeing benefits. It was the many studies, including by our Productivity Commission and by right wing economic think tanks, showing that the combination of the multiplier effects of the expenditure, with the better use of human capital by providing a faster and smoother return to the workforce for parents, meant that the scheme would "more than pay for itself" and would be a significant net contributor to GDP. It doesn't cost, it earns.

The idea that the US "cannot afford" paid parental leave is false. It is, as you note, really just a fear of creeping social decency, which is socialism in sheep's clothing. It is a lot like their fear that the US "cannot afford" universal healthcare. As a result the US spends more than double the amount per capita on healthcare as comparison countries, including more government expenditure. What a collossal and scandalous waste. But as long as poor people are suffering and dying needlessly from treatable health conditions*, the right can smugly feel that they are keeping socialism at bay. Heck, it probably even shows that they aren't woke. Priorities.

*More than 26 000 Americans die each year because of lack of health insurance

Trump may have some crazy agendas, but slipping tax payer funded college post hoc is absolutely fucking bullshit from Biden. If you took a loan you pay it. If the government makes college tax payer funded then we have to pay it or vote out the people demanding it. But at least our tax money would be known ahead of time instead of stealing it to pay off loans people willingly took on in order to garner votes the party thought it didn't have otherwise. Bullshit.

Bullshit. Your crying antics devolve threads from rational discussion. My point was not strawman and you hide in claiming strawman. Just a continuance of your lies and obfuscation.

Wrong again Matt. "18 year paid leave" "4 hour work week" etc. are just simplistic strawmen......but you knew that so you now resort to your usual insults and deflection.

Why shouldn't America have paid family leave like the rest of the world? Try to answer with specifics, not deflection, insults, and strawmen.

Inflationary effect is probably pretty weak, being phased in over 10 years, and having hard caps. Just speculation, haven't seen the CBO crew weigh in on possible effects.



I don't know what "losing important demo's" means, but indeed it's very common for Presidential candidates to promise populist measures in election years, and this is a popular/populist measure. Certainly intentionally rolled out in an election year with political purpose. Vs. having pushed it the prior three years. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea, though.

And the other major candidate is also rolling out popular/populist ideas in an election year...when he had 4 years to do it the prior time.

Fundamentally, elections are a form of popularity contest. So this isn't unexpected from either side.