Ah, Choices: Family Values vs. Checkbook Values

Here's something to discuss over coffee today. Avid reader Anonymous posed the following question on yesterday's "Just Say No to Drug Testing" post:

As an educator, do you feel the breakdown of the family unit is causing children to reach out to drugs and alcohol in an effort to soothe or replace what they're not getting from home?

As I composed a response, I happened upon an article discussing the impact of broken families in the US and Sweden. Rutgers University's National Marriage Project found that "In both Sweden and the United States studies show that children from broken families have two to three times the number of serious problems in life." The report then goes on to compare responses to issues that might relate to "broken families" [all emphasis below is mine]:

The National Marriage Project report also points out that while Sweden is considered liberal in matters of sexual morality, its laws in some areas are stricter than those in the United States. In Sweden, for instance, married couples with children aged 16 or under must wait six months before a divorce becomes final. In the United States, most states make no distinction in their divorce laws between couples with or without children.

Also, Sweden allows in vitro fertilisation only if a woman is married or cohabiting in a long-term relationship. The United States has no such restrictions. Anonymous sperm donation is prohibited in Sweden, and allowed in the United States. And an abortion in Sweden after the 18th week of pregnancy is allowed only after review and approval by the National Board of Health. By contrast, abortion is allowed for pregnancies through the third trimester in all but three US states.*

Sweden also offers advantages in child rearing. There is more leisure time, and generous welfare benefits make it possible for parents to spend greater time with their children. Almost all mothers are able to stay at home with their infants for the first year, at 80 per cent or more of their salary. And it is easy to work flexible hours in order to meet family responsibilities. In Sweden child poverty is almost nonexistent, and all children are covered by health insurance.

But this comes at a price. Popenoe comments: "The average American would probably find life in Scandinavia rather uncomfortable due to high taxes, strict government regulation, limited consumer choice, smaller dwelling units, social conformity, and a soft work ethic."

So who's the real family-values country, the US or Sweden? Lots of Americans talk a good game about loving babies, but they aren't willing to pay the price. It's more important to have low taxes and big houses. The Swedes seem more willing to put their money where their collective socialist mouth is.

*Hold on -- that's not all abortions all the time; not even Roe v. Wade protects abortion on demand in the third trimester. But that's not the point here.