There is a growing movement for paid family leave. Many pundits of unpaid family leave predicted this move back in 1993 when the Family Medical Leave Act was first passed. Proponents predict that paid family leave will only cost employees and employers and additional $50 per year in taxes each. I'm not sure where they arrived at this figure, but I'd bet they are sandbagging. The usual method for getting new taxes approved always consists of low-balling the estimate.

The argument for paid family leave always starts with bleeding heart stories. Mary Margaret of Dimplewood, California wanted to take time off to bury her dead father, but her big mean corporate company chained her to her desk and told her to get back to work. Some of the biggest arguments in favor of paid family leave stem from people making poor life decisions. The Christian Science Monitor cites the story of Laura Foster. First Laura's father died, and she had to bury him. Then she had to sort out all of his financial affairs. All this time off used up her vacation, and interfered with her decision to adopt an infant. When they finally received their new "tricycle motor"*, she didn't have any paid vacation left, and had to return to work. She qualifies for unpaid leave, but cannot afford to lose the pay, as her husband is cutting back on his traveling salesman work.

I hate to have to be the one to sound unsympathetic, but she should have thought of that before adopting. It sounds to me like both her and her husband want to take time off to stay home with the baby. If they cannot afford it, then they shouldn't be trying to adopt a child. As long as their child isn't being neglected, I don't have any problem with women with children continuing to work if they want to. While it would be preferable for at least one parent to stay home and raise the child, it isn't my kid, so I don't really care. However, when someone expects other people to pay them to not work because they chose to have a kid, it becomes my problem! I am so tired of hearing people whine about having to face the consequences of their actions. You had the kid, you deal with it. Bringing a child into the world when you cannot afford it, is child abuse.

* terminology borrowed from Neal Boortz