"I agree that society suffers due to the loss of material support but that could also be remedied by a commitment to local, state and federal policies that make sure there's quality, affordable day care, housing, educational and employment opportunities for all families, single-parent or otherwise. "

DUH! It is the welfare system's efforts to do just that that led to the explosion of unwed motherhood among those who can least afford it--poor and minority women. A poor women who gets knocked up and doesn't marry the father gets more in benefits than than she and the baby's father could possibly earn as an unskilled laborers. If she marries the father or tries to make something of herself before having kids, she gets nothing. No matter how much money you throw at this problem, the fact of the matter is that two people can spend twice as much time with their kids. And the mothers of these children are far less likely to get ahead due to the time and effort involved in raising kids, while the fathers have little incentive to better themselves since nobody is depending on them. Fathers have a very important role to play in the raising of children. Reducing that role to a paycheck is naive, insulting and isn't doing the fathers or their children any good.