Malarky- Word! Total agreement.

Parker: As Malarky said, the part that I was citing was about social expectations, not the "wage gap" (which is a completely separate issue). People are not "punished" when their actions have consequences. Sometimes things are just cause and effect. If I work 40 hours a week, and you work 80, then you should earn more than me, and I'm sure that you would (assuming that we have somewhat equal skills). If you or I choose to have children, then it is in no way, shape or form society's responsibility to feed and clothe them for me after they are born. It is the parents' responsibility, and the 2 of them should organize it according to their personal situation. Your statement that "our children are punished because of their parents' need to work to support them" was very telling. Children are not in any way punished by seeing and knowing that their parents work to support them. In fact,children being able to understand that life involves work, often hard work, and that their parents work hard because they love them, is nothing but a benefit to those children. Children do need love and attention, but they certainly don't need both parents hovering over them at every second, with no other responsibilities.

By the way, please don't call me or other posters on this board assholes. It's just plain rude.