There seems to be a common belief amongst Republicans and the Christian Right that they are "pro-family" and the Democrats or other varieties of liberals are "anti-family". If you truly look at the Republican party and social conservatism in general, historically speaking, the Republicans have favored big business and Wall Street interests and really have not done much, other than claim, to protect the family. The Republican Party, prior to Reagan in 1980 was actually the party of feminism. (I only mention this as many in the Republican Party or the Christian Right claim that the women’s movement and radical feminism was the death of the family and traditional family values) Since early 1990 the Republicans have not done much in terms of promoting family policies or crafting and passing pro-family laws. Just look at the tax codes.
In 1970, when the wife chose to stay home and be a stay at home mom, the average income for that family was $40,785. In 2002 when the wife chose to stay home the average family income actually dropped, in inflation adjusted dollars, to $40,100. However, two income families increased their average income during the same time period by 35%. This type of tax policy forces mothers into the work force.
There is also evidence throughout history that documents when the interest of big business collides with the interest of a traditional, one-breadwinner family the GOP almost always side with business. Prior to 1980 it was Democrats that actually were in favor of the opposite approach. They almost always sided with family interests.
It would be nice if real conservatives would spend their money working for real change in family law and in tax-code rather than spending their time on trivial issues like keeping "In God We Trust" in the post offices and on our currency. The Christian Right needs to focus its efforts on something that would actually help the middle class and the poor strengthen their families. They are the ones, after all, who claim to be so "pro-family."
I’m not giving Democrats a free pass on this. Both parties need to work to make things better for family. We are one of the few countries that do not pay women when on maternity leave. In many European countries it is standard for women to take a year or more and continue to draw 90 percent of their salary. Here, women are lucky to get 12 weeks of unpaid leave. I call out Republicans because they seem to be the ones always espousing the virtues of family values, but when it comes down to it they have actually done very little to promote or protect the value of the family.
** Statistics taken from research by Allan Carlson, President of the Howard Center and director of Family in America Studies Center
1 comment:
Assuming all the stats are accurate then that is interesting. Both parties have been detrimental when it comes to laws protecting the family. They've made it much harder for people to raise and support a family these days, especially on a single-income.
You are right in that the Republican Party prides itself on being family friendly and full of family values. It's interesting that their history indicates otherwise.
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