A Child's Right

Michigan Child Support System Needs Investigation

http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=4442

Much of Michigan Child Support Debt is not for Child Support but a State Surcharge

December 11th, 2009 by Robert Franklin, Esq.
According to this article, a good (albeit unstated) portion of Michigan's child support
arrearages aren't child support arrearages at all, but interest due on
unpaid amounts (Detroit News, 12/7/09). In 1996, the Michigan
legislature passed a law requiring non-custodial parents to pay
interest on any arrearages in child support. It set the rate at 8%
which was to be compounded, presumably yearly. I don't know where they
came up with that figure, but it's significantly more than, for example
the return on highly-rated municipal bonds, U.S. Treasury bonds, etc.
And the fact that they allowed the amounts to be compounded added
insult to injury.

My comments:
-------

Thank you for bringing the issues in Michigan to light.

A few more points:

* For children or custodial parents on welfare, "child support " that
"goes to the child" actually goes to the state to repay those
expenses. If it's set too high the child is harmed because the
non-custodial parent can't help with the child's real day to day
expenses.

* There is substantial evidence of ongoing and systemic fraud in calculating child support in Michigan.

* There is evidence of systemic application of illegal automatic income
imputation, a known violation of Michigan law under Michigan supreme
court rulings for 10 years.

* There is evidence that child custody determinations are racist. Only
3/5ths as many African-American fathers get recommendations for sole or
joint custody, as compared to White Non-Hispanic fathers, based on
county to county data. Racial data is not available, and would likely
be substantially worse.

* There is evidence that courts are altering recordings and manipulating official records in violation of federal laws.

* The 2008 MCSFM (Michigan Child Support Formula Manual) was changed to
make parenting time offsets insignificant. A parent who directly cares
for a child 79 overnights + 26 weekdays only gets 2% of the family
income available under state law for that child for his/her support
efforts.

* There is evidence that courts are knowingly violating and evading federal laws on garnishment limits.

* FOC form 10a makes child support fraud easy, and there is evidence
that it's used in a coercive manner to force parents to give up various
rights (e.g. the ability to object ot move away decisions, later
modification of child support, etc).

* Google "Carol Rhodes Friend of the Court Video" and watch it. She worked there and saw it all.

* All of this is documented at scribd dot com slash DougDante.

 

But no Republican or Democrat politician is really willing to fundamentally change the way child support is calculated or enforced because they don’t want to look like they are soft on all those dead beat dads out there.

Heck they figure that you cheatin’ abusive dads out there deserve to have to pay bloated support orders after all if you’d just been a good husband or boyfriend she would have never kicked you to the curb or it is your own damn fault ‘cause you left her for some other chick. Finally these statist politicians either think that it is a man’s responsibility to care for his ex and their children or that women are the superior gender and deserve to be supported at what the state determines is best. Think about it, doesn’t most republocrats believe that it is “fair” to have a graduated income tax and property tax?

 

Darrick Scott-Farnsworth

Executive Director www.AChildsRight.net www.daddyblogger.com 

Cell 269 209-7144 or Nextel DC ID 130*112*19287

True Conservative: Pro-Life, Liberty and Property

 

RADAR ALERT: "First they ignore you, ..."

RADAR ALERT:

"First they ignore you, ..."

Two weeks ago, Slate.com's short-lived
<http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote1sym> 1 publication
"Double X" published an article by Kathryn Joyce entitled "'Men's Rights'
Groups Have Become Frighteningly Effective."
<http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote2sym> 2

This was not Slate.com's finest hour. One thing this article could never be
accused of is objective reporting.

On Nov. 5th, the very same day the Double X article appeared, Salon.com's
Broadsheet published an article by Judy Berman entitled "'Men's rights'
groups go mainstream"
<http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote3sym> 3 that adds no
new information, and simply seems to be an effort to repeat the Double X
article to Salon's readers.

Since the Double X article appeared there have been several analyses of its
flaws, the most recent being Cathy Young's article in Forbes: "Feminism
should be about equality-for males too"
<http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote4sym> 4 which says:

"More than a quarter-century ago, British feminist philosopher Janet
Radcliffe Richards wrote, 'No feminist whose concern for women stems from a
concern for justice in general can ever legitimately allow her only interest
to be the advantage of women.' Joyce's article is a stark example of
feminism as exclusive concern with women and their perceived advantage,
rather than justice or truth."

In "Journalistic Misrepresentation at Slate's New Woman-Oriented Publication
'Double X'" <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote5sym> 5,
RADAR's Mark Rosenthal explained how the article had misrepresented his
comments and also took issue with the article's characterization of Murray
Straus as someone "who has written extensively on female violence," saying:

"The characterization of Straus as someone who has written extensively on
female violence is like characterizing Susan B. Anthony as someone who wrote
extensively on temperance - true but misleading because of what it leaves
out. Straus has devoted his professional career to the study of all forms of
family violence - parent-to-child, child-to-parent, sibling-to-sibling, as
well as partner violence in all its configurations - male-to-female,
female-to-male, and mutual. He has never focused exclusively on female
violence."

And in a series of articles beginning with "Slate.com & Salon.com Criticize
the Fatherhood Movement (Part I)"
<http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote6sym> 6, Glenn Sacks
critiques the quality of the reporting, saying:

"The articles discuss various aspects and actors in the [men's and fathers]
movement, and also quote and misquote me. ... I specifically, repeatedly,
and emphatically told Joyce that any linkage between the men's & fathers'
movements' grievances and Sodini is not my view, but I guess she was
determined to jam it in there anyway."

Mahatma Gandhi is reputed to have said: "First they ignore you, then they
ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." The joint Slate/Salon
attack pieces are a good indication that we're well past stage 1.
Congratulation to all RADAR supporters and allies for getting us this far.
Let's keep it up!

_____

1 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote1anc> "Double X
closes up shop",
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2009/11/16/double_x_folds/index.html

2 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote2anc> "'Men's
Rights' Groups Have Become Frighteningly Effective.", Slate.com,
http://www.doublex.com/section/news-politics/mens-rights-groups-have-become-
frighteningly-effective

3 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote3anc> 'Men's
rights' groups go mainstream, Salon.com,
http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/feature/2009/11/05/mens_rights/index.ht
ml

4 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote4anc> "Feminism
should be about equality-for males too",
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/19/mens-rights-feminism-equality-violence-opin
ions-contributors-cathy-young.html

5 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote5anc> "Journalistic
Misrepresentation at Slate's New Woman-Oriented Publication 'Double X'",
http://www.breakingthescience.org/DoubleXMisrepresentation.php

6 <http://www.mediaradar.org/alert20091123.php#sdendnote6anc> "Slate.com &
Salon.com Criticize the Fatherhood Movement (Part I)",
http://glennsacks.com/blog//?p=4359 <http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=4359>

_____

Date of RADAR Release: November 23, 2009

R.A.D.A.R. - Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting - is a
non-profit, non-partisan organization of men and women working to improve
the effectiveness of our nation's approach to solving domestic violence.
http://www.mediaradar.org

Support? System Down Needs Your Support Now

Give these Dads a Voice!

A shocking new documentary, Support? System Down shows men’s lives ripped apart by the family court system. Many men are locked away in jail and unable to see their kids. Deprived of a basic human right –being a parent, their human rights as fathers are cast asunder. The very ties that bind them to family, to humanity, to society are all threatened when they can’t meet child support. These fathers may have the best of intentions to pay child support, but switched or changed jobs or got deployed overseas and got caught up in a system with limited opportunity to express how and why their circumstances changed. Unable to pay, they’re locked away. A simple sounding rhyme… and a questionable crime… in these uncertain financial times. 

There’s a pervasive mentality that views them as “dead beat dads”. Their pictures are hung up at the post office on the “most wanted lists”. The system itself is creating a modern day debtors prison as if our prisons aren’t crowded enough as it is. This is de-humanizing to fathers.

There’s a whole industry being created around the collection of child support. It’s to a state’s advantage to show a higher number of “dead beat fathers” on their dockets. They actually profit from it. But it’s a Catch 22. The more money that’s owed; the more incentive they have from the Federal government to collect it. Along the way abuses can occur all too easily at the fathers’ expense.

So many of these fathers as this documentary shows are not the bad guys they’re made out to be, far from it. They’re victims of a system that gives them little chance to be heard and even less recourse. With the economy in a downward spiral and fathers out of work and/or underemployed their ranks are likely to grow as more and more men get locked up for lack of child support. Limited financially by the very monetary circumstances that put them in jail in the first place – most don’t have legal representation or a chance of pleading their case for leniency in these tough economic times.  Yet, even criminals have a chance of a fair trial. But these guys are treated as criminals and denied their basic civil rights. 

And if being locked up isn’t hard enough, many of these fathers suffer from parent alienation on top of the woes of being in jail.  It’s why many can’t even see their kids when they’re in jail and afterwards, it only worsens their relationship with their children and themselves.  It’s hard to feel good about yourself and work and do the right thing, when you can’t even see your kids.  Parental suicide rates go up 5 Times for parents removed from their children.

These fathers have a basic right to be there for their kids and to be heard by the family court system. See the movie, Support ? System Down. Give these fathers a voice they so desperately need.  See All trailers here.

1) Buy the Sneak Peek DVD for the father’s in your life and the future fathers you might know.

2) Make a donation at the documentary's website. 

Help bring the plight of our fathers facing jail time to the public. Give these dads a chance by seeing, Support?  System Down.

Equal Parental Rights on AC

Associated Content Equal Parental Rights Feed

Associated Content Page

The Annual Midwest Fathers Conference

DADS and MOMS of Michigan  in Cooperation With Partnership for Dads 
  The Annual Midwest  Fathers Conference 

http://www.partnershipfordads.org/services.html

The only event of its kind in the Midwest, this all-day event features
prominent Keynote Speakers, dozens of workshops,and panel
discussions, all on topics of special interest to fathers. Over one
thousand men have attended the Conference since 2000. Keynote
Speakers have included James Levine of The Fatherhood Project in
New York City, Dr. Kyle Pruett of the Yale University School of
Medicine, Paul W. Smith of WJR NewsRadio in Detroit, and Devin
Scillian of WDIV-TV Channel 4.

The Ninth Annual Midwest Fathers Conference will be held on
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at North Farmington High School in
Farmington Hills, Michigan.

DADS Merchandise
http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/merchandise.html

Consider ordering some DADS merchandise for your favorite DAD this holiday season. Soon we will be adding MOMS merchandise. Sorry Moms, Stepparents and Grandparents, you are as important.

Equal Parenting: Know Your Opposition

Families are faced with an ongoing onslaught from social pressures and ill formed laws. Knowing that there is a problem in our society we need to work hard at advocating for change at every level and every corner of our society and government. In this effort I have compiled a list of links and my own summary that show the thinking and reasons behind organized opposition to Equal Parenting legislation.  Please remember that the first problem we face in the battle to give our children equal parenting is apathy, an unwillingness to actually advocate for change and speak to others.

1. http://jeannehannah.typepad.com/blog_jeanne_hannah_traver/2006/10/proposed_joint_.html

2. http://www.now.org/nnt/03-97/father.html

3. http://www.owjn.org/custody/nawl.htm

4. http://abusesurvivors.meetup.com/boards/thread/5575530

5. http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2007-2008/Testimony/Committee14-5-7-2008-1.pdf

6. http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2007-2008/Testimony/Committee14-05-07-2008-7.pdf

7. http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2007-2008/Testimony/Committee14-05-07-2008-8.pdf

8. http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2007-2008/Testimony/Committee14-05-07-2008-9.pdf

9. http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2007-2008/Testimony/Committee14-05-07-2008-10.pdf

            After reading, being present for and discussing opposition testimony I have formed a summarization of the opposition to a legal presumption to equal physical child custody when child custody is in dispute.

1. First and foremost from what I read and read between the lines is that the lawyers, judges and government employees do not want to lose their jobs, political contributions and money flow. With a legal presumption there will be less billable hours, less need to gain judicial favor and less need for court employees to handle the custody battle.
2. Secondly feminists are concerned that mothers will lose their hidden alimony since in most states when there is equal custody the child supports rates tend to be a lot less due to having to actually account for both households’ child rearing expenses. As it is now there is very little consideration for the non-custodial parent’s costs since they do not think dad will provide rooms, beds, clothes and toys for their children like mom does.
3. Thirdly feminists truly believe that having a father significantly involved is not important and that most fathers are abusive especially if they want to raise their child (controlling). They believe that it is too hard to prove allegations of abuse and those mothers need to be able to move freely with their child so having a legal presumption will severely impinge on a mother’s liberty.

Of course we need to be able to understand and know the responses to every point raised by the opposition and even better know the truth behind their opposition. Please review the links above and prepare your own summarization, create your own response and use it in your advocacy work.

 

 

County Level Political Action

Here is a link to the Kalamazoo County Commission which is my commission as an example, you'll need to identify your own commission http://www.kalcounty.com/board/committeesdescription.htm I am providing the link hoping that some people will decide to get involved at the local level and begin to influence our government and add to your political resume. Here are some examples of boards that we could serve on to try and get something done towards parental rights, civil rights and smaller more efficient government. Also we need to consider becoming active in both political parties, become precinct delegates for the party that we most identify with and truly change what is going on. I am not asking that you vote for against any particular party but I am asking that you begin to become an active advocate for liberty and maybe that might require that you start within one of the major parties. Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board The Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board (CATAB) meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 12:00 p.m. in Room 207A of the County Administration Building. The Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board consists of three sectors mandated by the Federal government: private sector, consumer sector and public official sector. The Board of Commissioners appoints five public sector representatives and five private official sector representatives and approves five consumer sector representatives. The Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board shall advise the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners (the governing board) and advise the Health and Community Services Department on the implementation and coordination of a comprehensive Community Action program. The Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board will assist the Governing Board by and through the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department by serving as the advocate for the reduction of the causes, conditions and effects of poverty and shall assist in the provision of social and economic opportunities that foster self-sufficiency for low income persons. Click here to download an application. Community Corrections Advisory Board The Community Corrections Advisory Board (CCAB) normally meets on the third Friday at 7:00 a.m., with additional meetings possible, at the Office of Community Corrections. The Board reviews topics related to new or changing issues in corrections. The primary mission of the CCAB is to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate programs that provide alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders in order to reduce jail and prison overcrowding. These appointments are representative of prosecution, courts, law enforcement, media, human services, defense attorneys, and the business community. Appointments are made for two-year terms of office. Contact: Grace Kalafut 387-7136 Human Services Department Board Kalamazoo County Human Services Department Board meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Department of Social Services Offices. The Board deals with human services matters within the County. Appointments are made for three-year terms of office. Contact: Kalamazoo County Human Services Department Director Sherry Thomas-Cloud 337-5000 Click here to download an application. Veterans Affairs Committee For general information, or to obtain an application, please contact Tina Becker at 383-8849 in the County Administration Office. Click here to download an application.

Sept 23 Michigan Equal Parents Week Rally - PLEASE ATTEND

PLEASE ATTEND

Preserve and Protect Our Parent-Child Relationships

Equal Parents Week Rally
Tuesday September 23rd, 2008
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
East Side Capitol Lansing, Michigan

Contact: Darrick Lynn Scott-Farnsworth (269) 209-7144 [email protected]

Dads and Moms of Michigan, the Family Rights Coalition, A Child’s Right, Children Need Both Parents, Fathers for Equal Rights, Fathers-4-Justice, and Children’s Rights Council invite you to join us in defense of the traditional American family at this historic rally at our State Capitol during Equal Parents Week.

Over 40% of Michigan’s population is being micro-managed by the family court system with disastrous consequences to our children, families and the state economy. Help transform Michigan from a wasteland of broken families into a promised land of healthy families and community renewal.
House Bill 4564, a bill to ensure equal parental responsibility, will result in a presumption of joint custody for fit parents and equal access for children to both their mother and father. Another hearing on this bill is expected this fall if enough public desire is expressed. 2008-House Joint Resolution NN Fundamental Parental Rights constitutional amendment has been supported by 80 representatives but has not had a hearing. It too will be supported and discussed at the rally and needs your attention. Your attendance at this rally will send a strong message in support of HB 4564 and HJR-NN will serve as a demonstration of our will to be equal and have parental rights to our children.

The Equal Parents Week Rally has been organized to bring to the attention of our legislature, our executive branch, our judiciary and the general public that Equal Parental rights are a civil rights issue whose time has come. America’s success was built on strong family bonds and the recognition that both a mother and a father are essential to raising healthy, moral and well adjusted children.
Rally speakers will include nationally-known family advocates, legislators, VIPs, community leaders and parents.

• Contact your legislator to show your support for HB4564 and HJR-NN.
Primary signs and literature will be provided by the rally organizers.
• Print a map, car pool and plan to arrive before 11:00 am for assembly or 10:00 am for setup if you are bring.
• Bring change for meter parking or consult the maps for the location of a public parking structure.
• Dress for the weather with walking shoes and bring a water bottle.
• Bring personal signs, pictures, and regalia.

Need people to use the Lansing area white and yellow pages and invite people to show up. Also let us know if you know any band who would like to perform some tunes for free. Need you to print out or have printed some parental rights and equal parenting handouts to give out. Does anyone have tables they want to setup for material?

Time Slot Speaker

11 AM State Rep Jones

11:15 State Rep Dean

11:25 State Rep De Roche

11:40 State Rep Kim Meltzer

11:50 State Rep Stahl

12:00 PM State Rep Hoogendyk

12:10 State Rep Candidate David Irons

12:20 Chrissy Chrzanowski Split-n-Two

12:40 Drew Thompson of Dads and Moms of MI

12:50 State Rep Polidori

1:00 David Taylor Oakland County FOCAC

1:15 State Rep Candidate Scott Hudson

1:30 Ingham County Comm Candidate Kerr

1:45 Get Off the Bench Lary Holland

2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek Cyclists Recognized at the DC Festival 2008

Excellent video captured by Bill Gibbons of PA FACE. 2008 Equal Parenting Bike Trek cyclists recognized at the DC Festival 2008. For updates on the Equal Parenting Bike Trek please visit Cycling4Children.com. Congrats to all four cyclists!