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As I was perusing my emails this afternoon, this one caught my eye among many others today wishing fathers a "Happy Father's Day" and I wanted to pass it on in the event that you are not a member of some of the various support groups out there that this was circulated to. Although it is focused on Michigan, the effects of failed government policies over the entire family, not just fathers, are widespread nationwide issues. This is from Murray Davis of National Family Justice Association.

A MICHIGAN FATHER’S DAY HOPE

It is with hope we celebrate Father’s Day in Michigan this year. Hope that we will finally recognize and admit our failures of the past. Not necessarily the failures of fathers to their families, but rather the failure of government and society to permit fit, responsible fathers to be equitable parents to their children, despite marital status.

This is especially significant in Detroit, Flint and other urban areas of Michigan where nearly seventy percent of families are headed by single parents…mostly mothers where the children have little or no involvement from their fathers. Society and government policies have traditionally made it easy to vilify these fathers as irresponsible. But in truth, most fathers, are responsible, non-abusive, and desire to be fit parents; however, government has historically implemented and continues to exercise policies, laws that mandate only financial child support…completely ignoring the emotional, psychological, and spiritual support of fathers children also desperately need.

Overwhelming social pathology research shows single-parented children are growing up in increasingly alarming numbers to use drugs, experiencing educational, health, emotional/behavioral problems and especially engaging in criminal behavior much more so than those who either live in two-parent households or who have meaningful access to both fit parents.

While current Michigan law may permit joint custody of minor children to be only a consideration in divorce cases, state family courts seldom rule in favor of this type of shared parenting responsibilities; thus, creating single family custodial households at an alarming rate. The results are publicized in the press and media nearly every day with “most dangerous city” crime headlines and dismal “worst in the nation” high school graduation rates..

Yet legislators and public officials still refuse to implement the only changes that offer us real solutions to many of our societal problems. That is, to enable both fit and willing parents to discharge their parenting responsibilities in a significant manner without state government interference, even if not under one roof.

This constitutional right, known as the shared parenting bill, is currently under review in the Michigan House of Representatives. It is a simple, inexpensive solution that costs the taxpayers nothing and, in fact, will save billions of dollars over time that our state government now must spend in social services, law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. The shared responsibility legislation would allow children to have the love and care of both fit parents in their lives regardless of marital status.

Father’s Day 2008 in Michigan could indeed be a celebration for all Michigan families once we truly recognize what has been missing in nearly a million of our children’s lives…responsible fathers!

MURRAY DAVIS of Southfield is board president of the National Family Justice Association, www.nfja.org, a national nonprofit education and advocacy organization for issues that affect American children and their families. Contact Davis at NFJAPres@aol.com.

Robert Pedersen is highlighted in this FRONT PAGE article covering the Equal Parenting Bike Trek and Equal Parenting in the State of Michigan. Read below the picture for links to participate in the discussion and to see one of the comments that I have left. Robert Pedersen also made a brief appearance on Sunday Night's Get Off The Bench which you can listen to by pressing play on the player below.

Robert Pedersen plans to ride his bike from Lansing to Washington D.C. with five other supporters of Equal Parenting. View more about Mr. Pedersen at www.daddyblogger.com

The Court has no clothes, and are completely exposed in this article and with the numerous commenters that have already participated. Don't be left out.

My comment: Equal is as Equal Does

I am a producer and host of an online talk show called "Get Off The
Bench" where we have men and women join in and tell us what they
experience in the family court system. Although it is a national show,
with participants spanning every state in the United States, we have a
great deal of participation from Michigan. When I read this article I
was thankful of Michigan largest newspaper covering the single most
important topic that is affecting our economy, our communities, and our
government.

"They have always had more time and money to lobby lawmakers, while
mothers tend to devote their time to raising the children, she said."

The above is factually untrue. It shows time and time again that one
of the key reasons that a single-parent fights is over control and
money, not the best interests of the children. (The type of conflict
caused by an adversarial system promotes the same conflict that likely
resulted in the separation of the parents.) Somehow policy got skewed
where the best interests of a single-parent is the best interests of
the child. The adverse is the truth, single-parent households are the
WORST for children.

Of all of the child abuse and neglect to occur against a child it is
first by a biological Mom's live-in male roommate and seconded by the
biological mom. Removing Dads or excluding Dads not only removes the
primary protector of the children from their lives, but also
unfortunately excludes all of the secondary protectors, including
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Michigan ranks last in undistributed collected child support money,
so Michigan enjoys the current high-conflict legal system that pits
parent against parent. In fact, 56 Million Dollars were collected by
Michigan and not distributed. According to law, if they get away with
it for 1-year, Michigan keeps the money. On the other hand, Michigan
claims to have distributed just over 30 Million to actual needy
families. This is a horrible track record for our State.

Children should never be a source of income for our State or
conflicting parents. It produces incentive to fight instead of get
along. We have a situation now to correct many of the problems with the
family law system and it begins by reinstating the value of both
parents not undermine it. We will see our economy, communities, and
government prosper from only dabbling in cases that meet a threshold of
interference. It has been proven time and time again that government
was never meant to handle everything, only certain things. Let fit,
willing, and caring parents equally enjoy their children and focus on
those families that truly need help.

An interesting blog popped up at the Detroit News Today on May 12, 2008. The title, Make Every Day Mother's Day, was an example for the State of Michigan to Follow. Follow the link to post your own comments at the Detroit News. Below is my comment.

I enjoyed reading the most recent writings of Robert Pederson on the Detroit News. I found that the writing was a great example of focusing on the family. I have also found that this is rare in Michigan. Michigan's economy, families, and infrastructure are disintegrating as a direct result of Michigan's neglect toward the family.

Increasing financial subsidies for split households only encourages more of that which is rewarded. Tailoring programs and Michigan's growing bureaucracies to require parents to work together to raise children either in the same home or separate homes will do wonders for our next generation.

Respecting the family means respecting our spouses, our children, and the role of government in correcting problems instead of treating symptoms that allow for festering wounds that just get more infected. Thanks for taking the time to focus on the family Robert.

Lary Holland: Host and Producer of Get Off The Bench: An interactive talk show that discusses the family court.

I hope the State of Michigan starts to catch on before there is no infrastructure, families, or capital left in this state to invest for a future for our children.