Claire makes a very interesting point about the United States' lack of parental leave. I do agree that the fact that this is a problem, many women have to stay home without any compensation or put their young infants in childcare before they may be ready for it and mandated maternal leave really should be implemented in the United States.
However, there are some problems with instituting parental leave here. First of all, Sweden is a great example of a country which has excellent parental leave and I'm not just saying that because I'm from there, I promise! However, Sweden has a population of about 9 million people, while only the state of Texas has 26 million people. This system is therefore a lot easier to implement because not as many people would be affected. Instituting parental leave in the United States, would be an enormous financial burden. So who would this burden fall on? Raising taxes or would the burden fall on the companies, companies who are already outsourcing much of their workforce to countries where they can pay their workers less?
Secondly, let me go back to the option of raising taxes to implement this. Sweden is a country which is generally rather supportive of taxation - and who has progressive taxation - with an approxiomate income tax rate of 30%, the country is generally more willing to contribute to the general welfare. Something that for example Texas is not as willing to do, Texas has a low taxes, low services approach which does not fit well with things such as parental leave. The United States in general are strongly against the raising of taxes and I do not see where the money to implement such a policy would come from. I really want this to happen but I see too many obstacles for this to happen in the near future.
However, there are some problems with instituting parental leave here. First of all, Sweden is a great example of a country which has excellent parental leave and I'm not just saying that because I'm from there, I promise! However, Sweden has a population of about 9 million people, while only the state of Texas has 26 million people. This system is therefore a lot easier to implement because not as many people would be affected. Instituting parental leave in the United States, would be an enormous financial burden. So who would this burden fall on? Raising taxes or would the burden fall on the companies, companies who are already outsourcing much of their workforce to countries where they can pay their workers less?
Secondly, let me go back to the option of raising taxes to implement this. Sweden is a country which is generally rather supportive of taxation - and who has progressive taxation - with an approxiomate income tax rate of 30%, the country is generally more willing to contribute to the general welfare. Something that for example Texas is not as willing to do, Texas has a low taxes, low services approach which does not fit well with things such as parental leave. The United States in general are strongly against the raising of taxes and I do not see where the money to implement such a policy would come from. I really want this to happen but I see too many obstacles for this to happen in the near future.
