Another Uneducated Rant.

It's election day in my province today. I am going to vote, but I am not excited about it, as no party represents what is important to me. I feel like I am voting for the lesser of two evils, or the evil I know, vs the evil I don't know. As this doesn't sit well with me, I have been dreaming up a political party I could support with passion. Lucky you gets to hear my rant, which may temporarily spare my parents, gramma, friends, and husband from hearing it again...

Some of our major issues in BC are:

* the economy (of course- we are a resource rich province, but the world recession is hitting us just like everyone else)

* homelessness- sad. Big problem, lots of mental health cuts contributed to this. Rents are ginormously high.

* environment

* gang warfare- a couple of months ago, the Vancouver area had DAILY gang shootings. Gang wars over territory and drugs. These shootings often occurred in public places.

So, my fantasy party's solution is a long term one: take most of the money spent on social programs that band aid our problems, and give it to FAMILIES. Pay a parent to stay at home and raise their child. It doesn't have to be a full wage, but enough that society would place some value on being at home. Create programs for those who need more skills in the parenting department, programs that they can attend with their children if they are scared that staying home all day will turn their brains into mush. PLACE VALUE ON RAISING OUR CHILDREN, ON BONDING WITH THEM, SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, NURTURING THEM. If the majority of children were bonding to their families first and foremost instead of their peers in daycare settings, school, and after school care, I believe that we would see a decrease in many of our social problems. Children properly bonded to their parents and with a secure home will be less inclined to try drugs, join a gang to gain identity, run away... Obesity will decrease if families have time to recreate together and eat homemade food. Have you seen the amount of packaging in store bought food? Forget the amount of salt and preservatives in them and just consider the difference if parents had time to make their kids lunches instead of buying them- there would be way less garbage created right there, which would benefit the environment. Having a parent around to be active in the schools where their children attend will decrease the likelihood of kids slipping through the cracks with learning disorders, being bullied, linking up with the wrong crowd... Mental health problems can be identified at a younger age, depression in children would decline if life wasn't so busy and stressful...

As far as finances go, many of the 2 income families that I know are not much farther ahead than 1 income families. They seem to be just as debt ridden, if not more, and seem to be giving much of their money away to childcare. Our provincial gov'ts solution is universal child care. I believe that every child deserves quality care, I just think it benefits the child and society at large, if that care comes from the child's parents. We will save money in the long run if we invest and place high value on children and FAMILIES.

Now that I have gotten some of that off my chest, let me just say that I have friends who are working moms, some of them single moms, and they do not neglect their children. They are doing the best they can and working their butts off to do it. I admire their commitment to their kids and their organizational skills. . but I know they would like more time with their kids , more time to breathe. There will be some families where the parent/s will have to work, or where the parents should NOT be raising their children, I totally get that. Unhealthy family situations would be noticed faster if more people were not so busy surviving themselves. They would be more aware of what happens in the home next door, because you would know your neighbourhood better, etc.

If the majority of homes had a parent in them for most of the day/night, I think we would see a dramatic decline in many issues that plague our province and our country. Even I, as a stay at home mom, would love it if there was a shift in thinking regarding families. Maybe when I took my 4 children out in public, they wouldn't have to hear people say things like "Are you crazy, how many kids do you have???"

So, give me a party that recognizes that families come first, that considers children a BLESSING, and values parents as primary care givers, and I will whistle all the way to my polling station.

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD,children a reward from him."

Psalms 127:3