Book Review: "The Baby Boon: How Family-Friendly America Cheats the Childless"

The Baby Boon: How Family-Friendly America Cheats the Childless by Elinor Burkett

I was extremely frustrated with this book before I even got to page 8, not because of the style of the book, but because of the content, and not to the fault of the author.

This book was published in 2000 and documents the number of tax benefits that parents receive at the expense of taxpayers that do not have children. When the government allows tax breaks to one group of people, another group of people has to make up that amount with their taxes. We're talking BILLIONS of dollars to provide parents with money that is supposed to be used for their children. (13 million childless people will pay $100 BILLION over a period of 5 years to parents... p 72) But we are also talking about supporting parents of middle-class or higher. The author proposes that the income cut-off be much lower so that the money actually goes to those who make less than $25,000 a year. As it sits, parents that make up to $60,000 still receive the tax deductions, although it's hard to justify.

Many of the workplace benefits, Burkett contends, were set in place because of a small group of lobbyists that wanted child care subsidized and thought that it would retain employees. But as it turns out, most employees do not use child care programs in their workplace.

The benefits are also not 'equal pay for equal work' because they make special allowances to parents, and specifically mothers. A man is never going to need a space to pump breastmilk at work. A childless person will never be able to take disability for three months and receive 60% of their pay as mothers are allowed to do. The workers in the office have to make up for the worker on maternity leave yet she is still paid. Childless workers are expected to take on undesirable shifts so parents can spend time with their families. Childless people have lives and families that aren't any less important than parents with children.

I can't even begin to elaborate on how frustrating the FACTS in this book are. Many of the proposed laws and benefits that the government mandated are a result of lobbyists and magazine articles that got parents worked up. And what person would deny more money? Of course the parents would not say "Oh, well I don't actually need that extra money because my neighbors with no kids are actually the ones paying extra taxes and that's not fair since WE chose to have the kids."

The book also highlights the panic that overtook the nation's parents and how the panic was induced by a report here or there, and the statistics belie the need for action to the levels of paranoia it evoked.

Many parents will become indignant when told that it's unfair they get so many benefits. "Oh, but having kids is expensive!"  Yes, but you chose it and suddenly, it's become MY problem because I am taxed more. AND because I don't get to leave work for months at a time to pursue an interest, still receive pay AND have a job guaranteed when I come back.

I highly recommend this book for parents and non-parents alike. Parents should know just how privileged they are in this society and think about how it affects others when it comes to the workplace and taxes. What is appropriate and what is unfair to your childless friends and family members? Why isn't there a cut-off for deductions so more low-income people can get back on their feet? And for the non-parents, this book is important so you fully understand how much of a second-class citizen or an afterthought you really are to your community and your government. I know this sounds harsh, but it is the reality. The book is able to provide more facts and a better thought process than I. I took 7 pages of notes, each page with 2 columns. I can't even begin to cover all the astounding information. It took me a long time to get through this book, not because I didn't like it, but because I didn't like the truth of the book itself.