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"yet we make human mothers go back to work after 6 weeks"

No, we don't. We don't make them do anything. They are free to pursue whatever course of action they choose to. Many, many parents choose not to go back to work - ever.

I hope it works out great for AMEX and their workers - two private entities that agreed on one detail, among many, of their compensation package. Good for them.

Yes, I do have children - three of them, in fact - thanks for asking!



I get your point but as a father of 2 kids, I can tell you that choosing to not go back to work is not as easy as you make it sound. Some people don't have a lot of financial flexibility (you can blame them for it sure) and quitting job to stay home is difficult unless you drastically reduce your financial liabilities which sometimes is just not possible in a short term.


There is a lot if hidden privilege that allows you to think for most people it is a choice.


And there's a lot of hidden choice that you are ignoring.

A government mandate requiring companies to provide paid leave forces (i.e. opposite of choice) everyone else to pay for it.


That is called society, and as someone who pays a lot of tax, has owned businesses in the past, and plans to do so again, I fully support it. And I speak out in favor of such ideas and plans, to encourage my fellow citizens to support these as well.


And once you have enough citizens supporting such ideas and plans, you can force the rest.


Well, yes, just like taxes are a thing, and you can't drive on sidewalks or against traffic lights, and we all pay for fire, police, courts, food inspectors, and so on. Turns out the world is full of coercive behavior--if you kill someone, there's generally a consequence, and so on.

Again, that's society.


When the "choice" is to not be able to earn a living, it's not a choice.

And I see no problem with a government mandate for it. Because that provides "choice" for the new parents. Your way usually denies them that choice.


"There is a lot if hidden privilege that allows you to think for most people it is a choice."

It's not hidden at all. I am quite privileged as are all of the people in first world economies of which we speak. You (yes, you) are among the top 1% wealthiest of the worlds population.

I have no idea why the children of my comment assume a very, very false dichotomy of working through your child's childhood or becoming destitute. Now, more than ever, there is a huge swath of available and acceptable behavior between those two extremes.


>Now, more than ever, there is a huge swath of available and acceptable behavior between those two extremes

just to flesh this out further, could you provide some examples of what you mean?


You don't "choose" to give someone your wallet because you weighed the options and decided against getting shot. You were robbed.

Similarly, poverty in the US is brutal. To choose between spending time with your newborn during a crucial time period or becoming impoverished is not a real choice.


> They are free to pursue whatever course of action they choose to.

I think you're being ridiculous. Of course they can opt-out of going back to work, but in modern society, this means losing your home, lack of food, and probably, getting your child taking away by some form of social services. Unless you're in the very rich 1%.


Sure, just like we don't make people work in order to have food and shelter.


> We don't make them do anything.

Agreed.

I don't make parenting decisions for your family. Please don't make them for mine.

I'll be responsible for my decisions, not yours. Thanks.

(Parent of two)


"No, we don't. We don't make them do anything."

Yes, we do. This ignoring of reality, and what it requires to survive is really damn old.


Hmm, I guess starving is technically a choice.




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