It’s clear that Alaska, like much of the nation, has a workforce shortage, and we desperately need more people to fill key positions in the private and public sectors.
It’s also apparent that the childcare industry, like most others, is suffering from staff shortages, which means there are fewer facilities to house kids while parents work.
The mission of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s new daycare task force seems to suggest that it would be better for families, and the health of Alaska’s workforce, if we marshal our collective resources – both public and private – to boost daycare capacity, thereby freeing more moms and dads from the responsibility of caring for their children during the working hours.
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The problem with this plan is twofold. First, many families have no interest in professional daycare workers overseeing the welfare of their children. Instead, they have chosen the traditional option of caring for their children in the home. It may mean less income for the family, but many parents believe this is well worth the sacrifice. These families would see zero benefit from expanded childcare centers, and yet they would likely share in the public cost of keeping them afloat.
Secondly, we should not uncritically pursue public policy that encourages or incentivizes parents to deposit their children into the hands of paid caretakers. There may be extraordinary cases when this is necessary, but children – especially young ones – are generally far better off when cared for by their own parents – learning their values, morals and family traditions. Nothing in Gov. Dunleavy’s announcement acknowledges this reality, and we find that deeply concerning.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
5 Comments
Dunleavy is not as stupid as he acts! His brother Francis tells Mikey what to do and being afraid of the overseers who are part of the deep state, Mikey submits readily!
There is nothing that can replace Mom or Dad raising the children. If necessary, see if Auntie, Uncle, Grandma or Grandpa can babysit. Sometimes even a neighbor will take on a kid or two. I have seen families give up many “luxuries” so that the main caretaker could be home with the kids. Again, the only ones I see greatly benefiting from Dunleavy’s proposal would be illegal immigrants that are now going to get amnesty thanks to O’biden ending the emergency act that we were just in for the past three years. It is not a win for Alaskans.
And what is your proposal, Joel, to make raising children at home more affordable in Alaska? Many parents simply cannot afford not to work.
We need to start thinking outside of the “box” that the globalists have raised us in. Additionally, as I stated in another post, the timing of the governor wanting to come up with more childcare options to free up the parents to go work outside the home “innocently” sounds like it works right into the globalist agenda of taking the children away from their parents eventually, so that the state and the government can raise the children – not the parents. Each circumstance is unique. How much would parents be willing to “give up” to raise their children themselves? Get rid of a car payment? A mortage that eats up half your income? Get rid of cable t.v. that might be costing you $1200 + per year? Get rid of the outrageous cell phone/cell plans that can run as much as a car payment? Get rid of a new car payment? I know, some people don’t have a those fancy things and still have troubles making ends meet – I get it. That is where we need to start thinking outside the box that the globalists put us in.
I remember one year in the 90s I made a total of 17k for the year. Many of the subsequent years 25k. My wife was a stay at home mom home schooling 4children! We trusted God, prayed often, and made it! Those kids are very substantial contributors to our society! I say these things to encourage the ones in the midst of the struggle.
Draw near and trust God!!!