On Point: Suffer the children

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Dads, if you are the picky type whose parental love depends on a genetic link with your child, make sure to get a DNA test during a divorce. That way you can establish without a doubt whether your wife deceived you - and if the kid isn't yours, you may be able to toss the tyke overboard with a minimum of fuss, avoiding that everlasting nuisance of child support.

What's that, you say? A kid might grow to love or depend upon a "duped dad" as much as if the two shared a genetic profile? Tough luck. This is an age when adult convenience and autonomy trumps the interests and expectations of mere children. And that, not incidentally, is why it's so important that all right-thinking adults (or at least right-thinking men) support Senate Bill 56, which would allow a duped dad to take the DNA test any time during a child's life with an eye toward ditching child support.

Yes, what a blow for liberty and human progress this measure would be. There must be nothing quite so satisfying as leaving in the lurch a 12-year-old who has come to expect your financial assistance. That'll show the lying mother!

Needless to say, I am skeptical of this legislation, sponsored by the usually sensible Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield. Mitchell responds, in so many words, that I am naive. "You can imagine some blissful domestic situations that you wouldn't want to blow up," he says, "but in most cases you have a relationship that is already ruptured and what's left is the injustice of one man taking on someone else's duty."

In other words, most fathers aren't going to pull the plug on functioning father-child relationships.

Possibly. Then again, I've known men who abandoned children for a lot flimsier reasons than what we're discussing here.

The urge on the part of some duped dads to spurn a newborn while the deception is still fresh is understandable. But at some point those who behave like fathers should be treated like fathers, especially when there is no one else to fill the bill.

It is true, of course, that these men may have no relationship to speak of with their child - a fact that stokes bitter resentment of the financial obligation. But that is also true of a depressing number of biological fathers who are burdened with child support.

It is hardly news that some women are - no, we won't use that word - the sort who treat a former spouse as little more than an ATM. But the solution to such injustice should hardly come at the expense of the one person who is indisputably blameless.

Because like it or not, here's the thing about being a parent: It is not a conditional commitment.

No, not even treasurers

As Jeffco treasurer, the always entertaining Mark Paschall used to distribute The Citizens Rule Book promoting the concept of jury nullification. To the horror of the local district attorney, the booklet informed citizens that as jurors, "YOU ARE ABOVE THE LAW."

Who knew that Paschall, caught on tape last month apparently orchestrating an illegal kickback scheme, also considered county treasurers above the law?

Vincent Carroll, editor of the editorial pages, writes On Point several times a week. Reach him at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com.