What does "Joe Taxpayer" think? A community perspective.

Parents may present many reasons for their social irresponsibility but the “average Joe Taxpayer” has his or her view or perception of the causes. Perception facilitates understanding and understanding disperses ignorance. Perception therefore is the falling domino that produces major "chain reactions" in society. Although American society’s view of the right way to raise a child has changed dramatically in recent decades the “average Joe Taxpayer” looks at the root problem being somehow related to the father in the home or the missing father. America views the father as the dominant role or the leader of the family; therefore, if there is a problem the root problem is perceived to be the leader.

Additionally Joe Taxpayers of all ages consider unwed parenting to be a big problem for society. At the same time, however, just four-in-ten (41%) say that children are very important to a successful marriage, compared with 65% of the public who felt this way as recently as 1990(Pew Research Study). Some Joe Taxpayers believe that births to unwed women are a big problem for society, which also links to a missing father or perhaps an irresponsible father. President Obama appears to also share this view, in one of his many influential speeches he made a direct statement to the fathers in America: “Fathers, be fathers be a part of your child’s life. Be a part of your child’s life and try to make them proud.” While the reasons/perceptions of social irresponsibility in the home can stand to be debated through the eyes of the average Joe Taxpayer, there appears to be a consensus that children are our future.

Written by Adrian Lewis