Funny debate thread on the CB

[DIZNYFAN]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=644675

Check out this thread quite funny how some people just can't grasp the idea of employment insurace paying for maternity leave.

 

[Scratch42]

Your Point?



I was living in the US when they first try to bring in Affirmative Action! Part of the whole thing was to have a "Maternity Leave" in place!

My boss at the time, God Bless his Ignorance, thought that two weeks was plenty of time!

Scratch

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Wow, that is quite the thread. I am really disturbed by the fact that the EI (insurance) aspect was repeated many a time, but for some reason the masses are stuck on "my tax money". I'm appalled not many see the "real" benefit to Mat leave, and that is"the children". People always complain about "kids nowadays", and do not realize the benefit to being there in the first year. I don't know anyone that complains about paying into EI. When I had my first, the mat leave was only around 2-3 months. I think it is great we have a government that values the job a parent does in the first year so much they have increased the alloted time. There is also another benefit some don't see, what about those sleepless nights in the first year, the teething, etc. How beneficial is it to have an employee half asleep at their job because they had no sleep, or are stressed? I think those coming off mat leave are a much happier, more productive bunch than those that go right back. My 2 cents.

 

[DIZNYFAN]

Good one scratch and could you habve done it in 2 weeks LOL.

 

[damo]

You really see the differences in the way Canadians and Americans think when you read threads about healthcare and maternity leave, etc. We just feel totally different. I guess it is just the way we were raised.

They sure do feel that their system is superior. I am perfectly happy living in Canada. I guess our "socialist" system has its downfalls but I think the wonderful country that we live in makes up for it.

 

[MommaBear]

OMG - when I had my first (15 1/2 yrs ago) I was only allowed 17 weeks off. I could barely walk after 2 weeks and your employer expected you back!!!! Figures it was a man!!!

With the second child I had 9 months off and again on 60% of my pay.

I should have waited --- now they receive 1 year, 60% from UI and my company now tops that up so that you receive 80% of your pay. Mind you they do not guarantee your position when you return, only our salary. So you may end up in another job (which you hate) when you return.

Now that I think about it I'm glad I did it when I was younger, couldn't imagine starting a family at my age (mid 40's).

H.

 

[maxie]

Whoops - I started it! Mentioned the mat leave thing in the Health Care debate and others picked up on it and decided to start a seperate thread re: mat leave. I ain't touching this one. The Americans will never understand it.

 

[MECH8T7]

It's interesting that the tone of some of the American posts seem to equate mat leave with welfare.

It's not like as if women are getting pregnant just so they can get the benefits and, unless your employer tops up, its at almost half of your pre-mat leave income levels (and, in most cases, the cap results in people getting much less than half). It's also taxable income, so the government often gets quite of it back as income tax.

Presumably, this aspect of the EI program is rooted in a social policy decision that it's in the best interests of the children for to have a progam where parents can stay at home with their newborns longer and re-enter the workforce smoothly (so that the family's future income stream is not compromised) and that its in the country's best interests to have give children the best chance for a healthy, productive life. What's so offensive about that? As far as the government is concerned, it's not about "proping up" people for their personal choices...It's about the fact that the country's kids are our future. At least that's the theory.

But on the topic of social policy implemented by tax measures, the U.S. tax system allows homeowners to deduct their interest payments on mortgages. I'm sure there's a HUGE tax loss to that "perk". What's the social policy behind that one? We should encourage people to buy bigger homes than they can afford? Or, people with big homes with big fat mortgages should get a big tax break?

As much as we'd get a nice annual tax break for deducting our mortgage interest, I'll take a program that provides paid extended mat leave.

 

[maxie]

Mech8T7 - why don't you post this on that thread and see what the Americans have to say. They just don't get it...

 

[DarrenSt]

I will do a copy and past if you don't want to post it I am not to worried about what they think of me LOL.

 

[MECH8T7]

Originally posted by maxie
Mech8T7 - why don't you post this on that thread and see what the Americans have to say. They just don't get it...

...for the same reason that you didn't want to wade back into the waters.

Anyways, given what I read on that thread yesterday, I'm not sure that the American-side of the discussion really represents a true cross-section of what Americans would have to say on the subject.

 

[maxie]

Originally posted by MECH8T7
...for the same reason that you didn't want to wade back into the waters.

.

Don't blame you!

 

[maryliz]

I just couldn't help myself and got myself into the mix And the funny part is that I personally would NOT support a maternity leave longer than a year. Maybe it's because being at home with my DH on nightshift didn't really work for me, or maybe it's that it's really hard at work to cover for someone off on leave. I think a year is great.

Of course, I have much work to do today, and where am I ... on the boards But I just HAD to reply to that one that made a snide comment about Maxie "education" example. I didn't see one thing bad about the post. Now the other poster's "bottom line is blah blah blah" -- I thought that was pretty rude!

Mary-Liz

 

[Lynda Silk]

Wow, that was an interesting thread. Once again, it reinforces how lucky I am to live in Canada.

Do they not have EI in the USA? I always assumed that they did but I'm not so sure after reading the posts.

Also, I found it very interesting that many of the posters who didn't agree with our mat leave policy were women with children! I would have thought that it was a no brainer for those moms to see why staying at home with a newborn was so important.

Anyway, thanks for pointing out this thread! It was so intriguing to see such a difference between American and Canadian thinking!

 

[maxie]

I hate getting in the debates and rarely do however when I start seeing Canada being bashed my blood starts boiling. Honestly some of the women arguing against mat leave (America) I'm just wondering if some of it is jealousy. And some people just want to stir the pot to have a more heated debate.

Got to stay away from these threads.

And yes I must say that I am not very supportive of a two year mat leave which has come up with the Liberals before. Believe some European countries have it.

 

[DarrenSt]

Somone else stated that it was sour grapes they took that as a low blow LOL.

 

[maxie]

BTW Thanks ML! I ain't going back in there!

I posted some info on the Health Care debate regarding the UN ranking Canada as the best place to live for a decade. Just as food for thought and because they were doing so much bashing of the Canadian system that I wanted to prove that something good was coming out of it. Just got lots of cynical replies - they don't want to admit that the U.S. is not the best place in the world. So be it.

 

[MECH8T7]

Originally posted by maxie
BTW Thanks ML! I ain't going back in there!

...you say that now, but....(did you see the last post by jrydberg?)..

 

[maxie]

Is it going to tick me off? Do I want to see it...

It's like trying to drive by an accident and trying not to stare...

 

[maryliz]

Help Help Help I'm trapped in a thread on the CB and can't get out !!!

Now I know why I don't go there that often!

ML