You know, I just look at my friends and their families, and at my own family, there is all the proof one needs. My good friend XXXX for instance. He was not the brightest bulb in the pack in his younger days. He married a high school drop out, and had three kids. She was doing pot, and thought he was not supporting her and her kids in the manner she wanted. She divorced him and demanded high child support, and she got it. XXXX was paying the price at this point, working him self half to death at two and three jobs to make his support payments. His exwife and kids was still living in poverty in Detroit.
Then he made another unsmart move, he met a hot young woman and got married. Nine months later their first child was born, one year later their second came along. At this point his oldest from the first marriage came over and asked if he would sign for him to go into the military. The kid was not old enough to go in without his parents signature. XXX signed, his child support payments went down some. Two years later the third child arrived, then one more year the fourth child came along. At least his child support ended at this time. Now XXXX began to get smart. XXXX and his wife decided no more kids. He's still working two jobs to support his family, but wife decided she needed to help him out. She went to nursing school, and became an RN. They also decided to move to Alaska, and get out of Detroit. Once here things got a lot easier for them. She went to work at the hospital in Fairbanks, he went to work as a mechanic. The oldest graduated high school and went on to UAF on a scholarship to get her Bachlors degree. The second did the same thing, but continued on to get her Masters Degree. The third kid, a boy decided not to go to college, but did take an automotive course for his ASE certification. The fourth another girl, graduated with my son from high school. She decided college was too hard, and dropped out. XXXX decided it was time for him to go back to school himself.
Of his first batch of kids, one boy and two girls, the boy is doing great. He is still in the military, married with two kids, and living a good life. The two girls both dropped out of high school and are living at the poverty level. (Stupid Tax) They hate their father and his new family.
The second batch of kids, three girls and a boy, are doing better. The oldest has a very good paying job with the State Of Alaska. Owns her own home, and is thinking about getting married next year. The second is a professor at a university in North Carolina, and married to an Army Officer, and she has one kid. The third, the boy has a good paying job at a big gold mine. Owns his home, has a big boat that his Dad and I use occasionally, and he collects and restores old classic cars and trucks. the last one dropped out of college, she keeps coming back to Mom and Dads to live, when she looses her low paying jobs. Mom finally said "No More" and threw her out to make her own way in the world. Now I hear she is getting married, poor guy. He will be paying the stupid tax, for how long? Don't know, but hope he wises up soon. XXXX just graduated UAF at Christmas break, and has had several interviews for some very good paying jobs as a Mechanical Engineer, this week. He sure has paid a lot of "Stupid Tax".
My hunting partner YYYY, has two girls. First girl took advantage of Mom's position at UAF with free tution. She got her degree, and went on to Law School. Second girl started school at UAF, but dropped out to get married to a young military troop.
Today the first girl has two little girls and is an assistant District Attorney. Married to a well to do businessman, living in a huge home. Girls are going to a private school, and doing well. They (the little girls) are showing they have Mom's drive to do things.
The second girl found her husband was doing drugs, so she tried to protect him. He was kicked out of the military. YYYY called in a favor and got his son-in-law a good job in Colorado. His drug habit got him fired, and eventually after he went to prison she divorced him. Today she and her two daughters live in poverty. YYYY and I have tried to convince her to move back to Alaska, where she can have some help, but she refuses to leave Colorado. Too embarrased to come home and accept help, she and her daughters are paying the "stupid tax".
That's enough, going to my family would take two or three more pages. We've some real winners and losers in my family. Lots of "Stupid Taxes" there.
