Child support: The way it should work.
The government needs to come up with a "standard, universal amount" that constitutes what it actually "costs" to raise one child for a week. For the sake of this illustration, let's say it costs $100 per week per child.
Make that amount standard for EVERYONE. The ex gets that amount ($100 for one, $200 for two, etc.) each week or pay period, whatever.
Now, retain the income guidelines system they have now, but take the money that rises above the $100 per child per week figure and slam it in a trust that NO ONE BUT THE CHILD can touch. This money gets released TO THE CHILD on the 18th birthday, no sooner.
Could you imagine the college fund this would build for these kids over the years?
This system would force the custodial parent to ƒü©king work for a living instead of asking for a "raise" whenever they see that new dress or car or boat they want.
I "pay" support (actually, of course it's removed from my check before I have the chance to pay it like the rest of my bills) and I don't begrudge my kids the support I'm ordered to pay, but it makes me want to throw up knowing that the ex alone (well, her and my ex-guitar player — her husband — what a stand up guy

) determines what that money is used for. Also, it makes me hella sick, knowing that if the ex's rent goes up, I'm liable to get dragged back in to domestic relations for another round. I don't like to ask for raises at work anymore because at least I know if my income doesn't rise, neither will my "support."
My support doesn't get adjusted down if our light bill goes up or if our car breaks down. We just have to deal with it.
On the flip side, I have two (older) kids from a previous "situation," both of whom I've had full custody of since they were 8 and 3 (they're 21 and 15 now). Their "mother" is a full fledged heroin addict from way back. I tried in vain for years and years to get support from this bitch but all she ever had to do was submit a simple and periodic "doctor's note" from the friendly neighborhood rehab center and she's exempt from paying ANYTHING. After several years of trying to collect, DR finally just closed the case, told me her "condition" was such that they couldn't do anything in the way of enforcement, and that the THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars in arrearages the kids were owed were just going to be "wiped off the books." Too bad, so sad.
Reverse the roles though and my ass would be sitting in jail right now, heroin addiction or not, and everyone here knows that's the way it is.
... and the popular term is "deadbeat dads."
The system is totally and completely ƒü©ked.
r:>)
That's what she said.