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New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

governor.state.nm.us

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Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#171

Post by smeeth »

declan_roberts wrote: post #122

I'm going to take the reverse position. I don't like this policy. I think it would be much better to provide a one year paid stipend so that a parent can be home with the children during their tender years. This entire structure is set up to keep the boss happy while a stranger raises your child during their most formative and vulnerable years.

Hate to break it to you, but many kids actually do better away from their parents than with them.

It's extremely sad, but a consistent finding in early childhood education is that the children who thrive most in daycares tend to come from the least advantaged backgrounds.

So a policy of paying parents to stay home would mostly benefit kids who are already well off.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#172

Post by Muromec »

micromacrofoot wrote: post #75
dfee wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kick what off?

Universal access to essential services

By the time US decides it's a good idea, they would run out of money and the whole world will laugh and point fingers on em.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#173

Post by mrits »

Avshalom wrote: post #147
declan_roberts wrote: post #122

I'm going to take the reverse position. I don't like this policy. I think it would be much better to provide a one year paid stipend so that a parent can be home with the children during their tender years. This entire structure is set up to keep the boss happy while a stranger raises your child during their most formative and vulnerable years.

This isn't just for babies. My coworker's 12yo is covered by this because he's got cancer and is too immunocompromised to go to school.

I'm not sure we want to treat this as a related issue unless you want this kid to be sent to their death at 18

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#174

Post by darth_avocado »

WD-42 wrote: post #37
dzink wrote: post #12

This is fantastic! I hope they succeed and there is no abuse or other issues, because it will show how much an economy can grow when women are allowed to work to their full potential. Families who were previously in poverty because the mom would struggle to pay for childcare to work can now have assurance kids are ok while the mom can pursue jobs, start her own small business (huge chunk of businesses are small busin…

You realize a lot of people actually prefer to give their child their best instead of outsourcing it so they can focus on bettering the economy, right?

Even if you’re stay at home unemployed person, a daycare will do more for your child’s development than you would be able to. Kids need socialization, they learn from their peers as much as they learn from adults.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#175

Post by pitpatagain »

MisterTea wrote: post #139
declan_roberts wrote: post #122

I'm going to take the reverse position. I don't like this policy. I think it would be much better to provide a one year paid stipend so that a parent can be home with the children during their tender years. This entire structure is set up to keep the boss happy while a stranger raises your child during their most formative and vulnerable years.

> This entire structure is set up to keep the boss happy while a stranger raises your child during their most formative and vulnerable years. I can agree. I had grandparents to take are of me. During a family emergency I stayed with a friends family for a few weeks. We had a lot of people in our family and friends to step up who were all located in the same city. Now everyone moves a thousand miles away from their ex…

Americans move significantly less today than they did in the mid 20th century, not more: https://www.marketplace.org/story/2024/03/14/why-might-ameri...

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#176

Post by dataflow »

bluGill wrote: post #152
dzink wrote: post #12

This is fantastic! I hope they succeed and there is no abuse or other issues, because it will show how much an economy can grow when women are allowed to work to their full potential. Families who were previously in poverty because the mom would struggle to pay for childcare to work can now have assurance kids are ok while the mom can pursue jobs, start her own small business (huge chunk of businesses are small busin…

Why the sexist word "women"? Do you really mean to imply that men/fathers should not be stay at home dads? I know several stay at home dads who by all reports do a very good job of raising their kids while mom works. (granted the vast majority of stay at home parents are mothers). Fathers are people too, and they should be treated like the great parents they can be (until proven otherwise).

>> when women are allowed to work to their full potential

> Why the sexist word "women"? Do you really mean to imply that men/fathers should not be stay at home dads?

That's... not even remotely what the sentence said? Or are you offended because you believe childcare obligations have historically prevented men from working their full potential?

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#177

Post by post_break »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #6
thelastgallon wrote: post #2

They'll probably just pass a law that states can't do this? Just like many states passed laws against municipal fiber.

There's no big money that wants otherwise. If anything, corporations are all for this.

Paid day cares probably have a big issue with this.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#178

Post by xp84 »

Apparently until now they've been providing this only to families below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. FPL is $32,150 for a 4-person family, so $128,600 combined family income (2 people working for $64,300 each -- and that's before fed and state taxes are deducted). Since that is far from being wealthy enough to "just" spring for expensive care, I'm glad to see this.

My only question is who the heck is going to be working in these childcare centers?? Right now (granted, I don't live in NM so this is in California) most places that are decent have waiting lists - indicating that they could expand but are unable to, instead they're already leaving money on the table. I don't think there are enough people willing to work a very grueling job for a wage that the current costs are enough to support. So, if this is a new entitlement program the state may find its costs doubling soon as they try to force the market to provide, or are forced to directly provide, care.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#179

Post by thinkingtoilet »

mothballed wrote: post #16
dzink wrote: post #12

This is fantastic! I hope they succeed and there is no abuse or other issues, because it will show how much an economy can grow when women are allowed to work to their full potential. Families who were previously in poverty because the mom would struggle to pay for childcare to work can now have assurance kids are ok while the mom can pursue jobs, start her own small business (huge chunk of businesses are small busin…

Would make sense IMO to provide an equal value waiver to those who take care of their kid rather than send them to childcare. Stay at home moms do not provide a less valuable service than childcare providers. This policy appears to disincentives children staying with their mother even when it is preferred.

Sure. Right after I get all my tax money back from all the userless wars we've fought in the last 20 years because I was against them.

Re: New Mexico is first state in US to offer universal child care

#180

Post by Muromec »

earlyriser wrote: post #66

We have something similar in Quebec, $7 CAD per day. It's one of the coolest societal things in the province. Yes we pay a lot in taxes, but we have stuff like this. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/24/quebec-unive...

What kind of childcare you can get for 7 CAD a day? Where I'm right now it's something like 10 enlightenment bucks per hour.
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