An open letter to non-custodial parents . . .

Child support is possibly one of the most controversial issues that faces society today. Today there are millions of parents - both male and female - who simply refuse to accept any responsibility for their children. Despite the name of our organization - Mothers Against Fathers In Arrears - we are fully in favor of equal enforcement of all laws against anyone - regardless of their gender - to pay child support. The name was chosen simply in recognition of the fact that over 90% of the parents who do not pay child support are the biological fathers.

MAFIA has a singular purpose - to ensure that non-custodial parents become - and remain - responsible for their children. We cut through the controversies of child support and reduce it to just one thing: If someone has been ordered to pay child support - they should pay it on a regular and timely basis. We feel justified in our position since the vast majority of child support orders today are the result of Agreed Orders - where the non-custodial parent agreed to pay a certain amount of child support.

Our definition of a "deadbeat parent" is actually quite simple and to the point. This is a parent who simply refuses to pay child support - or who at the very minimum, will not pay at least the equivalent of 1 and 3/4 hours wages per day in child support.

We recognize that children should have relationships with both of their biological parents. However, we are strongly opposed to the involvement of a parent who is, or has been either physically or emotionally abusive to either the custodial parent or the children. It is our belief that a parent who refuses to pay child support is an emotionally abusive individual that children and women should be protected from. Those who do not pay child support - but insist on visitation rights - are nothing but "control freaks" and "game players" - certainly not role models that children should be exposed to.

MAFIA recognizes that the judicial system is not fair and equitable to everyone. It is not our goal to become involved in issues concerning custody - that is an issue that is totally separate from the payment of child support. Instead, our goal is to be "pro-active" with judges and legislators to ensure that the full force and effect of the law is used against parents who refuse to, or who have failed to pay court ordered child support.

We believe that child support and visitation should be totally separate issues. This is based upon our belief that a parent who is not paying child support, or even attempting to pay child support, is not a suitable "role model" for the children. We are disgusted with these fathers who completely ignore their children until they are forced to pay child support - and then start demanding more visitation. For the majority of the fathers who do this, their primary goal is to try to convince their child or children to come and live with them full time just so they don't have to pay child support.

Our definition of a "deadbeat parent" is actually quite simple and to the point. This is a parent who simply refuses to pay child support - or who at the very minimum, will not pay at least the equivalent of 1 and 3/4 hours wages per day in child support. In other words - if a parent earns $10.00 per hour, (pre-tax earnings) there is no reason why that parent can not pay $17.50 per working day in child support. If a parent is not willing to make that small of a sacrifice, then he is not a fit role model for his children - or society. He - or she - is not deserving of any considerations or sympathy at all.

 

Many of the philosophies of MAFIA-USA have been obtained from Child Support Intervention which knows more about deadbeat parents than anyone else.

 

For the record, MAFIA-USA was founded by a male whose interest in child support issues evolved from his being a step parent in a family where the biological father was a true "deadbeat dad". This man rarely visited the children - and never paid child support despite being financially able to pay it. Rather than pay child support, he bought classic automobiles and restored them. When pushed for child support payments, he used the typical "control freak response" and threatened to sue for custody of the children. Typical of many "deadbeat dads", after the children graduated from college and were on their own, this "deadbeat" comes around and wants to become involved in their lives.

Again, for the record, funding for MAFIA-USA is provided in full by Child Support Intervention - an aggressive privately operated child support enforcement agency. This agency sees first hand the harm and devastation that is brought on families by irresponsible parents who try every trick in the book to avoid assisting in the support of their children. As a result, many of the philosophies of MAFIA-USA have been obtained from Child Support Intervention which knows more about deadbeat parents than anyone else.

One of the goals of MAFIA-USA is to ensure that the stories of custodial parents who have been victimized by deadbeat parents are told to legislators and policy makers. By doing this custodial parents will have a chance to be heard - so that the message that is being sent by so called "father's rights groups" will not be the only voices that are heard. Custodial parents - and their children - are victimized a thousand times more than non-custodial parents each and every day. Unlike the father's rights groups, custodial parents can prove that they are being victimized with facts and documentation.