The “every family for itself” approach to child care in the U.S. means parents’ options for three months of the year are shelling out for expensive camps, fighting for limited slots in affordable programs, or nothing.
Although care is expensive for parents—often obscenely so—providers are paid a pittance. And now there isn’t even enough expensive child care to go around.
It’s the prevailing American child-rearing model across class lines. But there’s a better way.
If Democrats get Biden’s proposals across the finish line, child care might finally be a workable, affordable option for millions.
Even in places where schools want to reopen, too many teachers are sick or quarantining for classrooms to operate, and substitutes cannot fill the void.
A child allowance is the Easy button for pandemic solutions.