A Poll about Families

[Lord Bracknell]

David Cameron seems to be promising to support "family life". Have you got the sort of family he is thinking of? Or are your particular circumstances slightly (or extremely) dysfunctional?

Let NSC know.

 

[rbridd]

I have always believed that marriage is for life, and that kids should be brought up by a 2 parent, mixed gender couple.
I realise that this view is considered to be old fashioned, and fully expect to be attacked for holding this view.

 

[shingle]

Married just the once (both of us) with kids (3). non dysfunctional i believe, although I can't speak for the extended family

 

[Bry Nylon]

Divorced, mid 30's, single and no kids. Work hard, pay my taxes and don't claim a thing.

Seems I'm of no interest to any of the political parties

 

[Yorkie]

I presume that grown up kids don't count? Are you talking about all living in the same house?

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Recently married (2 months). Still together

 

[Wardy]

Living with someone with kids, and I have kids from a previous relationship (again not living together).

 

[Gully]

Living alone, never married or in a civil partnership, no children. Perfectly happy with that arrangement, can't see it changing in the near future. My family is me, I would like to see a politician who takes a greater interest in those who have a similar domestic arrangement, we are the forgotten majority...we don't make for good headlines, it appears that nobody either considers or cares about us. If a politician spoke up about our rights it would be a sure fire vote winner, Cameron is really starting to get my back up by saying that the standard family (two parents, one of either sex, plus children) is the only place that matters, that man really is a cock.

 

[Starry]

Married, just the one for both of us. With children.

 

[Scoffers]

Me and Mrs Wanderer married for 9 years, 3 kids

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Married 25 years - two kids - one flown the nest, one to go next year. That is just how it is. Could easily be another category.

 

[Gwylan]

So far, it looks like the 'ideal' married family with kids is scraping along with a third of the vote. My gut instinct is that this will remain in a minority. What I said in the other thread holds true, Cameron is appealing to his core support of middle England and not reaching out beyond that.

 

[bhaexpress]

LB, where's the option for married but getting divorced, her kids with her but next wife lined up ? (She has a kid too).

 

[Simster]

I think I get what you're getting at Lord B.

"Look at Britain today, one in four children brought up with an absent father, the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe and I just don't believe we can walk on by from the evidence that's in front of us. Children from broken homes have a 70% greater chance of failing at school , a 40% greater chance of getting into debt, a 35% chance of being unemployed. Single mums do a brilliant job, they do the most difficult job in the world but I don't think we can ignore the state of family breakdown in Britain and I think we have to try and do something about it."

So I have some questions Mr Cameron. Firstly, what is a "broken home"? Secondly as pointed out by his Lordship, what exactly do you intend when you say "try and do something about it". That sounds like bollocks doesn't it?

 

[Scoffers]

LB, where's the option for married but getting divorced, her kids with her but next wife lined up ? (She has a kid too).

I guess that will be covered under the 'Something Else' option

 

[cardboard]

Married just the once (6 years) one child (4 years)

 

[supaseagull]

married once, two boys 6 & 8...oh and Cameron's a tosser

 

[Simster]

I have always believed that marriage is for life, and that kids should be brought up by a 2 parent, mixed gender couple.
I realise that this view is considered to be old fashioned, and fully expect to be attacked for holding this view.

You won't be attacked by me, because I suspect that a majority of people would want that in an ideal world. Afterall, no-one gets married with a view to it having a 5 year shelf life.

However, that's not the majority position any more so what does Cameron actually want to do about it? Does he expect people to stay with violent other halves? Does he want people who are clearly incompatible to stay together "for the sake of the kids"?

It seems to me that he's just pandering to the cosy middle Englander who has lost patience for some reason or other.

 

[Gwylan]

One thing no-one has yet mentioned is that we don't have the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe: divorce rates in Denmark, Finland and Belgium are all higher.

What Cameron says about the failure rates for 'broken homes' is probably true but I'm sure that's more of a reflection of the lack of childcare facilities for single parents than the breakdowns themselves.

 

[Simster]

Married with 2 kids (6 & 4)

Nine years next Wednesday!