''Unmarried couples have children all the time right now, and those children get taken care of just fine.''
Well yes, people are always taken care of adequately in civilized countries. If parents cant take care of the children the state will. But, that is beside the point, because it shouldnt have to come to a single mother struggling financially, when a couple has enough money for more.
''The same could be asked of men who make naive agreements. Life is uncertain sometimes, and people need to be more careful how they live it. ''
Mothers and children are vulnerable, and laws should protect the vulnerable. As for married women witn no children, the money a couple has while they are married belongs to both of them, so some kind of financial agreement has to be made on divorce to take this into account. There once was a suggestion that men should pay their wives for the housekeeping they do, but neither women nor men agreed to this. So, it comes down to having to separate the shared finances after divorce, because many think of marriage in terms of sharing rather than dividing.
''The worst thing to do during a divorce is to start the blame game.''
Id say this is the main problem, when it comes to divorce. It is not the separating which is expensive. It is the conflict leading to expensive lawyers and court cases which costs, money that should be spent on setting up separate lives for the members of the couple and for looking after the kids.
What if, would be a good exercise for all couples to practice in times of peace, when they are getting along. If they said, what if we were to get divorced now, how would we manage the finances and childcare. Who would live where, who would look after the children and for what percentage of the time, what will be put by for the childrens education, how much money would each member of the couple get and how would it be given... If they did this on a regular basis while there is no conflict, then they likely could by pass the expense of lawyers and courts when a major conflict arrises. I think many couples have enough money to live separately, if they put some thought into how it would be done.
''Maybe we should require couples to take out "divorce insurance" that they pay into and then can take funds from in case they ever divorce to help offset that.''
That would certainly suit some people, because many live on the edge financially these days, so need insurance to cover all risks. It would however increase the costs and complications of living. I think, that is certainly what we need less of.
''I would say something along the lines of, "Well, let's implement a government program that pays mothers for raising children." However, that would lead to more welfare mothers who does nothing but breed more children we don't need. ''
Maybe it wouldnt lead to more welfare mothers. As jobs go, parenting is one of the most wearing, and freedom sapping. I would only do it for love. A price tag simply cant be put on what I am willing to do for my daughter. I presume it is the same for most parents, despite the accusations that are carelessly and frequently thrown around about parents. But, I do agree that it would be a good thing, to have basic financial security for mothers. Financial stress is the last thing a pregnant women, or a woman with a baby or toddler needs, or any mother for that matter.
There was a contravertical suggestion a while ago. I forget which country it was in. Basically, somebody suggested that everybody should get a basic allowance and not just mothers, and then if people want more they can work. Maybe this would work, because there are rarely enough jobs available for all those who want them, these days anyway.
