Measure 6, questions to consider

Editorial | October 2nd, 2014

Advocates for shared parenting in North Dakota are proposing a measure that could change the lives of families throughout the state.

According to the proposed ND law, “(Measure 6), upon voter approval, would create a legal presumption that each parent in a child custody case is fit to parent, unless ‘clear and convincing evidence' demonstrates otherwise. Furthermore, the measure would give each parent in a custody case, unless one parent is proven unfit, equal parental rights and responsibilities, parenting time, primary residential responsibility and decision making responsibility of a child.”

Proponents of the measure say too often divorced mothers are awarded greater custody of children, even though plenty of evidence suggests children are better off when they are equally raised by both their mother and father.

Few states have passed shared parenting laws so, as a result, many North Dakotans are hesitant to trust that Measure 6 is an answer to improving the lives of children of divorced parents.

But consider this: parents are, hands down, the most influential figures in a child’s life. And children must always be considered in public policy simply because our healthy futures depend on their nourishment. So that means giving them a good education. And, yes, that also means making sure parents are doing their jobs.

Still, there are a number of important questions to consider regarding Measure 6. We challenge proponents to answer them.

1.Why did North Dakota shoot down a similar measure in 2006?

2.What if the parents live more than five or six hours apart or a parent moves to a different state? Will it be a detriment to have children travel so often and so far? Will they have to attend two different schools?

3.Not that divorce should be outlawed and it can sometimes be for the best, but would we be better off putting more efforts toward divorce prevention, so that children wouldn’t have to deal with the stress in the first place and couples can learn to improve their own relationships?

4.What about same-sex parents living in North Dakota? Could this measure be considered discriminatory toward them?

5.Could this measure further generate negative stereotypes of single mothers?

6.What about the children of single mothers who are thriving?

7.What about married or unwed parents who aren’t sharing their roles equally? Some children have parents who are always traveling for business and are rarely home. Are we going to start regulating them next?

8.If passed, no other state would have an equal parenting law that goes as far as North Dakota’s. Is there a good reason for that?

Measure 6’s bottom-line intention is great – to improve the lives of children – and we absolutely agree that two loving parents are better than one. Though we must especially consider why no other state has passed a shared parenting bill as progressive as North Dakota’s proposed measure. We must also consider the divorced parents and their children that are doing very well in North Dakota and throughout the U.S. There are tens of thousands of kids with divorced parents and tens of thousands of them grow into stand-up citizens, leading successful lives.

The biggest concern we see is that Measure 6 may cause some unintended consequences if passed. Before you vote, do your research. Get informed.

RECENTLY IN

Recently in: