Reader comments
Parental conflicts more harmful than any disaster in the news

I read this article after a huge fight with my wife about money. While we still have these issues to work out, I am very grateful for this article to help me realize I need to work with her and not against her. I don't want my kids to think fighting is normal.

While it is important to keep things in context, I imagine the orphans of Haiti or Pakistan would like their parents back. Parental conflicts affect individuals and are a serious issue to those affected; the effect of mass destruction, disease, collapsed economies, starvation and worse that follow huge disasters probably shouldn't be underestimated just because it didn't happen here.

This column reflects the bias of the writer... who obviously has never been divorced. A few facts from the sociologic literature are worth stating:
1) Most divorces are sought by women, not men.
2) Fathers rarely abandon their children after divorce, unless they had little contact with the child as a baby or the mother takes the kids and moves away.
3) Ex parte protective orders are OFTEN filed to gain an advantage in divorce and custody disputes. These orders are seldom supported by any evidence.
4) Child support awards are much higher for sole custody awards compared to joint custody. This causes parents, mostly mothers, to reject joint custody.
5) 90% of child support is paid by fathers.
Get a clue, Joe. The legal system is ruining the American family.