If there are links on my site, I am unaware. I contacted my site administrator and he’ll be going over it tonight and said that he’ll update any software if there are problems.

But as far as “monetizing” my visitors, that’s an unfounded accusation. I intentionally don’t have advertising on my site because I want my commentary to stand by itself and not be clouded by the idea that I’m only driving numbers.

I have a great audience on my site. If there are embedded links, then no doubt there are those with greater computer knowledge than I that have sought to take advantage of my traffic and my technological deficits.

Read Terry’s response in comments. There is no demonization of the single parent there, nor was there in her original post. As for the legislature’s “Papa State” mindset, the fact that the constituents of the legislature are seemingly stable moms and dads is not relevant. The fact that government inherently seeks power and centralized control over anything and everything is.

and just how does American society downplay the ‘importance of family’? is there some secret hidden message in some barely-viewed TV sitcom which is brainwashing the nation? by far, a two-parent family has the most advantages in our society.

perhaps some of the reasons families get ‘broken’ is that society rushes folks to get married for all the wrong reasons, and divorce is the remedy most sought for. and let’s remember this ‘Papa State’ mindset is created in legislatures nationwide by seemingly stable moms and dads who are elected to office.

our society does send a lot of mixed messages, certainly, but demonizing single parents or praising a dysfunctional family simply for staying together solves nothing.

maybe Frank needs to go back to insulting the governor for his choice of Christmas cards and leave the social engineering to someone else.

My point isn’t to say that a single mother, or a single father, can’t do a great job of raising a child. My point is that society has downplayed the importance of family. They have done so in both cultural messages and in public policy.

The bottom line is that statistics bear out time and time again that whether we look at poverty, crime, sexual activity, drop out rates, etc., it all goes back to family and the two parent home.

Can a single mother or single father beat the odds and do a successful job? Absolutely. But the reality is that most don’t.

Look at the sad state of our urban centers and the fatherless youth there. We’ve got a problem and the upper echelons of society do no favors by downplaying the importance of a two parent home to those who are least able to afford the downside of going at the very difficult job of parenting alone.

It may seem like oversimplification, and maybe it is. Two parents yield the best results and our policies and societal messages should support, not harm, that goal.

My point isn’t to say that a single mother, or a single father, can’t do a great job of raising a child. My point is that society has downplayed the importance of family. They have done so in both cultural messages and in public policy.

The bottom line is that statistics bear out time and time again that whether we look at poverty, crime, sexual activity, drop out rates, etc., it all goes back to family and the two parent home.

Can a single mother or single father beat the odds and do a successful job? Absolutely. But the reality is that most don’t.

Look at the sad state of our urban centers and the fatherless youth there. We’ve got a problem and the upper echelons of society do no favors by downplaying the importance of a two parent home to those who are least able to afford the downside of going at the very difficult job of parenting alone.

It may seem like oversimplification, and maybe it is. Two parents yield the best results and our policies and societal messages should support, not harm, that goal.

Signed, the proud and very independent daughter of a Single Mother who worked her tail off to ensure that I never suffered because of her personal choices.