Reader's View: Let’s not treat parents like cash cows

A recent “Local View” column expressed sympathy for families impacted by the lack of child care in the Duluth area. However, I was surprised that the well-being of parents and children wasn’t mentioned in the article. Let’s stop using vague terms like “the economy” to describe what we all want: a better community for children, their parents, and their caregivers.

Many families are held hostage by their financial circumstances. Poor families cannot afford daycare, while middle class families cannot afford not to send their children to daycare. Economic interests should not be the deciding factor in child-care decisions. We should empower parents to decide if daycare is right for their family.

We need to shift our policy-making from being driven by profit to being centered on individuals and communities. If we do this, we will find there are many ways we can support families with young children.

The yearly cost of owning a car is about the same as a year of daycare. However, I cannot remember the last time I heard meaningful public discourse about helping Duluthians become less dependent on cars. Lincoln Park still has no grocery store. We can do much more to ensure every family in Duluth can access fresh, healthy food without a car.

On a state level, we can make sure that all families have access to quality, affordable health care.

People do not become parents for profit. Let’s build a society that doesn’t treat them like cash cows.

Sophia LaGregg

Duluth