Halifax Chronicle Herald
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
By Bob Howse, Editor-in-Chief
WHEN I CAUGHT UP with Garth Turner Monday morning, he was still, literally, on the road to his Independence Day. He was “thinking hard about what it means to be an Independent MP” and “the intriguing idea if I could make it work using the Net and the new technology.”
As we talked, he was driving in from his Halton riding – where farmland east of Toronto is producing bumper crops of new subdivisions and voters the Conservative party needs to reach – to his first day in Parliament as a capital-I Independent MP.
When last he strode those limestone corridors, the previous week, Turner was still officially a Conservative with a small-i independent streak – plus a frank daily blog, his own webcast (MPtv) and some definite ideas about tax cuts, environmental policy and what he calls digital democracy. Oh, yes, and a seat on the Commons finance committee, which is supposed to canvass Canadians for budget ideas.
As a finance committee member, Turner had arranged a meeting with The Chronicle Herald’s editorial writers for Monday afternoon while the committee was in Halifax (the only member to take that initiative). But those plans went awry when he was turfed from the Tory caucus last week for being too outspoken, and then was dropped from the committee because he wasn’t a Tory.
Which, of course, is far more important than being a hardworking committee member who organized a national conference on pension-income splitting only a few weeks ago, or having a serious interest in tax reform for families.
So instead of talking about Turner’s lobby to end the overtaxation of single-earner families relative to those with two incomes (he sensibly favours a provision to split the single pension or regular income between spouses, as families can do in the U.S. and France), we spoke about his future.
Having held a couple of town hall meetings last weekend in the riding, where staying an Independent won both straw votes, Turner said he’s going to give the cap-I option a try. He’s hoping digital democracy – engaging voters through blogs and webcasts and gathering responses to inform policy reports and questions in the House – will allow an Independent to make a difference.
“I’m just going to see what one guy with a computer can do,” he tells me.
The Tory leadership seems to think the answer is: quite a lot of damage to top-down government. Hopefully, they’re right.
Officially, Turner was expelled for breaking confidentiality of caucus discussions, but no examples have been given. He says his blog stated on a few occasions that caucus “discussed a certain topic” but never recounted conversations.
Recently, he asked some of his colleagues to say what concerned them about the blog. The only response, he says, was that “after the Dawson College shootings, I wrote in the blog that we talked about gun control. That’s a no-brainer. What would the public think if we hadn’t talked about it?”
After reading dozens of Turner’s blogs, I have to agree that anyone looking for caucus secrets will be disappointed. What you will find are irreverent observations about how the Hill works and people you meet as an MP, the policy world according to Garth, “Answer Period” interviews with colleagues from all parties, reports Turner has written on tax and environment after holding his digital and town hall consultations. There are blow-by-blow accounts of some lively riding politics in Halton, notably Turner’s rout of the Rev. Charles McFety’s attempt to deny him re-nomination because he doesn’t want to reopen the gay marriage law.
And, yes, there is Garth’s running commentary on how the government and “the Big Guy” are doing on this and that issue, some of it favourable, some of it not.
The toughest of the nots was a blog last week calling on the government to give priority to climate change (and “not let us down with half-measures, a curtsy to junk science or a sell-out to the tar sands”) in an environment bill that clearly wasn’t going to do this. Turner was booted the next day, so it looks like he was turfed to lessen embarrassment if he voted against the bill.
If so, it was a dumb move. If the three opposition parties stick to their guns, this bill is as dead as Kyoto and will never even come to a vote.
The bigger headache for the government, however, is giving the digit to digital democracy. If Turner spoke out strongly for what his constituents want, so what? He’s not in cabinet and what’s wrong with the people who are on the front bench hearing some policy dissent from MPs who are hearing it from constituents?
Political blogging can’t be put back in the bottle. People will look at Turner’s site, see things they like (such as the consultation) and ask: Why doesn’t my MP do this? Not everyone will want Turner’s style or degree of spoon-stirring. But you can be sure that if they’re asked to get involved, people will expect some backbone from their MP in lobbying for their views. As Turner says, “The leadership wants all MPs to have one response, but that’s not what voters want.”
Turner is a showman and an entrepreneur, so it’s no surprise he thinks MPs should stop acting like party employees and be more entrepreneurial. But that’s probably the direction in which society, too, will be pushing MPs – if digital democracy does catch on like other forms of social networking that are sweeping the web.
The smartest thing Stephen Harper could do? Relieve Garth of his Independence with a cap-I and just live with more small-i independent expression in caucus. From Turner and from the other smart MPs who are going to go digital, too.
43 comments ↓
Now that sounds like a plan! I hope SH is listening.
Dear Mr Turner,
It was with great interest and pleasure that I wrote “Gonad deficiency†and a number of comments on it. I am living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands’ second largest city, and English is not my mother tongue, so it took some time to read what you wrote. A very good friend of mine living in Toronto brought you to my notice. I fully agree with your ideas concerning the environment and the points of your “green planâ€. And you deserve my respect for your independent and plucky attitude. I wish you a good deal of success and hope you will be successful as far as climate change actions are concerned. As you undoubtedly know a great part of my country is situated below or just above the sea level; because of the rising sea level and the subsidence in Holland this partially low-lying country might be seriously at risk in the future, and I am grateful you worry that much about our globe and it’s future, which is also in the interest of the Dutch, a nation that has cordial ties with your country, as you undoubtedly know. Another reason for my sympathy is, that you care about endangered animal species and animal rights! Keep fighting for a better world, Mr Turner! The reason that I didn’t give my reaction to your log on internet is that I used to be a computer illiterate and I am still not very familiar with all the possibilities of internet, unfortunately; I would have preferred to give my comment on internet.
With kind regards from The Netherlands,
Aart Pijl,
a supporter of your points of view on environment and animals
(SH listening?)
Probably not, but the ‘birds’ in the damage control strategy/war room, have worms reading every spec of this.
Hey Garth, fabulous editorial- bang on. Do you think the ‘thing’ is growing toes already?
Hey Garth!
Congratulations…whether your â€suspension†is deemed a good or bad thing by others, I applaud your perseverance and dedication to the people of your riding, the people of Canada.
I doubt you remember me, but about a day or two before the vote wherein you were elected in your riding most recently, I phoned you on my cell phone. I was driving up Trafalgar road at the 401 and saw one of your signs, and, surprisingly, for the first and only time I ever noticed this on any election sign, there was a phone number with which to contact you. So, while driving, I dialed, thinking “…yeah right, let’s hear the recording..â€. In any case, I came into contact with not only a live person, but the man himself! Quell Surprise!!! Our conversation was brief, “…Hey Garth….Go, Man, and do your thing!†etc. But something I did say to you and still stand by is the fact that I have followed your writings for more than 25 years…way back to the early 80s when I was in my early 20s reading the Toronto Sun and your business “stuffâ€, loved it, breathed it, and agreed wholeheartedly on pretty much everything you wrote about. I remember when you wrote about “Black Monday†in the Sun, forgive me that I can’t remember the date now (1986? 1987?)…but the point is, you impacted me in my youth, and through my 30s as you continued discussing business issues, and then carried on into politics. Now here we are, as I am now 43 and applaud your ethics, your efforts, and your contribution to the landscape of Canadian politics…time and time again. I also told you that, although I live and work in Erin, I truly wished you were running and working for us because you are one hell of a great representative for any riding you work for….and I agree with you once again…you are working for the people…not the government.
Think of this suspension as only a “hurdleâ€â€¦you will prevail…I can only hope that the people you represent will continue to stand by you because, frankly, Garth, you need to go all the way. You need to run the country…I personally believe that Canada needs someone for the people, elected by the people….and that, my dear, is YOU.
So, my words “Go Garth Go!†are sincere. I’ll continue to watch you, read your weblog, and cheer you on because you need to do this, Garth. You need to stay focused on your beliefs because what you are doing right now is a good thing…it may not seem like it now, but your efforts are being applauded, warranted, and in a political climate that breeds fraudulence, complacency, smugness, and self-absorption, you WILL come out on top.
That’s just the way it’s gotta be….
Garth I’ve always felt you far too hip for the Conservative Reform Alliance Party room.
Canada needs a Canadian conservative party, not some GOP Northeren Lite. You should start it.
I have had a hobby over the past few years thanks to e-mail and the internet…it call heckling my MP. I suggest everyone voices their opinion in the same way.
As for QP and the contrived questions from Tory backbenchers, just goes to show that the PM and cabinet can’t deal with the issues Canadians are voicing. SH has his agenda and the blinkers are on!
The next election will be interesting and I suspect the Tories will blame the opposition for not doing anything on climate change because they defeated their Clean Air Act, even though the act did little anyway.
Keep it up! You’re doing the right thing, Garth, and I applaud you. I’m in grade twelve at the moment and I completely love your blog. Keep it going and stay strong.
Well. I am not surprised. I am dissapointed by the arogant behaviour of SH and his cohorts. I think the liberals need a new leader – so far that is the best plan I can see that SH has on getting reelected.
I am not in favor of party hopping – a la the dog (or whoever) – can you beleive that whole “Melrose Place” crap in Parliment? We are getting out monies worth on that huh? Nevertheless.
Garth – to bad you were not in the liberal running – I would/will vote for you no matter what the party – based on what I have read here in. Long as you hold your line, and who said it had to have a color?
Jared
Dartmouth, NS
A bit off-topic but…how is the pooch doing?
Great, thanks. Stabilized on the proper meds, no serious damage to his surgery, and we are looking dfroward to be reunited tomrrow night or Friday morning! We dodged this bullet. Thanks for asking. — Garth
Well, What an awesome commentary on a day in the life of GARTH. SH needs a good kick in the pants…to take the wrinkles out. Isn’t that what children do when another kid wont play by the status quo!. Grow up SH.
J. Hill,
I am not a no holds barred supporter of Garth Turner, although I have found some of the things on his blog of interest. I believe that the strategy of kicking him out of the Tory caucus and off the finance committee to be especially dull-witted on your party’s behalf. It has made you look petty and foolish across the nation and has removed the one person with some financial experience from the Finance Committee. Canadians are interested in tax reform and this was an arena in which Turner really shone. Hopefully (for the Conservatives) whoever the dullards are who devised this attack on Mr. Turner will not be in charge of election strategy in the next election campaign – or even Bob Rae might be able to take Ontario.
Must express my extreme dissappointment over Garth Turner ’s expulsion.
Would suggest, if you are not ,you may want to check out his web site. Very enlightening , likely a peek into the future.
Dear MP Turner!
We want to express our support for your brave stand, representing your Riding with our free speech.
Sorry to say, we have very few MP like you, our MP GODFREY never ever ask our opinion, we havn’t see him one year….representing only himself !
DEMOCRACY IS DEADA in CANADA!
We should have a revolution for replacing our rotten, corrupt election system!
We voted for damned Harper…he betrayed us…he forced Canadian another war without our vote!
When we will have MP like you in our Don Valley West?
WE ARE WITH YOU MP TURNER!
Hey Garth;
Others on the blog have said what I’m thinking but here goes.
Great news on the income-splitting issue. (Except now Flaherty is saying were facing a slow down and the surplus won’t be that big. ???)
But maybe, just maybe the CPC is reading your blogs and taking note.
However, a word of caution. Don’t crow about it too much or you could force Flaherty into a corner.
YOU KNOW HOW RATS ARE WHEN BACKED INTO A CORNER.
Or is this being politically incorrect ? You know, making references to canines, felines, rodents and Sheila’s babies.
Anyhow, keep up the good work. Most of us in Halton are behind you.
Mr. Turner I heard last week that you had been kicked out of caucus for basically not towing the line I have to say it’s a sad day for the PC’s knowing that they wanted this when they merged with the reform party. I also find it very odd that Steven Harper wasn’t even aware you had been axed or have the courage to phone you personally that itself doesn’t show me great leadership at all.
I thought I heard Steven Harper promise he would never kick out his minister like Jean Chrétien did if his ministers spoke freely? I never thought I would see the day Mr. Harper would run his party the same way as Jean Chrétien did with an iron fist as he was always so vocal about it. I must say the more time passes the more I can see the Mr. Harper is in fact much like Jean Chrétien, I just hope he will stay away from all the scandals
After watching all your videos I can see that you are truly a man of the people you represent and it’s refreshing to see it can actually be done, It’s too bad there are not more MP’s like you Mr. Turner. We really could use someone like you in our riding you certainly would be a breath of fresh air but we are stuck with a bunch of separatist in this area so we are stuck with the Bloc. In one of you videos you ask yourself a question if you would get more done if you sat as an independent, as far as I can see you already have seeing you were finally able to pose a question in the house.
I truly hope your constituents can see how much pride you have for them and that you won’t have to fear being reelected, I truly believe from where I sit they have a real winner in you. The only reason I can see you not getting reelected is if 1 you sit on your hands and bide your time away and 2 that your constituents think they getting more for their community if they choose someone who’s party is in power. If anything it would be number 2 as the reason you wouldn’t get reelected that would just be stupid of them, but as you say only time will tell how much you get done for them and how much you have the power to get it done.
Good luck to you and keep up the good work, I will return daily just to check out your web cast, I also have to mention that you have great communication skills
Claude
Chateauguay, Que
Hi Garth,
I have always classified myself as a middle-of-the-road Liberal, and have consistently voted Liberal in previous elections.
However, as a gal who was born and raised in Toronto (now living in Vancouver), I have also been aware of your career, and admired your work.
I just want to pass along my support to you – thank you for being a honorable politician (almost seems like an oxymoron!), and for having your priorities right! YES, MP’s should work for their constituents first, party second.
Next, I think writing a blog is an excellent way to live the values of transparency. It is so refreshing to have the commentary of a “real” person – not some PR spin. Harperites may be trying to shove meagre rations of well-spun PR down Canadian’s throats, but I have to believe most of us are smarter than that. Perhaps that works in Alberta, but not the rest of Canada!
Anyway, thanks again, keep up the good work, wish you were representing my riding (unfortunately I am one of the suckers who voted Emerson in in Vancouver Kingsway riding – can’t WAIT for the next election – even if a paper band was running against him I would vote for the band rather than him!)
Hi Garth,
I did not vote for you in the last election, however I did vote for the green party.
It seems like a natural fit.
I’d like to vote for Garth Turner, Green Party next time the situation presents itself.
Dear Mr. Turner, MP,
I know that you have recently become an independent Member of Parliament. I also know that you are considering the Green Party of Canada, and that you have been asking for your constituents? opinions as to your most prudent course of action. I am writing in order to ask that you might also consider my opinion, and those of like-minded Canadian voters who feel that we currently have no voice in the House of Commons.
I was born in Toronto 25 years ago and I am currently working towards completion of a Ph.D. in Ecology at McGill University. In this academic setting, the damages that we continue to inflict on our environment are painfully obvious, including climate change, over-harvesting the oceans and escalating global biodiversity loss. Any debate about whether these are actually happening is over. While I have spent my life?s work and countless research hours trying to reduce the harm that we may cause to natural systems, I have also spent this time watching the state of the environment deteriorate.
I am writing to ask that you speak for me and for others like me in the House of Commons by joining the Green Party of Canada. Please consider this unique opportunity to make a stand for much needed progressive change in Canadian politics and help integrate environmental knowledge into political action.
Well Mr. Turner you must be getting more desperate for attention when you start promoting articles about yourself written by one of the most Liberal friendly papers in the country namely The Cronicle Herald. Don’t you ever get tired of patting yourself on the back. When is it going to sink in that all the pats on the back you are getting from others at the present time are people who don’t wnat the Conseratives to succeed. Dennis Richard
Mr. Turner,
I wish to express my sympathy for your dismissal from the Conservative Party however; it’s about time that someone spoke for their constituency no matter what the price. I admire your words and the chance that you took for the Canadian people. I wish that more MP’s would take the time to find out what the concerns are and voice them in Parliament instead of wasting tax payers money on petty issues that don’t really have anything to do with running the Country, and the well being of the people of Canada. Although I do not live in your riding, I’m in Cambridge to be exact; I admire your power to move on.
Please keep up your work for the people of Canada
Frank
Cambridge Ontario
Amen – I vote for independents like you – that’s why I’m not a party-person
Dear Mr. Turner,
I just wanted to send you a short email congratulating you on your website and blog. I used to work on the Hill as a staffer (not in the Conservative party) and have a pretty good sense of the few options MPs usually use to communicate with their constituents. I have to say, your blog is amazing – enjoyable, informative, and candid. What a great record of your time in office. Your constituents are lucky to have you – keep up the good work, it is inspiring to see what you are doing and I’m sure people are responding. I know that I will definately keep reading.
Oshawa, Ont
When is it going to sink in that all the pats on the back you are getting from others at the present time are people who don’t wnat the Conseratives to succeed. Dennis Richard
Uhhh Dennis?
I would really like the Conservatives to succeed, considering I have a party membership. Garth continues to have my support.
If you become a member of the green party, remember I”m looking for a job next year. My youngest will start school and boy do I have experience lobbying lol…
I wish you all the best and your puppy too. But I’ll always be here watching too!
Why would you kick an independent MP off of an “All Party†finance committee when he is the only one with a background that qualifies to be on the committee?
Why aren’t you listening to the people of Canada?
Bill in Edmonton
Arrrrgh!
Please don’t let anyone say “tow the line” anymore!
Sometimes being old and impatient is a tough rodahoe ain’t it.
Bill in Edmonton – “he is the only one with a background that qualifies to be on the committee”.
Don’t you think that’s a bit of a stretch? You may want to be a Garth’s groupie – but, come on – do yourself a favour – be at least real.
I’m not trying to take anything from Garth – but, he is NOT beyond approach and there are many fine qualified people who sit on the committee (yes, including from other parties – for example, aargh McCullum, an economist)!
Here’s a question Bill?
Why would we let them? I hope you are writing to your MP in Edmonton and demanding (politely of course) that he/she listen to your reasoning on that one. How about the rest of you? Should Garth be kicked off this inclusive MP Finance Committee? Speak up to your government folks- write e-mails, phone, etc. You want a voice Greens? You all like Garth so much- get him back on that finance committee (no matter what his colour at the moment)
Good-bye…good riddance…
Garth, why are you the only MP in this country who is doing all of this? I would love it if more MPs did webcasts and blogs so I could actually see what they were concentrating on and even communicate back with them about issues that actually matter to me and know they are reading it.
I was really shocked when I saw your response to one of the comments above because it said to me that you actually go through and read each of the comments on your blog and even respond when you think it is appropriate.
In a weird twisted way, I kind of wish I lived in Halton so I could vote for you because I know in my riding I do not have any real representative who would go as far as you have to give Canada a real representative democracy. And sadly, I am betting I am not the only one.
If there is anything I (or we) can do to help you with changing the face of Canadian politics and perhaps even getting more MPs like you into Parliament (or MLAs for that matter), please let me (or us) know. As far as I am aware no other MP in Canada has been so proactive in basically doing their job. I would really like to be able to convince more of our representatives to be so.
PW,
I endorse your Arrrrgh! Can’t believe that so many people think Garth is a tow truck operator.
Catherine,
Garth is EXTREMELY approachable. I think you meant reproach. Arrrrgh !
Posters,
While I’m at it. YOUR does not mean YOU ARE. Arrrrgh! Try YOU’RE.
Also, THERE and THEIR are not interchangeable. Arrrrgh! They are two
quite different words.
Please borrow a dictionary from one of the YOU’RE kids.
Irate – I didn’t think we were writing any formal documents here
Anyway – I stand corrected I meant to write “reproach”. Duhhh
Now that we, political junkies, have had some Enquirer type entertainment – why with the Poor Belinda and Poor Peter saga and Poor Garth saga, I would like to ask some of you, who actually care about the value for our tax dollars, was it worth the thousands of our tax dollars spent this week on these 2 sagas?
BTW: Last week, I saw at the grocery store, that the Enquirer is reporting that, lo and behold George Bush and Laura Bush are splitting up. It must be true – because journalists do due diligence and report facts…. They don’t make up stories. Rigggghhhht
Garth, while your income splitting for families is easy to sell to one income earner families, how do you plan to explain to working people that you have to raise their taxes to make up for the tax cut for those who don’t work? Also as someone who claims to understand economics, how do you plan to deal with the labour shortage that will result from paying people to not work at the expense of those who do? I for one plan to retire the moment income splitting comes in, along with my 8 years of post-secondary education, and I am barely 30. Income splitting sounds appealing but I haven’t seen anything from you on how to deal with the consequences.
Nobody has suggested that taxes would rise as a result of this change, nor would that be necessary. In addition, your comments about labour shortage are bizarre, since income splitting woul simply allow working families to share existing income for tax purposes. This would allow stay-at-home spouses to contribute to CPP and RRSPs, with positive social benefits. You went to university for eight years to be this uneducated? — Garth
I endorse your Arrrrgh! Can’t believe that so many people think Garth is a tow truck operator.
While I’m at it. YOUR does not mean YOU ARE. Arrrrgh! Try YOU’RE.
Also, THERE and THEIR are not interchangeable. Arrrrgh! They are two
quite different words.
Arrrrgh! I think you misspelled your name, you seem to be missin’ the ‘P’.
Catherine: Is there anything done during question period that warrants taxpayers dollars? The questions are staged, the answers are non-answers. They all try to outdo each other in rising to their feet, shaking their fist at the opposition and making sure the camera gets their good side so the people back home in the riding can get to see their M.P. on the tube.
That is the purpose of Question Period. No substance at all.
So, from what I saw all the hoopla over the two issues you is exactly what you get during question period. Is it a waste of money? Yes. Why is this tradition continued? I don’t know.
To Thea, ON
“as someone who claims to understand economics, how do you plan to deal with the labour shortage that will result from paying people to not work at the expense of those who do?”
I agree with Garth, 8 years of experience and you are extremely uneducated. I’d say kiss my ass but that would not be polite!
Don’t you dare tell me I do not work compared to some idiot who has 8 years of university to not understand reality!
To add to all that the economic part is simple actually. Stay at home parents do contribute highly to society. For one you would have no social programs where do you think all those volunteers come from.
Do you think I go out shopping and buy nothing? Every penny saved from Income Splitting will be spent right back into the economy for childcare in my own home.
If the proper assesment was done, Income Splitting would cost us a lot less than any Quebec $7 a day daycare system. Did you notice how much debt Quebec is in from the daycare…
Judy – I agree. Question Period should be a intelligent exchange where the house gets to ask the government real challenging questions. What we see is stupid, childish, and rude “questions” from wannabe drama queens.
As we still a british “parliament” system, we have to have a question period. But, maybe the QP can be cut down to 15 minutes. A couple of quips and snips is all we need to satisfy ankle high people who like this sort of thing.
Dube.
If only that was all I was missing.
Catherine,
I knew that was a typo and was just pulling your leg while paying Garth a compliment.
Hi Mr. Turner,
I think being independence MP is the BEST thing happen to your politics career.
Garth,
I understand that in the typical conservative fashion, you feel that responding to a valid question with insults is appropriate. You’ve spent too much time in QP, it’s understandable.
Now back to my question. Income splitting implies substantial tax cuts for a very large number of families, which in turn implies a significant reduction in government tax revenue. This means that someone has to make up for it. Who will this someone be? If I haven’t lost you yet, the second part of my question was how you’d deal with the fact that given income splitting, some people would chose to work less because of income splitting. The labour shortage I was referring to is not bizzare – it is a reality and will worsen as more and more baby boomers retire. As a fellow economist, I am sure you understand the work-leasure choice that workers make when deciding how much to work. In my case, income splitting will result in very substantial tax savings, which would allow me to work part-time instead of full-time and my family’s after tax income will still be the same. As it is, I am willing to take a substantial paycut to have more vacation time, so I may retire altogether. I am not the only one out there who will do the same. This will undoubtedly make the labour shortage created by the retiring baby boomers even worse. So do you have a plan to deal with it, or not?
Sara,
Undoubtedly, stay at home parents make substantial contribution to society. However, there is a lot of work to be done outside the home and if finances allow more workers to quit and stay home, who will do this work? Currently, idiots like me who have 8 years of university, call staying home with the kids “vacation” and we would like as much of it as possible. But then you have to find some other idiots with 8 years of university to do the work that we are currently doing and such people don’t just fall of the sky one day. Now be nice because the working idiots like me pay for a lot of the social services you get and being rude doesn’t help your case.
Thea,
Fess up and admit you were a freshperson 8 times.
It doesn’t matter who you are. Even a first grader can understand that if you pay people to stay home, at least some of them will take you up on your offer.
As far as income splitting goes, it is already partially here. There is a substantial spousal non-refundable tax credit that stay-at-home parents take advantage of. There is a spousal RRSP that every one-income-earner family takes advantage of (except perhaps a very small minority of uninformed taxpayers). The CCTB and the GST refund are based on family, not individual income. The new child benefit is based on the income of the lower income parent, which heavily favours families with a stay-at-home parent. In any case, income splitting is already here to a great extent and to say that stay-at-home parents don’t get any financial benefits for staying home is incorrect and misleading. The reality is that they get substantial benefits that families with two earners don’t.