The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has just gotten quite a bit of company: As many as 6,600 graves at the country’s hallowed Arlington National Cemetery for fallen U.S. service members may be mislabeled, one lawmaker said on Thursday.Political movements are becoming ever more like a match tossed into a room full of dynamite: No matter which stick you are aiming for, chances are a lot of others will fire off, too.A drama about a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer doesn’t exactly sound like the most entertaining new series on the fall prime-time slate. But there is more buzz surrounding Showtime’s “The Big C” than perhaps any other series premiering this season, and the incomparable Laura Linney is a major reason why the series is high on critics’ must-see lists.Although facts on the famed Clinton-Mezvinsky wedding, which is rumored to happen this weekend, are tighter than Hillary Clinton’s smile, some details have leaked out. Sources report that groom Marc Mezvinsky has “hurt” his father’s family by not inviting them to the wedding (Ed Mezvinsky pleaded guilty in 2002 to swindling investors out of $10 million.For Paul Rudd, the decision to star in Jay Roach’s new comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks,” was an easy one. “I thought the script was really funny,” he says. “That was it. It was kind of a no-brainer.” Of course Rudd, who’s built an impressive resume of smart comedies, was just as enamored of the man behind the camera. Subletting in NYC typically involves some kind of covert transaction. Try to find a budget traveler who hasn’t enjoyed the risk of Craigslist’s lease-free rentals. But thanks to a bill Gov. David Paterson signed into law last Friday, renting an apartment for less than 30 days isn’t kosher. Fortunately, there’s a saving grace for those in search of short-term living: Jersey City.New claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, but stayed at a stubbornly high level that underscored the labor market recovery was having trouble gaining traction.Could nail mats like the Acushakti be the next Snuggies?Unless the locals covered you in meatballs and sang “Nessun Dorma” upon arrival, this vacation could hardly be more Italian. For this is a “Vespa vacation” — a two-wheeled tour of the nooks and crannies, the winding back roads and the off-the-beaten-track hidden gems of breathtaking Umbria, a beautiful region located in Central Italy.For many job-hopping careerists, smuggling a resignation letter in their bag like a guilty secret, there are few workplace rituals so hard as saying so long.
Ever since Barack Obama offered his Father’s Day chastisement of African-American fathers, there has a been a renewed public conversation about the current child support system. While some have argued that it is flawed, others have simply called for more black male responsibility. A little bit of both is in order.
Without question, the current child support system needs to be reformed. As scholars like William Julius Wilson have noted, child support laws serve as a “labor tax” that dissuade black men from obtaining traditional jobs. This is particularly true for ex-felons, whose wages can be garnished up to 66 percent in order to repay outstanding support. Imagine coming home from prison and getting a $200 a week job at McDonalds, only to have $130 go to arrears. With only $70 left (before taxes!) to pay for food, clothing, shelter and current child support, there is little incentive to get a legal job. We need to develop more realistic and humane approaches to child support for economically disadvantaged people. Unfortunately, the popular image of the “deadbeat dad,” like the welfare queen of the 1980s, obscures these structural barriers to gainful employment and only focuses on individual bad behavior.
On the other hand, it is of critical importance that we hold men accountable for their irresponsible actions. Take singer Sean Levert, who died while serving a 22-month prison sentence for felony nonpayment of $85,000 in support. While some argued that he shouldn’t have been in jail in the first place, I can’t imagine an alternative punishment for someone who so wantonly ignored his responsibility. I’ve known dozens of black men who go to extravagant lengths to avoid taking care of their children. Are some experiencing financial trouble? No doubt. But many of them, even those who earn solid middle-class wages, are simply unwilling to make basic sacrifices to ensure that their child has food, clothing and shelter. Would they let their children live on the streets? Probably not. But they believe anything short of that falls on women’s shoulders.
We must begin to provide government subsidies and debt forgiveness for hardworking men who truly need it.
That way, fathers get relief without punishing struggling mothers. We must also continue to impose stricter oversight and legal punishment for people who refuse to do the right thing. With this combination of structural change and individual responsibility, we can make real progress.
Marc Lamont Hill is an assistant professor at Temple University and a political contributor for Fox News Channel.
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In the July MMMpod, Young Veins talk about breaking away from Panic! at the Disco, Keith Lockhart talks about Buckwheat Zydeco throwing the Boston Pops for a loop, Zooey Deschanel talks about how Roy Orbison inspired a She & Him song, Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells talks about how awesome Funkadelic is, and we talk about how awesome Jimmy Cliff is, who in turn talks about Sam Cooke and divine intervention. An explosive show for July! Oh yeah, and we also test your knowledge of America songs in the MMMPod medley.
