Folks,
Here's a letter I sent to
the Co-Chair of the Citizen's
Commission, Will Abbott, along
with a copy of the report
of the Commission to Study
Child Support and Related
Custody Issues.
Paul
3 Skyline Dr.
Concord, NH 03303
pclem@juno.com
May 28, 2005
Mr. Will Abbott
Lincoln Rd.
Holderness, NH 03245
Dear Mr. Abbott,
As you are probably by now
aware, there is some degree
of consternation among the
fathers of NH regarding the
assignment of the Citizen’s
Commission on NH State Courts.
We, the members of the commission,
have been charged with reviewing
several documents, among which
is the report of the Family
Law Task Force. This task
force, overweighed as it was
with divorce industry insiders,
spent four months discussing
domestic violence, but only
one week studying shared custody
and child support.
What you should know is that
the state profits to the tune
of $16 Million a year from
collecting child support from
fathers who are separated
by the courts from their children.
In addition, the courts are
paid over $2 Million a year
by the child support collection
agency. This symbiotic relationship
creates a partnership which
has, for decades, opposed
shared custody and reform
of the child support system.
Their report reflects that
bias. So heavy handed was
their opposition, that they
disallowed any minority opinion
which countered that perspective.
The Supreme Court, in designing
the Citizens’ Commission,
obviously supported that perspective
as well. As you know, the
Task Force report is on the
table for discussion, but
not the report of the Commission
on Child Support, Custody,
and Related Matters. We believe
that is because the Child
Support Commission report
runs counter to the perspective
of the task force. What more
proof would an average citizen
need to disparage the courts,
than to know that a concurrent
report which more accurately
reflects the general publics'
feelings is being suppressed?
Indeed, the more than two
dozen court survey’s which
I’ve collected are unanimous
in their distrust of the courts.
I am enclosing a copy of the
report of the Commission to
Study Child Support and Related
Custody Issues for your perusal.
I’m sure you will find it
a thorough and comprehensive
document. You will find their
conclusions stated in confident
terms. Those conclusions strongly
favor shared physical custody
and reform of the child support
system. Having read it, I’m
sure you will see why divorce
industry profiteers, such
as peopled the Task Force,
are reluctant to have this
report widely read.
However, if the Citizen’s
Commission is to be honest
and diligent in going about
it’s assigned task, this report
must be considered. I therefore
recommend that this report
be reproduced for every member
of the Citizen’s Commission
to read and mull over.
Sincerely,
Paul M. Clements
Member of the Commission |