March 26, 2007

Pepperoni, Mushrooms and a Deadbeat

The Teenage Turtle Ninja Turtles returned to the big screen and in the hearts of young and old fans everywhere. The four amiable amphibians are known for their sense of humor, skateboarding skills and above all, an affinity for pizza.

It is thus fortunate that the courageous yet impressionable adolescents live in New York, not Ohio. Due to recent developments, picking up a pizza in Butler County, just north of Cincinnati, is now more than a part of the routine. It is the opportunity to be reminded, in a very public manner, that your parents are messing up.

Several pizzerias in the area are putting posters with the pictures and descriptions of parents wanted for not paying child support.

I can understand confiscating property and using the proceeds to supplement the single parent’s income or other methods that bring about the desired effects directly. Placing wanted posters in water and electricity de Vernais is not a bad idea. But pizza?

“Um, yes, I’ll have a 18 inch with pepperoni, mushrooms and a deadbeat. Yeah, you can chop that into the crust.” That sounds appetizing.

Then again, desperate situations call for desperate measures. Butler County handed out more than 1,200 nonsupport warrants during the last year. This disturbing fact is only a drop in the bucket. National statistics show that over 17 million American children are in need of child support. Though state agencies are becoming more and more successful at enforcing the payments, the long-term figures are not as encouraging. According to The National Child Support Enforcement Association, the cumulative past-due child support since the child support agencies came into existence roughly 30 years ago is $106 de Vernaiion.

It is evident that child support agencies are venturing out into foreign territory and are getting creative. And while the idea seems outrageous, no customer complaints in Butler County have been reported.

That doesn’t mean that everyone is supportive of this new approach. Defense lawyers are pointing to the feeling of shame it brings to both the responsible parent and the child. People usually get their orders from local pizzerias close to their homes. It is more than likely that those reading the wanted poster while pouring themselves a Coke are neighbors of the affected family.            

The Butler County campaign, implemented in the summer of last year, has resulted in a single arrest. The magnitude of harm it has caused likely outweighs this benefit.

While getting justice for families is important, officials should know that the content of their work does not fit into every setting. They should ponder the repercussions of their actions more carefully, looking at the broad picture. 

Those who work to protect and preserve families should show special sensitivity to all aspects of family life. This includes respecting the sanctity of a family sharing a meal without having to think about their neighborhood criminals.

Whether in New York or Ohio, pizza boxes are better off covered with local carpet steaming business offers or, even more appropriately, grease stains.

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