More voices call for "valuing family work"

Nancy Folbre has an important column today in the New York Times, "Valuing Family Work", proposing that mothers (or dads) with kids under certain ages be able to use "unpaid" child care at home as an equivalent to having a "within-the-economy" job in terms of applying for assistance. The link is here.   

Mitt Romney, recall, had proposed that mothers have to have jobs before getting assistance (or at least apply for them, just as with unemployment benefits).

One could ask the same question about eldercare or disability-care, and the "sandwich generation".  Put that way, the issue impacts the childless, too.

The  sustainable intentional community (Twin Oaks) that I reported about on April 7 gives full "work credit" for child and personal care.