choice by becoming tools in the artist’s hands. Now comes the hard
work of putting God’s little masterpiece on display.”
A noise caused Angie to turn.
“I’m sorry, Pastor.” It was his assistant peering through the door. “I hate to interrupt. But I think someone needs her mommy.”
Angie heard Leah’s whimper of discontent. The sound intensified the pain in her breasts. Feeding time had passed.
“I should probably go,” Angie said as she placed her empty teacup beside the plate containing the remains of a scone. “There’s
nothing damaged about her hunger clock. Every bit as inconvenient as Tommy’s or Joy’s was.”
Accepting Leah into her arms, Angie cradled her daughter with a gentle swinging motion. An immediate tranquility overtook
both child and mother.
Seth and Talia leaned back on the sofa, quietly observing the holy reunion.
Chapter Fourteen
Troy scanned the faces around the room to gauge reactions. Kevin would land his formal presentation one minute early, an impressive first.
Opinions were now forming. Political calculations made. Sides chosen.
Reviewing his hastily crafted tally, Troy confirmed five in the Against column, Trisha Sayers most visibly of all. Only three
appeared warm to Kevin’s proposals. He optimistically marked them For. He presumed the remaining poker faces Undecided, including
the ever-pragmatic Brent Anderson, who rose from his chair to moderate fifteen minutes of questions and debate.
“Thank you, Congressman Tolbert.” Anderson visually sized up the same mix of faces. He momentarily studied his handwritten
notes. “Before we begin discussion I want to make sure we clearly understand your proposals. Can you please return to the
earlier slide titled A Better Path ?”
“You bet.” Kevin waved back to a page displaying two items.
PROPOSAL A: ELDER-CARE TAX EXEMPTION FOR PARENTS
PROPOSAL B: ALL TRANSITION BENEFITS TO CHARITY
“That’s it. Thank you.” Anderson allowed a moment for the slide to refresh memories. “As I understand them, both of your recommendations
would reduce two large revenue streams.”
“Not reduce. Reinvest,” Kevin clarified. “Let me explain Proposal A first. Our present system indirectly penalizes parents
trying to raise future workers. Future taxpayers. Curbing downward population trends by even a small amount will generate
long-term revenues that dwarf the short-term investment.”
“How do we penalize parents?” Anderson asked. “Elder-care tax rates are the same for everyone.”
“The average parent spends around three hundred thousand dollars over a lifetime to raise each child. As adults, those kids
get jobs, buy homes, and launch businesses. Each will generate an average of one point six million dollars in lifetime GDP.
But, as you said, parents investing to raise future workers pay the identical elder-care tax as childless individuals who
spend the same three hundred thousand dollars on themselves.”
Kevin paused. Few in the room had ever thought about child-rearing as an investment in future economic growth. When it appeared
everyone was still with him, he continued.
“Fast-forward to age seventy. The childless citizen, the one who spent three hundred thousand dollars on himself, has no sons
or daughters paying into the system to offset his own withdrawals. He will receive the identical elder-care benefits as a
parent who spent decades investing to replace himself with one, two, or more younger workers now paying into the system.”
“So you think childless citizens should receive lower benefits?” Anderson asked.
“No. But I do think we should ease some of the burden on those creating our future tax base.”
“Are you suggesting we subsidize lifestyle choices?” Trisha Sayers appeared to take personal offense. “Give favorable treatment
just because someone spawns offspring?”
“Fewer citizens are spawning offspring, to use your words, than ever in our
work of putting God’s little masterpiece on display.”
A noise caused Angie to turn.
“I’m sorry, Pastor.” It was his assistant peering through the door. “I hate to interrupt. But I think someone needs her mommy.”
Angie heard Leah’s whimper of discontent. The sound intensified the pain in her breasts. Feeding time had passed.
“I should probably go,” Angie said as she placed her empty teacup beside the plate containing the remains of a scone. “There’s
nothing damaged about her hunger clock. Every bit as inconvenient as Tommy’s or Joy’s was.”
Accepting Leah into her arms, Angie cradled her daughter with a gentle swinging motion. An immediate tranquility overtook
both child and mother.
Seth and Talia leaned back on the sofa, quietly observing the holy reunion.
Chapter Fourteen
Troy scanned the faces around the room to gauge reactions. Kevin would land his formal presentation one minute early, an impressive first.
Opinions were now forming. Political calculations made. Sides chosen.
Reviewing his hastily crafted tally, Troy confirmed five in the Against column, Trisha Sayers most visibly of all. Only three
appeared warm to Kevin’s proposals. He optimistically marked them For. He presumed the remaining poker faces Undecided, including
the ever-pragmatic Brent Anderson, who rose from his chair to moderate fifteen minutes of questions and debate.
“Thank you, Congressman Tolbert.” Anderson visually sized up the same mix of faces. He momentarily studied his handwritten
notes. “Before we begin discussion I want to make sure we clearly understand your proposals. Can you please return to the
earlier slide titled A Better Path ?”
“You bet.” Kevin waved back to a page displaying two items.
PROPOSAL A: ELDER-CARE TAX EXEMPTION FOR PARENTS
PROPOSAL B: ALL TRANSITION BENEFITS TO CHARITY
“That’s it. Thank you.” Anderson allowed a moment for the slide to refresh memories. “As I understand them, both of your recommendations
would reduce two large revenue streams.”
“Not reduce. Reinvest,” Kevin clarified. “Let me explain Proposal A first. Our present system indirectly penalizes parents
trying to raise future workers. Future taxpayers. Curbing downward population trends by even a small amount will generate
long-term revenues that dwarf the short-term investment.”
“How do we penalize parents?” Anderson asked. “Elder-care tax rates are the same for everyone.”
“The average parent spends around three hundred thousand dollars over a lifetime to raise each child. As adults, those kids
get jobs, buy homes, and launch businesses. Each will generate an average of one point six million dollars in lifetime GDP.
But, as you said, parents investing to raise future workers pay the identical elder-care tax as childless individuals who
spend the same three hundred thousand dollars on themselves.”
Kevin paused. Few in the room had ever thought about child-rearing as an investment in future economic growth. When it appeared
everyone was still with him, he continued.
“Fast-forward to age seventy. The childless citizen, the one who spent three hundred thousand dollars on himself, has no sons
or daughters paying into the system to offset his own withdrawals. He will receive the identical elder-care benefits as a
parent who spent decades investing to replace himself with one, two, or more younger workers now paying into the system.”
“So you think childless citizens should receive lower benefits?” Anderson asked.
“No. But I do think we should ease some of the burden on those creating our future tax base.”
“Are you suggesting we subsidize lifestyle choices?” Trisha Sayers appeared to take personal offense. “Give favorable treatment
just because someone spawns offspring?”
“Fewer citizens are spawning offspring, to use your words, than ever in our
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