Like many people whose preference is for the hard science of test tubes and particle accelerators I am usually dismissive of social science. An individual case tells you next to nothing. Everyone knows examples where both parents stay at home and the home environment is terrible and examples where there is one parent who does a wonderful job. Where is the numerical tipping point at which you can start to conclude what is best? More likely I suspect you start with some preconceived ideas and beliefs generated some other way, often through membership of some ideology, religious or political, and then go hunting for the data that supports your view.
This report may be no different and my own approach to it may be that which I have already identified but overall I think it reaches sensible conclusions with which most people could agree. The basic charge is that the excessive pursuit of individual needs and goals has made children's lives harder. Some people will be automatically defensive because they feel that this implies that women shouldn't go to work or that single parent families are doomed. Yet although it clearly is about individuals and their choices it is equally about matters of public policy that will allow people to make sensible choices.
The difficulty for public policy makers is that they need to find that numerical tipping point where their actions benefit as wide a section of society as possible while at the same time doing the least amount of harm to everyone else. My instinct is that I do not want or require any advice from a state employee on parenting although I am happy to read the gospel according to Miriam Stoppard. I will need state advice of course, particularly on aspects of dealing with the state such as the health and education systems; it just needs to be available conveniently and not bother me with the information that a diet of chips and cola is not sensible.
For the moment this is all academic theorising since we are still waiting here in the Californian sunshine. I really want to start putting it all into practice but patience remains the watchword of the day. Not exactly my strongest suit but probably good practice...
