>>OTOH, some parents don't have the chance of spending much time with their kids, because they have to both work long and/or non standard hours to meet both ends. I would not judge the value of a parent just by the amount of time their kids spend watching TV or playing video games.
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>And why does it take both parents working in some families to make it? Excessive Government taxation for one. About half our family income goes to taxes in some form or another. Just think, a 10% Federal tax cut to many Americans is worth more than a 15% pay raise. A contributing factor is people wanting [not needing] to live at a more luxuriant level than is necessary. I would guess that if I were taxed at 1960s levels, my take-home pay and disposable income would be at least 75% more. Now that is significant.
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SNIP
Mark,
I want to discuss several points here, and will start with the simpler ones first.

"...to live at a more luxuriant level than is necessary.". That's true for sure, but it is also the whole basis of our present economy - buy buy buy! That's why we have credit cards. That's why we have advertising as a $240+BILLION ANNUAL industry. All advertising is aimed precisely at making people want and want.

"...taxed at 1960s levels..." Probably true, but my understanding is that taxes had to be raised for the individual so that they could be eliminated (at least almost) for businesses. There simply has been a SHIFT of the tax burden from businesses to people. It follows that if my taxes are lowered, businesses taxes have to go up, leading to higher priced goods and services. We could well end up behind where we are now, I suppose.

"...excessive government taxation for one.". As well as the above paragraph, a tax cut of 10% might mean $300 to a person earning $30,000. While it sure is better than a kick in the ass, $300. doesn't do a whole lot for a whole lot of people. Of course 10% of $300,000, or better $3,000,000 is useful money. But the person earning at those levels doesn't really have the problem of NEEDING two incomes now, does s/he?!?!

My son and his wife had a new (first) baby a year ago and my daughter-in-law in not planning to work until the baby is at least in school. But they are finding it to be a REAL TOUGH JOB, even though he is earning a decent wage and they buy very little except food and a few clothes. They don't know if they can make it for 5 more years without having to declare bankruptcy (i.e. she will have to go to work, probably). It looks like two incomes is becoming more and more NECESSARY, at least if you want to stay out of the credit trap.