A delicate balance

A delicate balance

"The trick is to find the line between compassion and the needs of the poor -- and the needs of an economy that requires initiative. Europe has drawn the line way to the left. We may have more people in poverty, but we also have tremendous dynamism in the economy so that people who are poor today may not be poor tomorrow."

-- Ron Haskins, staff director, U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee on human resources.

"When you're living in the [German] system, it's wonderful. All our kids went to a well-run German day care. When my kids were sick, I could by law stay home with them. And I could stay home with them after they were born. But for my wife, [who worked for the U.S. government] to take time after the birth of my son, she was scrambling to take every bit of vacation. . . . The negative side is, after years the citizens expect certain things from the state -- the holding out of the open hand. And it costs so much. What that means is German labor is really expensive. And that's at the heart of the whole debate over German competitiveness."

-- Ken Bremer, Chicago-based business promoter for the German Ministry of Economics.

"What happens over the next six months [with Congressional budget cuts and presidential elections] will be critical for children and families in this country. The question on the table is, are we going to come into the 21st century with services for children and families that look more like our sister nations' in the industrialized world, or more like services in less-developed nations?"

-- David Liederman, executive director, Child Welfare League of America; executive committee member, International Forum on Child Welfare.

"We do look to Europe. We've had groups go over there -- state people, governors -- looking for new ideas. I'd say they are way ahead of us in education and training of the labor force. In family policy, the child-care area is one they've taken leadership on. And it's one reason I think governors have been pushing for more federal funding [for child care]. You can't ask a woman with young children to work unless you can provide child care and health care for those children."

-- Ray Scheppach, executive director, National Governors Association.

"School used to be boring. But ever since I've been in the [apprenticeship] program, I've studied harder. My grades have gone up dramatically. I recommend it to anyone."

-- Casey Horman, Fridley High School student