Family Responsibility

Family Responsibility

[Heard on the TV news]

"Yes, John, I'm standing outside the Beehive, our Parliament building, in Wellington New Zealand, and we have have just heard that the Family Responsibility Bill, brought by Gordon Pierce, National MP for the seat of Manurewa, has been passed in an unprecedented unanimous vote, just twenty minutes ago." Julia Philips, seasoned reporter, looked down at the papers in her hand. Her blond hair curved around her face and down to her shoulders in neat strands, her blue eyes shone through her stylish Ralph Lauren designer glasses and her Mi Yee pink jacket and skirt ensemble looked both professional and stylish on her athletic frame.

"This Bill has several points to it; the main one is to bring the onus back to parents for the support of their children past the age of eighteen. That the children of the wealthy will no longer be eligible for unemployment, disability, superannuation or sole parent benefits," Julia paused and looked directly at the camera. "Now, the striking thing, is that this comes into effect from the first of January next year, just forty days away."

Jason Hall, switched the television off with a curt flick of the remote control. His brows were clenched together, his lips in a tight scowl as he pondered the news broadcast. It wasn't news in the strict sense of the word - he'd known of this Bill and had been maneuvering behind the scenes for over a year to try to get it squashed. Apparent as his failure was, he had not ceased in his efforts to dilute the Bill's effects, and to shore up his own defenses against it. And, he wasn't alone in these endeavors.

He had three problems though, namely, Sally, June and Diane, all of whom were over the age of eighteen, and none of whom were fully self-funding, but until now, were not a financial burden upon himself, but upon the state.

Sally, at twenty-five was a divorcee, with two children under five, drawing a sole parents benefit, while her dead-beat ex-husband drifted around the countryside and earned too little to qualify as a supporting parent. Sally was a problem.

June had fared no better in the relationship stakes. Her husband had died of an overdose just nine months earlier, leaving June with a baby daughter and all alone on the sole parents benefit at twenty-two years of age. June was a problem.

Diane hadn't even made an ill-considered jaunt up the marital aisle, when at nineteen she had driven home from a fabulous party, over the drink-drive limit by a factor of two, and wrapped her Mini Cooper around a Ford Ranger at 3:30 a.m. in the pouring rain.

The paramedics at the scene had performed heroically. Now five months later, Diane was convalescing well, but in a permanent vegetative state. Diane was a problem.

Jason Hall's team of accountants had calculated the combined burden of Sally, June and Diane on the State, to be in excess of $200,000 per annum, a price he was unwilling, if well able, to pay.

Jason poured himself a generous splash of single malt from a crystal decanter, and sipped appreciatively. Time for Plan B.

[Heard on TV]
"Thank you, John, I'm here outside the caucus room, where Cabinet have just released a statement regarding the Sunset Clause on the Family Responsibility Bill passed just last week," Julia Philips paused, and looked directly at the camera, her powder blue Mi Yee jacket and skirt ensemble setting off her blue eyes. "This Clause, John, empowers families with the right to terminate family members who are for all intents and purposes, living in a vegetative state; a power denied the State in the same situation, only weeks ago."

"There was some dissent over this clause," she continued, "it was seen by some as just another loop-hole for the wealth to void their responsibility for their grown-up off-spring, however, the vote has been carried and the Clause will go to Parliament tomorrow where it is expected to be unanimously accepted."

Jason Hall, billionaire and selfish, greedy, bastard, pursed his lips and puffed out a whistling sigh. One down, he thought, two to go.