You have people like that no matter what country you live in though, but a few lazy a-holes shouldn't be the deciding factor in how long your child has at home to bond and be nurtured by you. (I live in the city with the highest mooching rate in all of Ontario). I lived in Ohio 11 years ago and there, at least, taxes are WAY WAY lower than in Canada. I honestly don't mind paying the extra taxes, because it means not having tens of thousands of dollars of debt from medical bills, and I get to stay home and raise my kids rather than having someone else "raise" them from a few weeks old. I had to go back to work when my 3rd child was 8 weeks old and it was the WORST. She's 4 now and out of all my kids, she's the one I am least bonded with, and I firmly believe it was because I was not around to be the one at home teaching her all her firsts. I'll take a couple percent higher taxes if it means spending extra time with my kids and getting to watch them grow up!