An interesting problem...
Let's say you have a guy and a girl and they're in a monogamous relationship. The man does not want children and the woman says she doesn't either. At some point (well past the 5 year mark of the relationship), without telling her partner, she ceases to use birth control on purpose with the intent of becoming pregnant and does so. When told by the guy that he has no desire for a kid and that he will leave if she decides to keep the child herself as opposed to either aborting or giving the child up for adoption (note: he is not trying to force her to have an abortion he just doesn't want to be a father). She tells him she is keeping it.
So. Who has responsibility here? The father had no choice in the conception of the child or in whether or not the pregnancy would end in termination, adoption, or keeping the child. Its her body, her choice. He could have chosen to use another (or more permanent!) form of birth control but she was faithful and using a very reliable method of birth control. Should he still have to pay to support the child? In everything but children, people have a choice on whether to buy something or not or to be responsible for it. But is the decision to have sex also the decision to accept responsibility for something that may be in our partner's power to override our decision? If the mother cannot be financially responsible for herself then it would be the child who suffers and the child has no fault except that he or she was brought into the world.
Or worse... she cheats and her partner is not the father of the child... who should pay?
I can't say that I have any answers.
So. Who has responsibility here? The father had no choice in the conception of the child or in whether or not the pregnancy would end in termination, adoption, or keeping the child. Its her body, her choice. He could have chosen to use another (or more permanent!) form of birth control but she was faithful and using a very reliable method of birth control. Should he still have to pay to support the child? In everything but children, people have a choice on whether to buy something or not or to be responsible for it. But is the decision to have sex also the decision to accept responsibility for something that may be in our partner's power to override our decision? If the mother cannot be financially responsible for herself then it would be the child who suffers and the child has no fault except that he or she was brought into the world.
Or worse... she cheats and her partner is not the father of the child... who should pay?
I can't say that I have any answers.