Wrenching parents away from new babies, or older children away from sick and dying parents, or partners away from sick or dying partners, any way you look at it, it's unfair and actually ridiculous in a society as "advanced" as we seem to think ours is.

I worry that when people welcome a child into their family, they are unable to get the time needed to establish care and a bond with their child without a huge loss of earning and/or even being able to afford to take the time needed to recover from childbirth and/or establish a bond if adopted, and unable to afford childcare when they do return to work.   

The ill are society's responsibility. Either we provide family members with the tools to care for one another or make government responsible for that care.  

Mom lived in a different city than my home. I am very fortunate that my employer provides paid leave time, as it allowed me to spend the last week of my mom's life with her and with her sister, my aunt. 

I am the sole provider for a family of four. If I get terminally ill or cannot work for any reason, how will my family survive?  On top of that, I have no faith in my government to actually do anything to help the 50% of our population who are poor and living in poverty.

I’m a public school teacher, and a parent of three. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to be with their children right after they are born. Families are strengthened when given the time to properly care for one another. 

Family leave is essential, and not just to people caring for kids or elders. My husband was 47 when he died late last year. That's obviously not something we ever expected to happen. Financially we were fortunate. I know most other Washingtonians are nowhere near as lucky when a health crisis hits the family.