Child care should be considered an essential public service, akin to public education and other vital community services funded by taxes. Despite efforts in the past to establish a universally free child-care system in the U.S., such as the 1971 legislation vetoed by Richard Nixon, political support has since faltered. Instead, there have been attempts to make child care more affordable, but these efforts have faced significant challenges, including conservative opposition and concerns about the cost to taxpayers. The article suggests that while a free and universal child-care system may be ideal, the focus has shifted towards making it more affordable within the existing political landscape, despite its limitations in fully addressing the issue.
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/03/child-care-reform-affordable-free/677802
