“. . . focusing on human capital during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is one of the most cost-effective investments governments can make.” (Jim Young Kim, “The Human Capital Gap, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2018)

Compared with weapons and military spending, the cost for good schools and healthcare for children is minuscule. These programs reap benefits down the road in healthier and trained adults. Yet, these programs tend to be cut when budgets are tight.

We no longer live in an age when one income can support the average family. If parents are so important to a young child’s life, why do we not encourage more leave time for parents when a child is young? Affordable child-care facilities close to workplaces?

Surely our political parties can unite around the need to bolster our spending on people-friendly policies.