Would a dead beat dad be better....

I am not a dad but a mom so I am looking at this from my kids side. Their father went 100% awol in 1999 never to be seen or heard of again. his choice. My older ones at the age of about 10 asked me why do tis surname and not my maiden name as he was gone. So they now use my surname. I think parental rights should be terminated only if no contact or financial assistance is happening.

That's hard to say. I think I would rather have him sign his rights away. I was actually that child once. My biological sperm donor signed over his rights and I was allowed to be adopted by my dad when I was 3. I didn't feel that rejection of knowing he didn't want me because there was someone else there to take his place.

Any man who will choose to give away his right as father or fail to provide for his own brats, is less then nothing, worth nothing and should not be desired. To be a father is to be there for one's children, and not about proving how many women a man can mount by sowing careless seeds! Yuke! Your father is the man who was there when you needed a father! Stop bothering yourself about some irresponsible, worthless being.