The cases where the real father is known and not made to be the responsible one are really sad. Once the real father is found there should be 100% no issues with making him pay for his own child/children.

It's also extra bad when any parent drags a child in on the drama. Like in the case you mentioned where the child is told the father is a dead beat and kept from him.

I also feel badly for the fathers who do not know they have a child. I am sure in many cases they are not informed. In those cases both the real father and the child miss out.

I know it's not a one-way street. I had a father who refused to pay child support, except for when they arrested him and put him on work release until he paid. Even then, he only paid or kept the job until he got out of jail.