Should we be licenced to have children??
By mrsl2008
@mrsl2008 (634)
February 12, 2009 4:05pm CST
With recent British events involving children dying at the hands of their parents and/or partners, should we be licenced to have children??
We have to prove we are responsible to drive a car, own a gun and can be banned from having a pet. I love my children dearly & could never initionally harm them but I would have been more than happy to have met a specific standard to have them.
Not only are children bred in some circumstance so the parents do not have to work but get mistreated and and end up like baby P, baby Rhys and Shannon Matthews.
Would restrictions placed on having children, ease the pressure on the economy any?? By this I mean people not having the oppotunity to sit on their bums and sponge off the goverment.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Feb 09
In order to restrict someone's ability to have a child the government would have to force birth control on women. There is no way that anyone other than me decides what happens to my body. It's mine...not the governments...so, no, I don't believe that the government has any right to interfere in this area. As far as welfare moms go...welfare reform has already made it a requirement that they get training and find a job...although I don't know how much luck they're having these days.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
13 Feb 09
I do agree with your way of looking at things here. It is true that the government would have to force birth control on women and that is not up to the government to decide. I think there are certain things that a woman doesn't have the right to do even if it is her own body. Some things get taken too far. It is also a fact these days that there is welfare reform and there is a requirement stating that training to find a job is what will be implemented.
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
13 Feb 09
China has a policy in place because of their huge population. It's called "China's Only Child Policy". So, yes, the government can step in and regulate your life if they want, just not in our country, thank god. Think of how lucky we are to live in North America and the freedoms we enjoy. The problem with a policy like "China's only Child Policy" is that when a couple finds out they are having a girl, most times they have an abortion because they all want boys. Sad, but true.
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
12 Feb 09
You know what? I have often thought about that. Why do people think they have the right to be parents just because they are able to produce children? Not everyone is a good parent and the ones that are especially bad and abusive that have multiple children. In the same vein, I think it should be much more difficult to get divorced. Too many people give up and walk away for stupid reasons. They forget the reasons why they got married in the first place and can't deal with commitment.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
13 Feb 09
I think you make a lot of sense here in your response. This is an interesting post. Not everyone has the wherewithal emotionally or otherwise to have children. You are also right when you say that there are those that can't make a commitment in the first place and walk away and then the children aren't even thought of. They get caught up in the mess and it isn't the child's fault.
@antioxidant (438)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
I don't think there should be a licence to having a baby other wise it's too controlled and having a baby is not always predictable. As with the above responses, there is no measurement to how good a parent is. It's subjective and we all have different thoughts as to how someone should parent. I don't think the government can decide that. Although, of course, there are general rules as to what makes a good parent, for one being responsible, it's not right to impose on someone's freedom to have a child. I think licencing will be too much like theory. We have social services deal with problem families so a licence would not be the definite answer.
@flame2000 (99)
• United States
13 Feb 09
The government should NEVER be able to restrict your RIGHT to have children!!
In the U.S,We have laws to protect the rights of children.Government should protect individual rights and NEVER interfere with them.
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
12 Feb 09
Even though there are poor parents out there, I don't agree with government intervention. Remember, when you give up a freedom it is very difficult to get it back. To impose mandatory birth control is not something I think the USA should involve itself in. I also think there is no test in the world that could determine who would make a great parent and who would not.
What would be effective would be parent education classes for all those wanting to become parents or who find themselves about to become parents.
@flame2000 (99)
• United States
13 Feb 09
That's right!
"Freedom means choosing your burden"-Hephzibah Menahin....LOL!
