S.C. official: Sterilize bad parents

[Mirorgate 0]

I think, in some instances, it might not be a bad idea to offer compensation for sterilization for certain people.

My friend has a relative who has been pregnant 4 times. Every pregnancy, she was addicted to drugs. When she had her first baby, she was 16 or 17. For the child's safety, the girl's mom kept it and is raising it. The second baby was a late-term miscarriage. The third baby, she had but ended up accidentally killing it by sleeping on it one night when she was passed out on drugs. The fourth baby, she had, and the mom kept it, too. Now she's pregnant again. And of course, still on drugs.

The problem is, she's still in her early to mid 20's. Think of how many babies she can have if she keeps going.

Oh Gosh, That's awful endangering those defenseless innocent lives.

It's all too common. My ex has a daughter that is like that. She had 4 kids. The first was ok. The second and third one had fetal alcohol syndrome and the forth one was born 3 months early addicted to crack and alcohol. She has none of the kids now since the state took them. It's hard to say it but someone like her should have her child bearing rights taken away. There are 4 very screwed up kids out there because of her. She shouldn't have the right to screw up more kids lives.

you have to pass an exam to receive a license for many things that are privledges.... but any a$$hat can become a parent with no qualifications presented.

[mawilson 2,133]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

I'm generally against governmental interference with individual rights and liberties;

however, I make an exception in this case because the birth of a child affects not

only the child's immediate family but also those around them, and society as a whole.

[Jenn! 918]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

[Mirorgate 0]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Not an active drug user, nor passable STD to the child for a start.

Being born is shock to the system enough... then place them in ICU because of heroin or worse withdrawls?

How about an HIV cocktail for life for a decision that was made without them being considered in on?

yes, there are many apsects and sides that one could argue.. but as responsible parents.. should the benefit and well being of the child also be a part of the decision making process to have a child?

[Jenn! 918]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Not an active drug user, nor passable STD to the child for a start.

Being born is shock to the system enough... then place them in ICU because of heroin or worse withdrawls?

How about an HIV cocktail for life for a decision that was made without them being considered in on?

yes, there are many apsects and sides that one could argue.. but as responsible parents.. should the benefit and well being of the child also be a part of the decision making process to have a child?

Sure, these sound reasonable, but the whole idea scares me. Next they'll be saying you can't have children if you're a smoker, or obese.

Edited October 2, 2006 by jenn3539

[mawilson 2,133]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Enough money to support the child to begin with. Break the vicious circle of poverty,

brought about by generations of welfare dependency.

[danae 0]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

I'm generally against governmental interference with individual rights and liberties;

however, I make an exception in this case because the birth of a child affects not

only the child's immediate family but also those around them, and society as a whole.

Yes I agree with you entirely here. There comes a point where interference may be required in society- and we are definately at that point in terms of breeding. If people are not responsible enough to care for themselves, they are certainly not responsible enough to care for another, completely dependant, human being.

In this instance, like you say, it is not just a personal issue- so should not just be a personal choice.

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Not an active drug user, nor passable STD to the child for a start.

Being born is shock to the system enough... then place them in ICU because of heroin or worse withdrawls?

How about an HIV cocktail for life for a decision that was made without them being considered in on?

yes, there are many apsects and sides that one could argue.. but as responsible parents.. should the benefit and well being of the child also be a part of the decision making process to have a child?

Sure, these sound reasonable, but the whole idea scares me. Next they'll be saying you can't have children if you're a smoker, or obese.

Yes drawing the lines will be difficult. Although, clinically obese women cant conceive anyway can they?? Or at least they struggle to. Thats natures own 'license' right there.

[Fandango 1,439]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

I'm generally against governmental interference with individual rights and liberties;

however, I make an exception in this case because the birth of a child affects not

only the child's immediate family but also those around them, and society as a whole.

How in the world can the state stop fertilization?

'Sorry, you weren't licensed for this conception, maam'

I agree in theory with most of what's been said here...but instead of state-sanctioned sterilization, erm...how about some rehab and training for the parent? Tbh, I don't really like any gov't involvement, but at the end of the day, yes, summat needs to be done in some instances. So is the answer sterilizing a 20 year old girl with issues....one who can mature into a 30-something woman with it all back on track, but one who's now been sterilized?

It's a complex probbo, I'll grant you that.

[Jenn! 918]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Enough money to support the child to begin with. Break the vicious circle of poverty,

brought about by generations of welfare dependency.

And so what would be the penalty for having a baby without a license, a fine, imprisonment?

[Mirorgate 0]

Child licenses are the answer. You need a license to get married and to drive a car,

why not to have children? Anyone should be able to apply for a child license, but

the license itself should be a privilege, not a right.

A marriage license and a driver's license have very different requirements. What would you propose be the prerequisites for obtaining a "child license"?

Enough money to support the child to begin with. Break the vicious circle of poverty,

brought about by generations of welfare dependency.

My wife comes from a family that is not so well off financially. And most third world countries arent... by whose standards then do you use? America has some rather inflated ideas on what a decent income is with regard to what is actually needed.

frex: $50K a year will buy a 3 bd house, a car (maybe 2 if one is older than 5yrs old), food on table, and clothes, with a little for extras.. vs what everyone wants or claims is needed.

[mawilson 2,133]

And so what would be the penalty for having a baby without a license, a fine, imprisonment?

Very good question.

You are fined and given a grace period to apply for a license. If you fail to obtain a

license within the required period, Child Protective Services will conduct a family

assessment, and if the family doesn't meet the state's requirements, place the child

in the department's custody (foster care).

P.S. LisaD - what happens if you get caught driving a car without a license? (OMG,

how in the world can the state stop people from driving without licenses!)

[Jenn! 918]

And so what would be the penalty for having a baby without a license, a fine, imprisonment?

You are fined and given a grace period to apply for a license. If you fail to obtain a

license within the required period, Child Protective Services will conduct a family

assessment, and if the family doesn't meet the state's requirements, place the child

in the department's custody (foster care).

No offense, but that sounds like a horrible, horrible idea to me!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

A version of this idea was already used in US from 1930's to 1960's--that of sterilising patients deemed "mentally retarded" (more than a few cases, such as Marion Rose White, erroneously).

[mawilson 2,133]

And so what would be the penalty for having a baby without a license, a fine, imprisonment?

You are fined and given a grace period to apply for a license. If you fail to obtain a

license within the required period, Child Protective Services will conduct a family

assessment, and if the family doesn't meet the state's requirements, place the child

in the department's custody (foster care).

No offense, but that sounds like a horrible, horrible idea to me!

Why do you think it's a bad idea?

A version of this idea was already used in US from 1930's to 1960's--that of sterilising patients deemed "mentally retarded" (more than a few cases, such as Marion Rose White, erroneously).

I'm not advocating sterilising people -- it's too radical even for me.

[homesick_american 1]

Sure, these sound reasonable, but the whole idea scares me. Next they'll be saying you can't have children if you're a smoker, or obese.

They've as much as said that in the UK with regards to fertility treatment. Health trusts across the country have banned obese women and smokers from receiving fertility treatment on the NHS. Of course, the cutoff for fertility treatment denial is a lower BMI than the cutoff for bariatric surgery on the NHS so if you're in that range, you're basically stuffed.