NationStates Jolt Archive

Don't approve of your daughter having a boyfriend? Burn her with lighted incense, set the house on fire, and drag your kids into the burning house.

http://www.wftv.com/news/7876018/detail.html

Does anyone else think we should only let qualified people give birth?

Does anyone else think we should only let qualified people give birth?

Actually, I do think that parenting licenses would benefit the world greatly.

It would. A lot.

I didn't know my mother had moved to Ohio. . .

Sad thing is, this really sounds like the kind of thing my mother would do.

Does anyone else think we should only let qualified people give birth?
It would certainly help against overpopulation. We won't have to worry about that problem for centuries.

Actually, I do think that parenting licenses would benefit the world greatly.


I've felt this way for a long time now

Actually, I do think that parenting licenses would benefit the world greatly.
How do you enforce it? Force people who aren’t licensed but accidentally get pregnant to have abortions? Sorry, but a women has the right to do what she wants with her body. I thought that had been established.

How do you enforce it? Force people who aren’t licensed but accidentally get pregnant to have abortions? Sorry, but a women has the right to do what she wants with her body. I thought that had been established.
Perform an operation before puberty that sterilizes them but is reversible. Punish anyone violating the law by beating them to death with the corpse of their child.

Perform an operation before puberty that sterilizes them but is reversible. Punish anyone violating the law by beating them to death with the corpse of their child.
So, what you’re saying is that you have no idea, enforcement is impossible and that you’re a closet fascist who uses humor to dance around his more reprehensible ideas. Thank you, that’s good to know.

So, what you’re saying is that you have no idea, enforcement is impossible and that you’re a closet fascist who uses humor to dance around his more reprehensible ideas. Thank you, that’s good to know.
You're welcome.

Actually there is no way to enforce it. In a perfect world every parent would be a decent, loving parent. Unfortunately we're stuck with mother of the year candidates like the one mentioned in the article. I'll bet her kids turn out wonderfully.

Well just like any law you will have people who break it. Now much you can do but punish them. Forcing abortions is silly.

You could punish those who have kids without a license by not giving them tax breaks, and perhaps other punishments. *shrug*

Also you could allow someone who is pregnent or has already given birth a chance to go through a parenting class.

Actually, I do think that parenting licenses would benefit the world greatly.

Some kind of exam beyond the practical you mean? ;)

How do you enforce it? Force people who aren’t licensed but accidentally get pregnant to have abortions? Sorry, but a women has the right to do what she wants with her body. I thought that had been established.

If only I had a right to not hear straw man arguments. Forcing the woman to have an abortion would be punishing the child for the parents deeds. That would be stupid. Besides, an idea that has uncertainties regarding enforcement is merely incomplete, not flawed. It could become flawed if completed, but has yet to do so.

How do you enforce it? Force people who aren’t licensed but accidentally get pregnant to have abortions? Sorry, but a women has the right to do what she wants with her body. I thought that had been established.

Then why do we outlaw drugs? Why is suicide illegal?

I'm not sure why we need a license to look after a car but not a human being. Parent licenses would definitely be handy.

Some kind of exam beyond the practical you mean? ;)
Exactly. You can’t know who is going to be a good parent and who won’t.

Some of the most seemingly successful, productive and well adjusted people go home every night and beat their kids.

Then why do we outlaw drugs? Why is suicide illegal?
Personally, I think both of those should be fully legal.

Some kind of exam beyond the practical you mean? ;)

Terry Pratchet's 'Thief of Time' I believe. Almost direct quote. And no, I do have a life, thanks for asking :D

OT: I cannot agree with the perpetuation of the nanny state that the UK is fast becoming. Think how many would-be fathers and mothers will be exluded, just because they do not reach the government approved guidelines for parenthood. Like teaching them to vote labour in every election for example. Gotta keep on top of the important moral issues, or the children will be take away and brought up 'properly'. I know this is not what you are suggesting, but that road is left WIDE open with the concept of licences to become parents.

Exactly. You can’t know who is going to be a good parent and who won’t.
I agree. I hate to see children suffer, but the truth is there really isn't a way to tell how good a parent will be until they actually have the kids. I think that parenting is a lost art these days, but I don't think coming up with some arbitrary rules as to who gets to do it really is going to help any.

I can almost guarantee that nobody who advocates a parenting license would actually have let me have kids, but I have turned out to be a pretty effective parent anyway.

I agree. I hate to see children suffer, but the truth is there really isn't a way to tell how good a parent will be until they actually have the kids. I think that parenting is a lost art these days, but I don't think coming up with some arbitrary rules as to who gets to do it really is going to help any.
Unlike politicians, I try to avoid featuring arbitrary things in my ideas. It would be necessary to use science to determine an effective prediction method based on some kind of psychological examination.

Unlike politicians, I try to avoid featuring arbitrary things in my ideas. It would be necessary to use science to determine an effective prediction method based on some kind of psychological examination.
can you tell me some of the "rules" you would have for the parenting licenese?

can you tell me some of the "rules" you would have for the parenting licenese?

Given my lack of qualifications in the field of psychology, it would be rather inadvisable for me to create the rules personally. Some kind of scientific committee would be better.

There are some obvious ones, of course, such as the parent not being a psychopath.

I've felt this way for a long time now
I'm not surprised. After all, it fits so well with your anti-freedom approach to things. Where would you start? With the religious? The conservatives? Or just anyone with whom you disagree? :headbang:

Given my lack of qualifications in the field of psychology, it would be rather inadvisable for me to create the rules personally. Some kind of scientific committee would be better.

There are some obvious ones, of course, such as the parent not being a psychopath.
would you let someone have a child who was a former drug addict?

what about someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder and OCD?

what about someone who had been abused as a child?

*takes notes*

burn ... ungrateful slutty daughter ...

Gotcha! Thanks.

would you let someone have a child who was a former drug addict?
I don't see why not. The decision should be based on science and reason, it's not a popularity contest.

what about someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder and OCD?
I'm not a psychologist, but these don't sound like the kind of disorders that would have a serious effect on parenting ability, unless they were very serious forms of the disorders.

what about someone who had been abused as a child?
Again, it would be a scientific method, it's not "digging up history" or whatever you would call it.

Let me make this absolutely clear. I believe that a fair, logical, realistic test that was very carefully designed by a committee of qualified persons could be useful. It's not the same as judging people in the way that an exclusive social group would.

Almost reminds me of the Peter Godly cartoons on flashplayer.com Very entertaining if you haven;t seen them.

I'm not surprised. After all, it fits so well with your anti-freedom approach to things. Where would you start? With the religious? The conservatives? Or just anyone with whom you disagree? :headbang:


Calm down there. Where'd all that come from?

First off... anti-freedom? lol Examples of my anti-freedom approach please?

yes I would disallow all religious or conservative people from getting a license to raise kids :rolleyes: gimme a freakin break.

Actually I would want it to be something like a drivers license I guess.

You learn tips on responsible parenting, child psychology, laws regarding parenthood (consequences of abuse, what determines abuse...) and whatever else resource material you need for such a task. If they show that they understood, then give them a license and help them thru the whole process offering medical care for the child paid for by the state as well as further counceling provided as long as they ask for it. I think free day care should also be provided as needed for the parents that go through this if they need it.

Those who do not go through the program will not be given any benefits and that would basically be the penalty.

Why? Because I have seen far too many irresponsible parents as well as parents who try hard but crack under pressure and i believe that a program like this could do a lot of good.

would you let someone have a child who was a former drug addict?

what about someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder and OCD?

what about someone who had been abused as a child?

Especially former drug addicts, they are to be commended for their accomplishment. ;) I was addicted to cigarettes once. And caffine and um... vicodin.

Diorder and discord is what life is all about. And weren't we all abused as children?

I think we should surely accept any of these people and offer them whatever help we can as they journey through parenthood. I believe people would be better off if they all had someone to help them that they knew they could count on. Perhaps even offer job searching assistance.

Given my lack of qualifications in the field of psychology, it would be rather inadvisable for me to create the rules personally. Some kind of scientific committee would be better.

There are some obvious ones, of course, such as the parent not being a psychopath.
Scientists are not gods nor have they have mastered the art of predicting the future.
Also, many physiologists disagree on a great many things and most will not compromise on the issues unless presented with irefutable evidence.

Let me make this absolutely clear. I believe that a fair, logical, realistic test that was very carefully designed by a committee of qualified persons could be useful. It's not the same as judging people in the way that an exclusive social group would.
okay, Mr. Science....;)

what qualities are important in a parent?

making sure they aren't a psychopath surely isn't far enough, what about parents that raise psychopaths?

there is more to being a parent than just making sure you don't actually murder your own children.....

I don't see why not. The decision should be based on science and reason, it's not a popularity contest.


I'm not a psychologist, but these don't sound like the kind of disorders that would have a serious effect on parenting ability, unless they were very serious forms of the disorders.


Again, it would be a scientific method, it's not "digging up history" or whatever you would call it.

Let me make this absolutely clear. I believe that a fair, logical, realistic test that was very carefully designed by a committee of qualified persons could be useful. It's not the same as judging people in the way that an exclusive social group would.
Well you know what they say, it all just happens again way down the line. Not neccesarily purely scientific.

Don't approve of your daughter having a boyfriend? Burn her with lighted incense, set the house on fire, and drag your kids into the burning house.

http://www.wftv.com/news/7876018/detail.html

Does anyone else think we should only let qualified people give birth?
Short answer: f*ck yeah.

I'm not surprised. After all, it fits so well with your anti-freedom approach to things. Where would you start? With the religious? The conservatives? Or just anyone with whom you disagree? :headbang:

Probably with people who would burn their own house down to punish their children.

The truth is there will always be crazy people doing crazy things to other people. It always makes good press, but if this happened too regularly there wouldn’t be room in the paper for anything else.

You can minimilize the damage by increasing funding to mental healthcare and embracing universal healthcare for those who need it. That or you can hope like hell the crazies don’t get you or some vulnerable crazy you know doesn’t get victimized.

The Bruce