Why shouldn't people be required to have a license to have children?
Question: You need a license to drive, to do other people's taxes, to do hair or nails, to groom a dog. You even need a license to take care of other people's kids (on a commercial basis), yet any green-toothed, Camel smoking illiterate sow can get impregnated over-and-over by some 8th grade drop-out with ten teeth in his whole family.
Does this seem right to you? Shouldn't a person (or couple) show some competence before brining a new life into this world?
Answers:
Gosh, I guess the main problem would be: who would authorize such licenses? What agency would you trust to make such decisions? Because if someone is found unworthy to become a parent (and I absolutely agree, many people are quiet unworthy--although, as a clinician, I can also assure you that most of the worst parents are not illiterate, green-toothed, or 8th grade drop-outs; overprivileged, wealthy and deeply narcissistic parents with degrees and pedigrees are also a part of the problem), what government agency would you trust to take responsibility for denying them the right to bear children--and what tools would they use to implement that decision? Forced sterilization? Familial separation? Court-mandated abortions?
You see my point. While bad parenting is tragic and painful, and all too common, the perils of letting government agencies take responsibility for controlling our reproductive lives are far greater dangers. We have enough problems keeping crazy right-wing evangelicals out of our end-of-life decisions, adoption decisions, and chosen abortion decisions as is--imagine them getting to have their candidates set policy on who can and who can't reproduce. Poor people, gays & lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities--they might all be denied the legal right to reproduce for failing to adequately endorse the heterochristian white anglo-saxon uppermiddleclass ethic...
Other Answers:
thats taking away human rights but i agree with you
Because this is a free country and you can't take away all people's rights as much as we all know that some people don't deserve to have children. What happens when someone has a child who doesn't have a license? Is that person thrown in jail never to see their child again? I agree. How about a test to make sure they can handle the stress associated with having a child.
It's a basic human right.
Like the song says "been around the world and saw that only stupid people are breeding, the cretans are cloning and feeding, and I don't even own a T.V."It would be nice! We would probably have the population cut down by 70% if that was required, which would be great for the planet and people who are here already!
People freak out when you bring up over-population, so I can imagine why this hasn't been thought over very much.
I have a liscence. It's called a MARRIAGE LISCENCE!
It would be great if everyone was required to commit to someone before they committed to the raising of a child. Let's go back to the arcaic days when a man had to ask his overlord just to bang wife, do you really want that? Well in essence that's what you're saying that in order to have a family, you need a license. What about the girls and some guys, who can't wait? they have reproduction problems? My best friend is 24, no kids and now will never have them. Her reproductive organs shut down and had to be removed. Should she have had a license? Before you go ranting on something half cocked maybe you should look at all the facts. Hitler
I just read snobaal's response and I'd like to say thank you. Even if I am one of those anglo saxon things. Perfect race my a** Has anyone seen "Demolition Man" starring Sylvester Stallone? In the future, what you are suggesting is what happens. What we would have to do is that somehow render the reproductive system in all humans useless so that they can't have any kids (even "accidentally"). Then when a couple does want to have kids, they must demonstrate that they are financially, mentally, and physically prepared to take care of the child for the next 18 years. The couple must undergo a physical check-up and then if they qualify, the mother could be artificially implanted with an embryo created with the father's sperm cells.
Seriously, if one was to just sit down and think about it, something like this in our society today will solve a lot of problems. The children will not become a burden on the state because only if the parents can show that they will be financially responsible for the child. As inhumane and insensitive this may sound, burden to the state is a burden on the tax payers. Why should others take care of your child? If you are the parent and you had it, then why not step up and take responsibility. Instead of having like 5 kids, I would rather have one child but raise him to be a productive member of society. Instead of overpopulating the planet, I would focus on my only child's education and make sure that I give him everything he deserves. There will be no endless arguments regarding abortion (because no one would need it). No girl would ever have to loose a life just because she was trying to use some hangers in a back alley. The parents can be screened for several diseases so that they do not get passed on to the child.
During pregnancy, it would also ensure that the couple actually take care of themselves because they would do nothing to endenger the health of their child. Women who smoke, drink excessively, or even use drugs during pregnancy ruin their child's future health as well. If you want to ruin your own health, that's your decision. But you have no right to cripple your baby like this. He must at least be given a chance to start and live his life in full health. The child should not be disabled all of his life just because his mother couldn't resist alcohol for nine months. And the really sad part is that all of this could have been avoided. Someone (specifically the mother) chose to behave this way. She was so selfish that just for a few moment's pleasure, she ruined her child's entire life.
Do people like that really deserve to have kids?
Something like this will also be great in controllling the population. I personally think that the benefits of such a system outweight the sacrifices I would have to make. Reproduction should be regulated. Exactly as the question was asked, other aspects of our lives are regulated then why not this. Even to be "married" you need a license otherwise you are not recognized as being married then why is it "against human rights" to do the same regarding children. If you think regualting children is inhumane and against human rights, then isn't it inhumane what the children have to go through if they are unwanted by their parents or if the parents simply can't afford to have them. Isn't that taking their human rights away? Why should someone be raised on the streets, just because his parents not to keep him because she didn't want him? Why must a child be raised in live in poverty, in ignorance without education, just because his parents were like this? That seems inhumane to me, especially since the child had absolutely no choice in this but the parents did.
We currently do have laws saying that if the state believes that the parents are not making the best decisions for the child, then the state takes over. So why not here! This is a part of his life. If the parents abandon the child or if he is abused and mistreated, the state can take the child away. So why not here!
Something like this would also change the course of human evolution. I would love to hear some other opinions on this. Please, comments are welcome! At a minimum, the parents-to-be should at least have health insurance, and a job!!!
-Mr. Happy-
:o) THERE ARE ENOUGH ISSUES THAT THIS COUNTRY CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS WOULD BE 1 MORE, THAT'S REALLY NOT NEEDED
ANYWAY A GOOD PARENT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CHILD, THE SAME AS A BAD PARENT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A BAD CHILD, ALSO U DON'T NEED A LICENSEE TO MAKE A CHILD, SO WHY NEED IT TO TAKE CARE OF ONE, IF THAT'S THE CASE U SHOULD NEED A LICENSE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT
More Questions & Answers...
- i had three x rays one week before i found out i was pregnant should i be concerned about any sideffects ?
- Will i be able to fit into my wedding dress on 06/10/2006 if i just got pregnant this month?
- Can pregrant female ride a ATV 4-WHEELER ?
- is it possible for a teen who is 4 months pregnant water to break?
- Could i be?
- How Do I tell if I am pregnant?