Wow, I'm surprised at the response this generated!
I meant to add my opinions earlier, but really haven't had time, but I have been thinking about it all day.
I very strongly believe that this woman should not have more children, unless (as the courts also recognized) she can prove herself by showing she can care for the children she already has. Despite this, I also believe that it is not the court's place to ban her from having children, and threatening to jail her if she does so.
There are relatively few cases of reproductive neglect on this scale. Yes, this woman has produced an additional burden on the government, and on society, but the burden is relatively small compared to the price we would pay if we gave to the government the ability to tell us how many kids we could have, with whom, and under what circumstances. Yes, the case here is extreme. But once you set a precedent, it is hard to revoke it, and easy to expand it.
One topic I haven't seen above is our responsibility in this matter. Why does such a woman exist? Isn't it at least partly because we have created the society which failed her? Where were we, as a society, when she was growing up, when she failed to learn about birth control, about healthy relationships, about drug abuse? If our society produces women that behave in this manner, then we have earned the responsibility to raise her kids.
I'm not sure that jailing her would help her, though it may keep her from harming society further. Yes, she may get the opportunity for learning good parenting skills, get off drugs, etc., but is jail really the best place for this? Yes, get her to counselling, and off drugs, and help her find a job. Try to repair the damage that society has done to her.
(this next part will surely get me flamed)
As for men, and how would it be different... I don't think there should be any difference between how the courts treat a negligent mother or father. But there would be a difference when it comes to enforcing "no more kids." Why? Abortion. Men have no legal say regarding abortion. If a woman becomes pregnant, she has the legal right to stop the pregnancy, but a man can do nothing. If the choice is not equally shared, why should the responsibility be equally shared?
no subject
I meant to add my opinions earlier, but really haven't had time, but I have been thinking about it all day.
I very strongly believe that this woman should not have more children, unless (as the courts also recognized) she can prove herself by showing she can care for the children she already has. Despite this, I also believe that it is not the court's place to ban her from having children, and threatening to jail her if she does so.
There are relatively few cases of reproductive neglect on this scale. Yes, this woman has produced an additional burden on the government, and on society, but the burden is relatively small compared to the price we would pay if we gave to the government the ability to tell us how many kids we could have, with whom, and under what circumstances. Yes, the case here is extreme. But once you set a precedent, it is hard to revoke it, and easy to expand it.
One topic I haven't seen above is our responsibility in this matter. Why does such a woman exist? Isn't it at least partly because we have created the society which failed her? Where were we, as a society, when she was growing up, when she failed to learn about birth control, about healthy relationships, about drug abuse? If our society produces women that behave in this manner, then we have earned the responsibility to raise her kids.
I'm not sure that jailing her would help her, though it may keep her from harming society further. Yes, she may get the opportunity for learning good parenting skills, get off drugs, etc., but is jail really the best place for this? Yes, get her to counselling, and off drugs, and help her find a job. Try to repair the damage that society has done to her.
(this next part will surely get me flamed)
As for men, and how would it be different...
I don't think there should be any difference between how the courts treat a negligent mother or father. But there would be a difference when it comes to enforcing "no more kids." Why? Abortion. Men have no legal say regarding abortion. If a woman becomes pregnant, she has the legal right to stop the pregnancy, but a man can do nothing. If the choice is not equally shared, why should the responsibility be equally shared?