What is Digg?90 Comments
- chrisw357, on 10/12/2007, -8/+60As I am not a parent, with the exception of pets, my view may be a little skewed in favor of this. However I know of plenty of parents, my own included, that would advocate an extreme measure like this. If you, as a parent, can not raise your child(ren) properly and instill good moral and ethical values in them, you have NO business being a parent. Irresponsible parents are no longer "parents", they're "breeders".
My .02¢ - theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -14/+52No, they should NOT be sterilized. HOWEVER, if ANYONE goes on public assistance, they SHOULD be required to undergo some sort of semi-permanent birth control, to be determined between them and their doctor. IUD, Norplant, Depo-Provera, whatever they and their doctor deems fit.
If they can't afford the children they already have, they should NOT have the option of forcing me to pay for even more of their (almost exculsively) illegimate children.
Want more kids? Great! Get off of public assistance! - DM05, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17And who is going to determine what are good moral and ethical values? What I may consider good moral and ethical values to teach my children, you might consider abhorrent, or vice versa. Your idea is utterly flawed, and overly stupid. There are no such things such as absolute moral and ethical values, just cultural and societal based boundaries. Anyone that believes that they need to impose their own sense of morals and ethics on those around them is a ***** fascist.
- Stonedonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16You should probably sterilize the kids while you're at it.
I'm kind of kidding. But not really. - Four20, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14I say no. One couple's parenting opinions differs from another. And I sure as hell don't want some conservative republican telling me what and what not to teach my OWN kids.
- Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10@theblooms
It worked well before, until they decided it was a country and stopped letting criminals move in. - jhaitas, on 10/12/2007, -15/+24$0.02 or 2¢... take your pick
it's not .02¢ - mancat, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12I think it's unethical to have children by accident and then let them roam the neighborhood while you're strung out on meth.
- captjc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@tjhaitas
"it's not .02¢"
Maybe you can afford $.02 but not everyone is an intellectual fat-cat like you.
Maybe all they could afford is 2% of a cent. Did you ever think of that? Or maybe their opinions are heavily discounted.
my 1¢ - Now on special. Passing the savings on to you! - punchingjudy, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14"Been around the world
And found that only stupid people are breeding
Cretans cloning and feeding
And I don't even own a TV..." - Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I used to think that way. People who can't put aside the time to teach their kids shouldn't have kids. Unfortunately, it's rarely that simple. A necessary part of good parenting is having the time and energy to spend with your children. The problem is that many Americans couples have to have full time jobs, leaving little time and energy for their children. Perhaps families need to learn how to spend less and allow one of the parents to not work full time. Or perhaps we can equalize the income gap. I work for an investment firm and the partners' wives don't work and stay home to take care fo the family. Their children are incredibly fortunate and many have turned out well.
In any case, I am hesitant to blame just the parents for this. That is not to say there aren't bad parents but we should also consider circumstances before jumping to conclusions. Otherwise we end up allowing only wealthy to breed. I guess that's one way to cut down on poverty... - TheBarge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7As a parent, I think sterilization would be an acceptable solution only if it can be reversed without major surgery. People fall on hard times during their life, but that doesn't mean they'll always be that way. What if it's not reversable, they get sterilized, only to move on to being a responsible member of society but not being able to have children?
- wurzelgummage, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Fire them into the Sun.
- Stonedonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Also, that recent book called Freakonomics has some fascinating (but understandably controversial) information about how abortion legalized in Roe v. Wade lead to a massive drop in crime about twenty years later. It was because of (allegedly) the socioeconomic statistics associated with underpriveleged youth. In frank terms, kids who never had a chance anyway were kept out of the system and therefore wouldn't commit any crime. Whether or not you approve of abortion, I recommend checking out the book, although this study is only one chapter out of it.
- theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Generally, I too am against the death penalty, but only if we completely redesigned the current system of incarceration for the worst elements of our soceity. Such as, if someone is convicted of a murder which is currently eligible for capital punishment, make their prison sentence hard. Really hard. We can set up two different prisons, one in the desert in NM or AZ, the other north of the Arctic circle in AK, and give them hand tools, and some seed. Let them farm. Let them eat exactly what they farm. Let their existence be truly difficult for the rest of their lives.
If our prisons for the worst of the worst were like that (child molesters, rapists, murderers) then I would be all for the repeal of the death penalty. But not until. - geuisteses, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I'm on board. In fact, my mom did a smart thing and self-selected to be sterilized. 3 kids over a 10 year span. "I'm done." She then went on from the age of 33 to get her bachelor's and master's degrees to get caught up. She didn't have any more spawn to hold her down. (counting myself as spawn #2).
- thedazellama, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7IF THEY ALREADY HAVE KIDS, WHAT GOOD IS STERILIZING THEM GOING TO DO? THEY'VE ALREADY REPRODUCED.
- protogenxl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4this was Dogbert's Idea First
- ka2err, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5This is an excellent idea.
If you need some expertise in forced sterilization, come over to Germany, we do to this to some our unwanted people.
Well, to be exact: We did. Some decades ago.
When we had torture, secret prisons, warrant-less surveillance, concentration camps etc...
But since these things are fashionable again, you might want to have a look at our archives.
k2r - jgzman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@ DM - it should be pointed out that if there are no absolute moral rules, that you cannot fairly condemn the holocaust.
Sometimes, it is necessary to impose my morals on others. - theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Actually twice. Along with Austraila, the present State of Georgia was a penal colony as well, if I remember correctly. Only problem with those instances, is debtors were put into prison, which is wrong.
- pkulak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Yup, great book. And he layed out the evidence of that very well.
We don't need to be sterilizing people (I mean come on, isn't that how the Nazis started?), but we can make family planning resources as available as possible. I say make it so that even the biggest idiots can at least easilly get a depo shot every 6 months. Put a Planned Parenthood on every block and hand out flyers in trailer parks. :D - milomilomilo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3This is something that I could never agree with.
If your for choice on abortion how can you than want the same aspect of a person to be legislated. If you are pro life than this would still be a tough one.
Taking away a womans right to give birth, and a mans right to inseminate is a horrible thing, placing restrictions on one of our most basics goals in life is disgusting to me.
I can understand the benifits of it, but if someone is a bad parent that doesn't mean they will always be. Thats why we dont sentence all criminals to death for everything.
This is something I might expect to hear in the 10th century but not today, Im disgusted. - jimmiejaz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5You need a drivers licence.
You need a dog(pet in some places) licence.
You need a marrage licence.
But you can pop bastard after bastard out with no licence.
Anyone see a slight problem?
Yup, a dog licence, but not one for kids... - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Damn it! Your mom should have closed her legs!
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -6/+8I think it's unethical for us to determine anyone's basic rights like that. There should be incentives for doing the right thing, but no punishment for having children. They do this kind of thing in China and I don't think we want to follow in their footsteps. As angry as I am about bad parents and people leeching on the government, we should all be taking the high road and making it possible for them to do so without harming us or their children.
- Lasker, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6It's the questoin of maximizing long-term human happiness (pro-sterilization) and our constitutional rights (anti-sterilization).
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I can't deny the appeal of sterilizing certain segments of the population. The problem I have with it is that I don't believe anyone is in any position to make that kind of judgement call. If it could be done in such a way that I knew it was fair and that it was the right thing, I would honestly have no problem with it, but the truth is, realistically speaking, I will never have that peace of mind.
- veruus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Sir, I salute you.
- dnaspydir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4see unfortunately, once someone becomes a "bad parent" the damage is done. how about making the world a better place to raise children. how about REALLY leaving no child behind.
maybe it's just me... - Lilitou, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ilynova: Chemical castration of sex offenders is approved in some states in the US. It's temporary, to my knowledge. I believe full function returns when the hormones are stopped.
- dasunst3r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2As much as bad parents deserve that kind of treatment, it is still a violation of rights because people have the right to refuse medical treatment provided they are competent. Wait a sec... do they even count as competent people?!
The comments that council member made will certainly go well with the "yuppie" and "crackhead" parents. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Don't sterilize them, but take their children and put them in animal cages for adoption.
- satanatnmtedu, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Where does it end? People aren't Christians - sterilize 'em. People don't like the Dallas Cowboys - sterilize 'em. People are homosexual - sterilize 'em.
This is the United States of America. Supposedly, it is the greatest country in the world for our freedoms. But, a certain element thinks they know better for everyone else. It crosses all political boundaries. Republicans and as guilty as Democrats or Libertarians or Pastafarians. - carlosglz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2While this is going too far, I do feel that if you need a damn license to drive a car, you should also need a license to raise kids (that needs to be renewed every 4 years). There are some simple things people can do to raise their kids right and just don't because of ignorance or because they were raised the wrong way too... watch supernanny or nanny 911 a couple of times and you will see what I mean. There is a common thread among the mistakes people make...
- JesseJ, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yes I agree, and City Councils with ideas like this should be lobotomized.
- sillywampa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The government should not have authority over a person's body simply because their child committed a crime. Ever heard of "those rebellious years" when teenagers decide to start disobeying their parents and get into trouble. I've known kids raised in wealthy families, good parents who were able to hide their mischevious lifestyles from their parents. When a child reaches a certain age, the parent can't always be held responsible for everything they do. Forceful sterilization sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. It just sounds so wrong.
- rlh68, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Yeah, and politicians that can't govern properly should be lobotomized!
The greedy should have all their possessions taken away... the ugly should be forced to have plastic surgery...anything else to fix since apparently were all sick and think we know everything.
Get real, nature gave people (the stupid, selfish, greedy, and just plain ignorant) the right to procreate. Fix it on the back-end (create a better community that educates and actually helps the sick) not the front-end you selfish bastards!
Why take the time to help others when you can just chop off their ability to have a family history. I bet you people that are eager to sterilize others don't do a damn thing to actually help others in yours or your neighboring communities. - HarryBauzonia, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Fathers usually have no custody rights, have to pay the babymomma "child support" (a.k.a. new boyfriend money), and lose their house and car....sometimes the dog too.
Yet when it comes to sterilization, things all of a sudden need to be fair?
Your assertion does hold true in the housing projects though. I agree with you there, but no one is forcing the "ladies" to open their legs to so many of these guys either. - rlh68, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How many children will your license allow?
What if my income is low and I can't afford 3 will I be limited to 2 until I can afford 3?
Will I have to carry my child license with me to prove I'm allowed to have children if asked?
If I can't get a license and I get someone pregnant will she forced to abort the child?
Will I only be allowed to have children until a certain age?
Will I have to renew my license? If so what happens to my children if I fail to pass the second, third, or x time?
A license to have children is no solution. - dtfinch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here's a thought: Free government subsidized sterilization to any adult who wants it.
Beyond that, it's almost standard practice to take children away from abusive or neglectful parents. Forced sterilization is taking it just a bit too far. If the government wanted to sterilize me, for example, I think I'd start carrying a gun for self defense. - qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ya, we know... like you said... YOUR hometown.... ;)
- HarryBauzonia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3...then you go first.
- qwertydvorak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1nature also made it so that the blind, mentally retarded, and physically handicapped would be killed and eaten by wildlife. we overcame nature, maybe it is time to overcome nature once again. at the same time we will be doing a service to our overpopulated planet. personally, i wish we had a reversible way of sterilizing people. make people prove they are fit to be parents (financially and emotionally) before allowing them to. we make people show they can responsibly operate a car (emotional) and prove they have insurance (financial) before we allow them on the streets. how much damage can one car do ? now think of the damage that messed up kids do, they become messed up adults, at the same time they are more likely to have lots of kids, and the cycle continues. as each generation has more kids it grows exponentially, and suddenly that one troubled kid has spawned hundreds of great grand troubled children.
- ICSU, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I second that.
- amoirae, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Pastafarians are exempt. Good and decent people they are, matey.
YARR! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1We had wild animals to eat and winters to freeze the stupid ones for a long, long time. The smart ones killed the animals and built heaters for everyone, now the tards get to breed like rabbits because they are to stupid to buy a rubber or pull out.
Time for the smart ones to act again. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"but no one is forcing the "ladies" to open their legs to so many of these guys either."
Thats wrong, how else are they gonna score the money for more blow? - rhawk301, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3How about we simply not have transfer programs like public assistance, no federal income tax, and treat our citizens like they actually run the country. Wow, an incredible idea, did anyone ever think of this? Wait, the founding fathers? What you say? Small government, a people run democratic republic, naw, can't be? Sure enough, look up the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, they can shed some light on what we are supposed to be following here.
By the way, if ANY government official starts talking about sterilizing the population, no matter who it is, be very scared. I doubt he was being serious here though. - chrisw357, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"P5ycHo", I wasn't trying to twist and turn anything. I was simply commenting on how I feel about the issue of parenting. I'm not a parent and I can't pretend to know how it's like, but I consider "theblooms" comment to be a good compromise between the two extremes of sterilization versus slap-on-the-hand. I feel that, as a nation, we've taken the "it takes a village..." idea a bit too far. It all starts with the parents and the time and attention they spend on their kids.
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