SagaDraco
November 27th, 2002, 09:47 AM
Found this on a newsgroup.....
This idea would only work in a police state, of course, (which I am in support of) and I'm sure it won't sit well with a lot of people on this board. I'm fully aware that it will never be implimented unless humans are allowed to separate themselves into like-minded communities, in which case a police state community would be set up and I'd live happily ever after.
But, anyway, here's the idea;
Basically, one has to reach an age limit or pass a test before they are allowed to make significant life changes. 16 and a test to drive, 18 to vote, 21 (in America) to drink.
And yet there are no applications, testing processes or aptitude assesments before someone can become a parent, which is perhaps the most life-changing and drastic "significant life change" that there is.
I propose that before someone is allowed to have children they must complete a test; a physical examination, a medical history, a drug test, psychiatric assessment, a check to assure that they have the monetary and time resources available to provide the child with proper care, and they must pass a course on "basic parenting skills."
If a family has enough resources to raise a large family, then they can do just that; but if they are living on welfare, they will be prohibited from having children until they become self-sufficient.
And what about children had out of wedlock, or by people who just want to "screw around?" There are multiple options. One, the child would be confiscated and adopted out to a couple who passed the test but is biologically incapable of producing children. Two, the child is confiscated and raised in state care until her parent passes the parenting test. Three, the parent keeps the child, but is kept fully under state supervision.
A better choice would be to sterilize new infants (male and female), with a reversible surgical procedure, so that people will be sterile until the state test is passed, at which point they will regain their reproductive powers. Thus children produced out of wedlock would no longer be an issue, except in fluke cases, and we could care for thise children in the same way as previously stated.
These parental "aptitude tests" would be utilized in conjunction with genetic testing and therapy to cure disease and disability in utero, and optional abortion if the child will be born "retarded" or with crippling physical defects.
Of course, the big problem with programs like this is "well, who gets to decide who is a fit parent or not?" And I really don't know the answer.
I believe that this process would ensure strong, healthy, intelligent children with a real chance for the future, and along with a program of closed borders, universal education, zero-tolerance for crime (with death penalty, no appeals) and free health care, education and services (through higher taxes... think Sweden) my "police state" community would advance very quickly.
Of course, like I said previously, I know a lot of you guys would absoultely hate to live under a system like that, which is why, if I ever established it, I would only allow people in who actually WANTED to participate. (And whoever wanted to, would be welcome to leave.) But I'm getting sidetracked.
Regarding the parental application process, what do you guys think?
Personally, I do think people should pass a test to have kids, the author is right, you need to pass a test to drive, get a degree, a gun license, sit on a jury, why not to have kids? It would help "cull" the herd substantially. I heavily disagree with the authors insistance on high taxes and free healthcare though.
This idea would only work in a police state, of course, (which I am in support of) and I'm sure it won't sit well with a lot of people on this board. I'm fully aware that it will never be implimented unless humans are allowed to separate themselves into like-minded communities, in which case a police state community would be set up and I'd live happily ever after.
But, anyway, here's the idea;
Basically, one has to reach an age limit or pass a test before they are allowed to make significant life changes. 16 and a test to drive, 18 to vote, 21 (in America) to drink.
And yet there are no applications, testing processes or aptitude assesments before someone can become a parent, which is perhaps the most life-changing and drastic "significant life change" that there is.
I propose that before someone is allowed to have children they must complete a test; a physical examination, a medical history, a drug test, psychiatric assessment, a check to assure that they have the monetary and time resources available to provide the child with proper care, and they must pass a course on "basic parenting skills."
If a family has enough resources to raise a large family, then they can do just that; but if they are living on welfare, they will be prohibited from having children until they become self-sufficient.
And what about children had out of wedlock, or by people who just want to "screw around?" There are multiple options. One, the child would be confiscated and adopted out to a couple who passed the test but is biologically incapable of producing children. Two, the child is confiscated and raised in state care until her parent passes the parenting test. Three, the parent keeps the child, but is kept fully under state supervision.
A better choice would be to sterilize new infants (male and female), with a reversible surgical procedure, so that people will be sterile until the state test is passed, at which point they will regain their reproductive powers. Thus children produced out of wedlock would no longer be an issue, except in fluke cases, and we could care for thise children in the same way as previously stated.
These parental "aptitude tests" would be utilized in conjunction with genetic testing and therapy to cure disease and disability in utero, and optional abortion if the child will be born "retarded" or with crippling physical defects.
Of course, the big problem with programs like this is "well, who gets to decide who is a fit parent or not?" And I really don't know the answer.
I believe that this process would ensure strong, healthy, intelligent children with a real chance for the future, and along with a program of closed borders, universal education, zero-tolerance for crime (with death penalty, no appeals) and free health care, education and services (through higher taxes... think Sweden) my "police state" community would advance very quickly.
Of course, like I said previously, I know a lot of you guys would absoultely hate to live under a system like that, which is why, if I ever established it, I would only allow people in who actually WANTED to participate. (And whoever wanted to, would be welcome to leave.) But I'm getting sidetracked.
Regarding the parental application process, what do you guys think?
Personally, I do think people should pass a test to have kids, the author is right, you need to pass a test to drive, get a degree, a gun license, sit on a jury, why not to have kids? It would help "cull" the herd substantially. I heavily disagree with the authors insistance on high taxes and free healthcare though.