LaFollette’s intentions seem both reasonable and admirable. It would be wonderful if a great deal of suffering could be prevented via a method of parental licensing. Given LaFollete’s examples and knowing that many standardized psychological tests are fairly accurate I think it would be possible to identify individuals likely to be violent, abusive, or negligent. Unfortunately, assessments that are completely accurate all the time do not exist. Some people who deserve licenses will be denied and some who should not raise children will receive licenses. As LaFollete pointed out, similar to obtaining a driver’s license, those who are denied a license can re-apply and if individuals slip through the cracks, there would still be less abusive parents than if the system did not exist. However, I think that he is simplifying the subject by comparing parental licensing to obtaining a driver’s license because the two things are on very different levels. Though the liberties a driver’s license gives a person are very useful, failure to obtain one is not as severe an issue as failing to obtain a parenting license. Reproduction is a very basic human drive and women who would be good mothers who may accidentally be denied a license would likely be devastated. It would be similar to the feeling of loss for most women who are physically incapable of conceiving. Failure to obtain a parenting license would be life altering for many people.
Second, I have concerns that decisions about who does and does not get a parenting license would not be based on personality factors alone. It would be fairly easy for license criteria to shift to a system based on socio-economic status or genetic profiling, which are irrelevant determinants. Though a family’s financial status plays a part in well-being and happiness it is not fully responsible for them, so a person should not be prevented from having a child simply because that person is poor. Also, the fact that a couple may produce a child with a genetic disorder should not prevent them from obtaining a parenting license because there is a greater chance the child will be perfectly healthy and it should ultimately be the parents’ decision to take such a risk. Finally, how would the system work concerning gender? Would both men and women receive licenses? If so, what if a married couple contains a women who is licensed and a man who is not (or vice versa) would they be unable to have children? I think this program sounds good in theory, but cannot be practically carried out.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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