Is having children a right?

I’ve been following the “Obesity rate is rising for kids” thread for a while, and it’s got me thinking.

Are all people fit to be parents? Should we allow everyone to have children, regardless of the(ir) circumstances? And if not, how should we regulate it to avoid some dystopian night-mare society a la Nazi-Germany sterilising “un-wanted” elements.

I’m not sure myself, because I don’t know what makes a good parent. Here in Denmark the state can go in and remove children from parents who’re judged unfit to take care of the kid(s), due to crime, drug-addiction, neglect, violence etc.

Thoughts?

of course having children is a right. anyone who thinks otherwise is insane.

No one can stop a parent from having a child, but that do don't deserve to have them. Some children live in filth, drugs, violance, poverty, and abuse. That is unacceptable

People here can get their kids taken away too. I think all people have the right to at least give it a shot (except people who have extreme mental conditions and are simply incapable of caring for children at all). If it doesn't work out, the kid can be taken away.

exactly, thats what CPS is for.

of course it's a right

who would say that i dont deserved my daughter? 😠

Darth i wont take what you say personal, because i know you didnt mean it towards me

but the thing is that i live in fear that they'll take my daughter from me 🙁 🙁 🙁

Yeah, I know about that from the Schizophrenia thread... I don't mean people like you, because I know you're perfectly capable of taking care of your daughter... I'm referring to people who really are dangerous to their children and may/may not be aware of it.

Rogue Jedi> Are you usually in the habit of claiming people who disagree with you are insane?

I’m fine and sane, thank you very much. I’m still not sure it should be a RIGHT to have children, since some people are OBVIOUSLY unfit to care for another human being.

Darth> But do you have to be mentally insane to be unable to care for a child? What about drug-addicts (let’s leave out the mental aspect of taking drugs for simplicity’s sake)? Why put a young child through the trauma of being removed from it’s parents? Had it not been better not to have the child?

yeah i know Darth

Omega--I agree with that, basically my thoughts on the matter are that people who are going to hurt their kids shouldn't be allowed to have them... But the thing is, you don't always know when somebody's a drug addict, or an alchoholic, or whatever. I said what I did because it's not all black and white--it's not like there are people who shouldn't have kids and people who should, and everybody knows it. Tough issue, this.

BE--good, just makin' sure. 🙂

No can stop someone from having a child, but there are alot of times where they shouldn't. It's their right. It sucks that that child will have a horrible life.

Yes, having children is a right. Should it be that way? Probably not. I think you should have to get a license before you become a parent. I don't think just anyone should be able to have kids. It's because of this freedom that there are so many abused children, obese children and overpopulation. Because so many parents are unfit to be parents.

I also think you should limit the number of children a person is allowed to have. This could be decided by their income and their ability to take care of numerous children. There shouldn't be poor people, living in the projects having 8 kids when they can't even take care of one properly.

Darth> Ay, I know this is a tough one. That’s why I brought it up, because I couldn’t make up my mind thinking about it. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
There was a programme on Danish TV some time ago, about a mentally handicapped couple who had two completely normal children. And apparently well-functioning kids on top of that. So a mental handicap is obviously not a problem.
And true, drug-addicts and alcoholics can hide their “little secret” – unless they were tested. But then, it starts taking on a shade of Big Brother 1984…
But look at criminals for example. A lot of them come from terrible circumstances, violence, drug-addiction and so on and so forth. Sure, some kids rise above that. A lot do not…

But shouldn’t be having kids about feeling you have something special to offer a small new human being? If you have nothing to offer that small human, and just talk about your “right” to have “something” isn’t that the wrong way?

Agent Elrond> No, I know no one can stop anyone. My question deals with with that precise right. SHOULD it BE a right?

BF> Hm! I’m actually inclined to agree with you on the license thing. For the moment a hypothetical license without discussing who should issue it.
And I’m inclined because I suddenly got to think about adoptions! Not everyone and their dog can adopt a child. In some countries (I think) single parents can’t adopt. You have to have a certain income to adopt and jobs and so on and so forth…
Why this for adoption?

Originally posted by BackFire
Yes, having children is a right. Should it be that way? Probably not. I think you should have to get a license before you become a parent. I don't think just anyone should be able to have kids. It's because of this freedom that there are so many abused children, obese children and overpopulation. Because so many parents are unfit to be parents.

I also think you should limit the number of children a person is allowed to have. This could be decided by their income and their ability to take care of numerous children. There shouldn't be poor people, living in the projects having 8 kids when they can't even take care of one properly.

I agree with what u said. Only ppl who can properly take care of their children should have them.

Having children will always be a right and should be one. No one has the right to say 'you can't have a child because we don't think u can raise on properly'

Yes, if there are rules fo adoptions, there should be the same (if not more) rules for having children of your own.

I agree with BackFire and Omega about the adoption thing.

Darth> In what way? That since there are rules to adopt children, there should be rules for having a child of your own? Or…

Yes, like that. There are rules for adopting kids, I don't see why there shouldn't be rules for making your own.