Who has the right to have children?

Anne_OfSpleenCables
Anne_OfSpleenCables: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/dec/30/welfare-recipients-should-be-forced-to-take-contraceptives-gary-johns

I saw this article today, and although I disagreed with the views expressed by an ex MP, it made me think about the strong views so many have when it comes to having children.
What are your thoughts on having children, being a parent and the "parenthood is a right" vs "parenthood is a privilege" viewpoints?
9 years ago Report
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txkreddog
txkreddog: My feelings on having children is expressed perfectly on a recently viewed bumper sticker. "If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em."
9 years ago Report
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Anne_OfSpleenCables
Anne_OfSpleenCables: But isn't there more to being a parent than providing the basics? So what if you can afford to feed and clothe and shelter your child, but you are abusive and hateful towards them? Also, what standard of lifestyle is required for someone to not be labelled irresponsible in having children? Do they have to be able to afford name brand clothes and a tv for the child's room, or can a very basic lifestyle suffice?
9 years ago Report
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AussieOi
AussieOi: Traditionally in Aus, people raised kids on what would now be considered poverty conditions. The kids still grew up like sturdy saplings and amazed any visitors to the colony at their health. No rickets, sores all those sunlight deprived conditions. Not the lung disorders of major British industrial centers.

It was a far better breeding ground than the misty auld isles.

So I'm curious how materialism has raised the bar over the centuries. It isn't like if you can't fed 'em so much here as well other cultural expectations of lifestyle.
9 years ago Report
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Comrade Swabbs
Comrade Swabbs: I think the time has come to try something new and remove the biological parents from all aspects of bringing up children. I thinking children should be farmed like we do cattle but in spiritually principled communities. Emphasis would be on what you can bring to the world rather than what you can get from it. I think this would help develop more rounded adults and create a brighter future for generations to come.
9 years ago Report
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Anne_OfSpleenCables
Anne_OfSpleenCables: While I like the idea of focusing on bringing children up with community-focused ideals, I don't see how you could overcome the natural bond that is generally present between adults and their offspring. Also, a child requires a secure attachment to at least one or two primary carers for it to go on and negotiate the social world successfully. So maybe if you went back to parents raising their own children within small, tight knit communities, your ideals could come to pass.
9 years ago Report
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AussieOi
AussieOi: I think you are both discussing an enduring entity called a 'village'. Well with the proviso that the biological parents often have some hand in child raising in a village but in varying degrees. Seems every village has a mob of kids raising each other.
9 years ago Report
1
uglycow10
uglycow10: . Bravo to all of those people who wish to procreate However, the financial responsibility should not be mine nor that of my fellow taxpayers! Nor do I want to be part of the "proverbial village that will jump in there and help take care of them spiritually, emotionally...and whatever else.

Children are not tos, neither are they a passing fad or fancy. They are little humans who demand and are entitled to care until they can fend for themselves.

Thus....you make them....you take care of them!
8 years ago Report
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AussieOi
AussieOi: Ah the 'If you can't feed them don't breed them argument'! I suppose traditional 'western' society had the answer that a female couldn't balance the provider and carer roles adequately simultaneously so a male was co-opted into the provider role. @Uglycow, well the kiddies can be too big a burden for one.
8 years ago Report
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AussieOi
AussieOi: And it takes two to tango
8 years ago Report
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Wonderful Wally
Wonderful Wally: By law anyones who furtile
4 years ago Report
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Billie Ingle
Billie Ingle: Everyone that will show love to them, many get kids and treat them as filth or slaves. My father died when i was 2 or 3 and mom found new love all did that bastard found it useful to crawl on his stephdaughter such persons don't deserve any children because a child has to play and have fun not being abused on all ways
4 years ago Report
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