The city of Bangor, Maine just passed a law making it illegal to smoke in a car when a minor is present. Similar legislation is being introduced in the New Jersey legislature. And in California, a bill is going to be proposed that would prohibit parents from spanking their own children.
These are unjust, unwise pieces of legislation. They are a direct infringement on personal, parental and familial privacy. You may agree that what these laws are banning is bad. I know I do. But generally speaking, do you trust the government to determine how to and not to raise children? Do you trust it enough to let it to involve itself in a profoundly personal and private matter? I certainly don’t.
Who’s to say what exactly the right thing to do is in terms of children and family, anyway? Every child is different; every family is different. For example, the California bill, if enacted, would prohibit parents from spanking their children who under four years of age. Where did they come up with that number? What’s wrong with spanking a three year-old? Or maybe it's best to refrain from spanking your child until he’s five. It’s silly to make laws that govern all families and all children. Parents should be the ones to settle these issues.
Additionally, parents should be allowed to make wrong decisions. Freedom is about allowing people to do things that you don’t necessarily agree with, perhaps stupid and irrational things. The benefit of this is that you get to live you life the way you choose without interference. The family is such a private realm. If freedom isn’t safe here, then it isn’t safe anywhere.
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1 comments:
You forgot to mention your strongest argument that supports child-rearing freedom: that children are their parents' property. Or is this bit too controversial for publication? ;)
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