Do you think that people should be made to take a test before they have a baby?

Question

I honestly believe that if it could be made ethical, then this should be enforced. There is NO POINT in bringing an unwanted baby into the world, if it is just going to suffer. It's generally believed that people are how they are because of they way they were brought up and the experiences they go through, so if two people are not fit to bring up a child, I don't think they should be allowed to make a baby.

It's an insult that 15 yr olds can get pregnant in a public park whilst boozed up on cheap cider, yet loving couples are barren.

Answer 1

mmmm, China does this and limits the babies that are brought into the world.

I don't want to live in China--although, they will soon have all the jobs and all the money, so I may have to reconsider this one.

One of the negatives of a "free" society is that even the stupid are allowed to make their own choices. What we need to do is stop rewarding stupidity with handouts. The more kids you have the less (or no) taxes you pay and the harder the rest of us have to work. Not to mention that if on government dole your benefits increase with every "stupid" decision you bring into the world.

But in a democracy (which we technically are not anymore, we are socialist and becoming more so, every single day), people are supposed to live and die based on their own worthiness.

Keep the government out of personal choice. Our founding fathers are appalled at what we have become.

Answer 2

You are asking the Government to get involved in the very personnal lives of people and make decisions. If this occurs, and you get your wish. The government could say you need to pass a test to have a baby but.....

What happens if they have one anyway?

What is the criteria?

Who comes up with the criteria?

Will we assume the government will be honest and wont try to make money on this so that only the middle class to wealthy can apply for a license to have a baby?

How long would it take before they started adding more requirements like, how much money you have, your age needs to be between ?? and ??, What is your IQ, what is your families health history?

Most 15 years olds who have babies didn’t do it intentionally so what does the law help other than put people in jail that should be out taking care of their new baby?

Adoption is a great method of having a child or giving a child a better life.

And most people do not believe that environment is the sole developer of personality. There are a lot of genetics involved too....Crack a book.

I am amazed how easily people piss away the rights our country where based on. It usually is by those who are young. I am also amazed at the ignorants; demonstarted by a willingness to trust the govenment...what is this trust based on???

Be a good American and second guess everything our govenment does. Our forefathers didn't trust government and neither should we. Assume the worst and you will be right more often.

Answer 3

There is a great movie that fits this. Its called "Idiocy".
Its fairly funny. But the thing is the beginning where they go back and forth between a smart couple giving reasons why they are not ready to bring kids into the world, and a highschool dropout couple who keep popping out kids. Then they progress it into the future. The story is about an average guy who gets put in deep freeze and wakes up 500 years later when everyone is dumber than he is.

Answer 4

You have the right idea, but the wrong solution. A test will not determine whether a woman will get pregnant or not. Sex happens as a part of life. Even if they do not take a test, people will still have sex and unwanted pregnancies will happen. It's really the job of parents to educate their kids about sex and how to be responsible in order for them to understand that parenthood is something they need to be prepared for and something that should not happen to them when they're not ready. Parents should also make their children aware of the burdens that unwanted pregnancies bring and how much pressure it brings to young adults.

Answer 5

I agree 100%.
If sex didn't feel good, we wouldn't have this problem, because the only people who would do it would truly want to have a child.
It used to be somewhat controlled by shame and generally accepted public morality, but today it is perfectly normal to have multiple children out of wedlock, as a teenager, and/or with no clue as to how to care for yourself, let alone an infant.
Bad parenting is a major factor in the eventuality of crime, drugs, failing schools, welfare dependency and perpetually irresponsible parenting.
Sadly there is no civilized way to enforce what you propose so I see no end to the growing masses of clueless people pro-creating as a form of pleasure.

Answer 6

It's an insult? Why?

I agree there are way too many children born to people unable to or unwilling to care for them properly - but there are also millions of children born everyday to people who will love them and care for them that you might deem unworthy.

I had my daughter at 16 - and from the get go I was a good mother. Did I make mistakes? Sure - EVERY PARENT DOES! Don't be on a high horse because "you" think "you'd" do a better a job.
I do think there are people who should not breed - but who's to say they can't? If you had deemed me "unworthy" - then what? My beautiful daughter would have been aborted? taken from me? You think you deserved her more than I did?

High horse thought and indignation at those who you deem less worthy would seem to be a bad way to raise children.

Answer 7

To enforce it would mean either forced sterilization, or forced abortions. There is no other way to ensure that people who don't pass the test don't have babies. That would be extremely bad.

Instead, a more noninvasive practical thing would be parenting classes. I wouldn't go as far as saying they should be mandatory, but they should be inexpensive and readily available for all expecting parents....

Answer 8

No, No, No, you are just opening the door to government controlling peoples lives.
Then what would come next?
Strerilization? And who would be the one to choose who can and cannot have children.?

I understand your point but this will never be a perfect world. However, we cannot infringe upon the rights of others.

The best way to meet your objective is through education. Counseling and more effective ways to show people the choices they can make for themselves.

Answer 9

I have said it before and I am steadfast on this point.

People should not be able to conceive until they pass a parenting test. (A good, long one.)

Humans have over-populated this planet. This test/enforced birth control would help this problem.

Human Rights laws are great, but after a convicted molester/child abuser has proven himself/herself unable to stop
we as a people should be able to feel secure in ourselves as caring human beings that this person will be castrated as to no longer have any sexual desire for anyone or anything (see the movie "Little Children" with Kate Winslett).

That way, that sick person can live a good life without harming anyone else and we as taxpayers don't have to pay for their incarceration.

Yes, parenting licensing should be mandatory and regulated.

Answer 10

Yeah, something like that. Not sure how you would enforce it. I've always thought schools should have to have a mandatory class in family living that includes how to raise a child (without spanking or hitting) and how to deal with marital problems - what to expect when the euphoria of love wears off and how to deal with fights, money problems, infidelity, etc.