|
I am not a libertarian, although I am sympathetic to some of their positions. However, the point is not that children are property, but that they are primarily the responsibility of their parents, and that this entails the right of the parents to make crucial decisions about the best means to discharge that responsibility in their own circumstances, and given their own moral and religious beliefs, without undue interference by the state. Just as I have no right to interfere as you inculcate your children with beliefs and values that I may find repellent, so you must leave my child alone. Just as I cannot review in intimate detail the manner in which you interact with your children, you cannot do so with mine, even through the medium of the state. I consider it hurtful to children that both parents work full time in their formative years, but I would not presume to legislate on the matter. I consider it hurtful to children that people get divorced, but I am not going to force them to stay married if they are miserable. I consider it hurtful to children to raise them in a manner which is extremely eccentric, and subjects them to the ridicule of their peers, for example, by raising them as vegetarians, but I would not presume to interfere in that. I consider it hurtful to children to raise them in too austere an environment, forbidding them any television, popular music, or movies, for example, but I would not force parents to give them a break. There are many ways that we could hurt our children and make them unhappy, or deprive them of something that would have pleased them or made their lives easier. Spanking is actually comparatively trivial. If I were to use the "interest of society" argument to judge which of these things were not justified and which were, I could envision a day when people were deprived of their children for their political or religious beliefs. I think society would be better off if all children were reared in conservative households. Does that mean that I get to take your children? |
