From: rfelix@netcom.com (Robbie Felix)
Subject: Re: Parental Rights (was Re: Runaways)
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 02:50:21 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: na 


>>
>>A 16 year
>>old can declare himself an emancipated minor.  This means that he is now
>>legally liable for his own actions.  He can now be considered an adult and
>>enter into adult legal contracts.  He can manage his own affairs.
>>
>>Frankly, I think this is about as good as we, as a society can do.

And a kid who does this *wants* to be responsible for himself.
The whole idea of it is that he/she feels they are willing and able to
live as adults. We allow minors who show that they are responsible
to live as adults.

I think this is a good thing.

>>-- 
>>"This is just a test.  Had this been a real life, you would have been given
>>further instructions on where to go and what to do."
>>							Judy Leedom Tyrer
>
>Judy,
>
>Even though I agree with most of what you have said, I MUST disagree
>with you last statement.  There is much more that society can do to
>help parents.
>
>1.  Parents must have some mechanism by which they can be absolved 
>of legal responsibility for out of control off spring.
>
I went for a walk and thought a little more about this. The best
analogy I could think of to illustrate my thought was that of someone
getting a puppy.

You see a cute puppy for 500 dollars in a pet shop and can't resist
because it is sooooooooooo cute. You struggle to get the 500 together
and think that is the major expense. It is hard to think beyond the
cuteness of the soft warm cuddly little love-bug.

Then you find out it needs medical care, spay/neutering,shots,
obedience lessions, a dog-house, kennel care if you go away etc.

It is a little more than you bargained for but liveable.
Hopefully you can deal with the extra costs.

The dog cries all night and keeps you up. You are having a hard time
getting to work on time,you're tired. Then the damn dog bites a
neighbor's kid.

It is a lot more than you bargained for. You must decide wether you
can afford the dog. You have to pay for the kid's medical care.

Next thing you know it jumps a fence and kills the neighbor's cat.
You feel TERRIBLE. The neighbor wants to sue. Everyone is upset.
The dog has cost far more than you ever imagined.

The 500 dollars was a pittance!

A dog can be put to sleep, given away, taken to the SPCA. A child
can't. The cost of childbirth is a pittance. The financial costs of
having children are huge and the emotional investment is even bigger.

We assume that people enter into parenting Knowing the kind of
liability they assume. We assume they are adults.

When you take responsibility for a life there is no giving it up when
the going gets tough. Having children is an AWESOME commitment. It is
the parent's responsibility to see the kid through to the age of 18.
You assume this responsibility when you give birth to a child.

The law is written to protect society from having to take
responsibility for those kids whose parent's did not understand the
implications of bringing children into the world.

I know it is sad that there are not more options for dealing with
teenagers, but the fact is that when you make the decision to give
them life you assume the responsibility for that life for 18 years.

rf