WITH CHILDREN COMES RESPONSIBILITY

There are few things more disgusting than seeing a newborn child suffering
from the effects of drug addiction.

Lloydminster Meridian Booster -- There are few things more disgusting than
seeing a newborn child suffering from the effects of drug addiction.
Addicted to crack or beginning life with fetal alcohol syndrome is an
all-too-common phenomenon for many children in our society.

To make matters worse, mothers who choose to take drugs or alcohol during
their pregnancy do not learn their lesson the first time around and repeat
this horrible behaviour on a number of children.

In the past these children, and the lingering effects of their mother's
abuse, have been left to others. Foster homes and social agencies are left
to give these kids the best life possible and we all pay -- including the kids.

To this point, no matter how monstrous their behaviour has been, parents
who abuse their unborn children have never had their right to reproduce
brought into question.

That could very well change, and rightfully so.

A New York state judge made a bold move last week by stripping a couple of
their right to reproduce after four of their kids tested positive for
cocaine. The couple was living in a homeless shelter when their youngest
child was born and refused to participate in court-ordered drug treatment.

Of course, the civil rights activists have and will whine that this move is
unconstitutional. But when exactly did child abuse become a constitutional
right?

Of course there is always the threat that the state can go too far in
matters like these, but in many cases our legislators don't go nearly far
enough.

Extreme? You bet. But when it comes to our children we need to be.

Sometimes there is a gap between our laws and what is truly right.

Children shouldn't be falling through that gap.