Jodi, what does the govt tell us to do re: parenting decisions?

ashleyaugust7

Just wondering so I can look out for that

Jodi&Joe

A lot of safety items are government mandated.

Schools have a LOT of rules (esp. reg food but also days off) etc that are government mandated.

I'm sure I could think of more but those are just two biggies off the top of my head.

(For example, my 13 yr old niece was not allowed to have a cough drop in class.  Really?  SOOO ridiculous!  Of course I would enforce the decision because it's a rule and we are supposed to follow rules but.....seriously!?  13.  A cough drop.  If I want to let my kid have a cough drop I should be able to make that decision without any intervention from an outside authority).  THAT'S the kind of thing that is going NUTSO and before you know it, all decisions made IN your home (with your child) will have consequences outside the home (legal ones)!

DevonPow

Chicago just banned using bumpers in cribs. I think that is a little crazy.

ashleyaugust7

IDK that I would consider that govt mandated- certainly not fed govt, and even in my state school rules are by school district, or individual school. 

As far as safety, there are guidelines through govt organizations, but usually aren't specific safety laws by state, or even local govt?

ashleyaugust7

DevonPow:

Chicago just banned using bumpers in cribs. I think that is a little crazy.

How is that administered, I wonder?  Not sold in stores?  Not allowed within city limits? 

Jodi&Joe

Government is government is government (state, federal, whatever). 

And really?  No crib bumpers in Chicago.  Do you see the ridiculousness!?  We will all have ONE way of living - and if you live outside those limits, you will be penalized.  Where do they draw the line?  THAT'S my concern.  Most of the stuff, sure, common sense.  Should I need a law to enforce it?  No.  But of course, they do because of the exception to the rule.  Lawsuits have ruined this country! 

DevonPow

ashleyaugust7:

DevonPow:

Chicago just banned using bumpers in cribs. I think that is a little crazy.

How is that administered, I wonder?  Not sold in stores?  Not allowed within city limits? 

I have no idea how they are enforcing this. I am as liberal and big government as some people get, and even I think this is ridiculous (of course, I also used bumpers with DS - gasp!)

Jodi&Joe

cjcouple:

Jodi, I am with you. I think it is hilarious that a parent can't send a cookie in as a dessert for their DC to eat after lunch in CT.  My neice literally had a hershey kiss taken away because it was shortly after the state law passed about no junk food and my sister forgot and sent in 1 hershey kiss for her to have after she ate her sandwich.  She was 11!!

It is even happening with adults: City of Boston Mayor Menino just banned soda sales in small stores inside office buildings. I can't believe as an adult I cannot go and buy a diet coke downstairs anymore.

Right.  It's effing insane.  And this is just the beginning.  Their involvement is only going to get more and more as time passes.  It's very scary!

ghm

Here's where I struggle because I'm liberal in the sense that I'm all for equal rights but I'm very libertarian and I don't like gov't micromanaging my life. Of course, the world is full of idiots who do stupid ***, so should you tell them what they can/can't do? Should I be punished because they can't make good choices? Should their kids be punished because I don't want my rights taken away? Will they stop doing XYZ because the gov't tells them to?

 

It's an endless cycle that has no answer.

FWIW, there are many examples of things that the gov't says we can/can't do as parents. I don't want my rights taken away, and it's scary that it's happening here and there.  

camrude

ghm:

Here's where I struggle because I'm liberal in the sense that I'm all for equal rights but I'm very libertarian and I don't like gov't micromanaging my life. Of course, the world is full of idiots who do stupid ***, so should you tell them what they can/can't do? Should I be punished because they can't make good choices? Should their kids be punished because I don't want my rights taken away? Will they stop doing XYZ because the gov't tells them to?

 

It's an endless cycle that has no answer.

FWIW, there are many examples of things that the gov't says we can/can't do as parents. I don't want my rights taken away, and it's scary that it's happening here and there.  

Pretty much this.

Jodi&Joe

ghm:

Here's where I struggle because I'm liberal in the sense that I'm all for equal rights but I'm very libertarian and I don't like gov't micromanaging my life. Of course, the world is full of idiots who do stupid ***, so should you tell them what they can/can't do? Should I be punished because they can't make good choices? Should their kids be punished because I don't want my rights taken away? Will they stop doing XYZ because the gov't tells them to?

 

It's an endless cycle that has no answer.

FWIW, there are many examples of things that the gov't says we can/can't do as parents. I don't want my rights taken away, and it's scary that it's happening here and there.  

EXACTLY!  All of this.

And I agree in that I'm liberal when it comes to equal rights, etc.  Not so liberal when it comes to gov't being all up in my business! 

justEK

I needed to sign a release for my daughter to get her ears pierced but she can get an abortion without me ever knowing.

jessicaclare

ghm:

Here's where I struggle because I'm liberal in the sense that I'm all for equal rights but I'm very libertarian and I don't like gov't micromanaging my life. Of course, the world is full of idiots who do stupid ***, so should you tell them what they can/can't do? Should I be punished because they can't make good choices? Should their kids be punished because I don't want my rights taken away? Will they stop doing XYZ because the gov't tells them to?

 

It's an endless cycle that has no answer.

FWIW, there are many examples of things that the gov't says we can/can't do as parents. I don't want my rights taken away, and it's scary that it's happening here and there.  

You can't mandate intelligence, but by golly, some people are going to try!

I consider myself a conservative, because I'm so against big government, but I'm really in the middle because I'm quite liberal on equality issues. It really scares me how willing some people are to let the government take away their right to choose some things, though.

ilovemygirls

Jodi&Joe:

Government is government is government (state, federal, whatever). 

And really?  No crib bumpers in Chicago.  Do you see the ridiculousness!?  We will all have ONE way of living - and if you live outside those limits, you will be penalized.  Where do they draw the line?  THAT'S my concern.  Most of the stuff, sure, common sense.  Should I need a law to enforce it?  No.  But of course, they do because of the exception to the rule.  Lawsuits have ruined this country! 

A-freaking-men.  People sue for everything- even when they're an idiot & make an idiot decision - and it's cheaper for an insurance company to pay out.   Malpractice suits against physicians are another good example.  People sign documents about risk when they have a surgery/procedure, then when something goes wrong they sue & get a payout.  Why?  Because the insurance company can't afford not to settle.  Therefore malpractice rates go up for the physician and healthcare costs rise & rise. Certainly that's not the *only* reason, but it is part of the problem with healthcare reform that is rarely talked about.  Of course there are some circumstances where physician negligence is an issue- but I don't believe that to be true the majority of the time. 

Basically, people don't want to take personal responsibility for decisions that they make- or a decision even that they don't make.  In my area there have been unfortunate circumstances where a person (committing a CRIME) has died at the hands of the police.  Then the family of these individuals- who has no dependents, I'm talking their parents, siblings, etc- SUE the police.  The defense attorneys are getting a bundle from these types of settlements.  It is completely insane.  Sorry- kind of went off there.  That subject totally hits a nerve with me!!!

Jodi&Joe

I'm quite sure a good majority of the nest thinks I'm one of the "idiots who does stupid ****" but that's the beauty of living in a free society.  Of which we are no longer part of.

hero

Jodi&Joe:

A lot of safety items are government mandated.

Schools have a LOT of rules (esp. reg food but also days off) etc that are government mandated.

I'm sure I could think of more but those are just two biggies off the top of my head.

(For example, my 13 yr old niece was not allowed to have a cough drop in class.  Really?  SOOO ridiculous!  Of course I would enforce the decision because it's a rule and we are supposed to follow rules but.....seriously!?  13.  A cough drop.  If I want to let my kid have a cough drop I should be able to make that decision without any intervention from an outside authority).  THAT'S the kind of thing that is going NUTSO and before you know it, all decisions made IN your home (with your child) will have consequences outside the home (legal ones)!

I have no problem with this. A cough drop would be considered a medication and medication cannot be distributed in schools with a medical release from a dr. If a parent wants to let their child have access to cough drops then they should talk to their child's pediatrician. Medication in schools should be regulated to avoid medication mixups and dealing. Thirteen years do deal drugs so it's not hard to imagine why it is not a good idea for them to have medication in their possession. It's hard to defend a policy if it is too narrow. 

Dreamsicle23

hero:

Jodi&Joe:

A lot of safety items are government mandated.

Schools have a LOT of rules (esp. reg food but also days off) etc that are government mandated.

I'm sure I could think of more but those are just two biggies off the top of my head.

(For example, my 13 yr old niece was not allowed to have a cough drop in class.  Really?  SOOO ridiculous!  Of course I would enforce the decision because it's a rule and we are supposed to follow rules but.....seriously!?  13.  A cough drop.  If I want to let my kid have a cough drop I should be able to make that decision without any intervention from an outside authority).  THAT'S the kind of thing that is going NUTSO and before you know it, all decisions made IN your home (with your child) will have consequences outside the home (legal ones)!

I have no problem with this. A cough drop would be considered a medication and medication cannot be distributed in schools with a medical release from a dr. If a parent wants to let their child have access to cough drops then they should talk to their child's pediatrician. Medication in schools should be regulated to avoid medication mixups and dealing. Thirteen years do deal drugs so it's not hard to imagine why it is not a good idea for them to have medication in their possession. It's hard to defend a policy if it is too narrow. 

Yeah, all those kids dealing cough drops are a HUGE problem. 

Jodi&Joe

There is no room left for common sense and personal responsibility.  Thank you lawsuits....thank you!