Parenting

‘Most people are idiots…’ Well that’s obviously a well researched fact right there. And to suggest having children has ‘no consequences’ is ludicrous. I think the mere idea that you are responsible for fostering a life is a pretty serious consequence of having children. There are already child protection laws in place and beyond that the government has no right to have a say in how a child should be raised. And 20 years you say? What’s that based on? Decades of Harvard research?

Tracking devices in cars

This would give police unprecedented (and abusable) powers. How is this going to be implemented? And ‘Depending on the cops seeing this on the road is totally useless.’ Again, evidence?

Outrageous fines for small offenses

Do you actually know the meaning of the word ‘outrageous’? ‘Being beyond all reason’ is a good start. What you’ve in effect done is right from the beginning, deemed your idea completely beyond the bounds of what would be feasibly accepted by society.

Also, ever heard of a little thing called the ‘three strikes law’? Life sentences have been considered (and in some cases given) for such things as stealing a slice of pizza, golf clubs, cookies, a few children’s video tapes, refusing to pay for an air-conditioning repair, submitting a false application under law and breaking into a soup kitchen. Were the criminals in any of these circumstances dissuaded by such a harsh penalty? Have a look at some Californian case law…also while you’re there, check out the 8th amendment, it’s a hoot.

The idea of heavy punishments for trivial crimes ignores the deeply rooted social and psychological issues surrounding crime. Without these addressed, crime will continue. The only thing that will change is the number of injustices.

And $1000 a bullet you say? You told us you got this idea from a comic’s stand up routine? Well then, I’m satisfied, it must be foolproof…because all crimes are committed with weapons and ammunition bought from over the counter.

Can I just say, before posting something on the internet that addresses so many complex and difficult issues in society, some debated by governments and social experts all around the world for decades, consider these few points:

- None of the issues you’ve presented has an easy answer
- None of the answers you’ve provided come even close to providing a solution, or even a valid or intelligent thought
- Do some research. You’ll soon see why none of what you say makes any sense
- I’m not even from the US, yet I know more about your laws and social issues than you do
- Your article is neither factual nor funny (you were trying to make us laugh right?) and hence falls into the vat of depressing
- I only read this article because cracked.com linked it to me, usually what they link is worth a read but this? Think you fell well short of the mark, I’ll have a word to them about that

Although I wish there was some genetic abnormality that made people unfit to be parents sterile, I would never be okay with the government being able to decide who had children. You’re basically saying that you want the government involved in people’s sex lives. What happens if they’re against birth control but the government decides they’re not fit to be parents. They just can’t have sex? Yeah, no freaking thank you.

I do agree that we need nationalized healthcare but the current plans for one are far from perfect.

It’s been proven that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent from crime. If the ultimate “fine” for crime doesn’t deter people, why do you think outrageous monetary fines will? And I’m sorry, I don’t believe for one second that you have NEVER jaywalked in your life. You have never once crossed a street without using a crosswalk? EVER? Drop the “idiots who jaywalk” attitude because you sound like the moron. We have something in the US that is called no cruel and unusual punishment. Punishment should be fitting of the crime, not blown into outrageous proportions that would make some people HOMELESS over a parking ticket.

Honestly I was shaking my head the entire way through this article. You sound like a 12 year old little boy who thought about this for maybe three seconds before publishing it.

1) You cannot restrict reproductive rights. Parenthood is not something the government should regulate or stick its nose into unless a child is in danger.
2) Tracking or camera in a car? Ever read 1984? How about illegal searches and seizures. I don’t want the cops with a camera or tracking device on me….ever.
3) Health Care – I’m on the fence on this one. It works in other countries and our current system is not working now. I don’t have an opinion here.
4) Outrageous fines? For what, more police pensions and prisons? A father of 3 working 2 part time jobs making $20k a year parks 1 foot too close to a fire hydrant. You’re going to take away half his income for that? Congratulations now you’ve just thrown a family out on the street and the father is jobless and in prison because he can’t pay the fine. That’s just sick and heartless. Obviously you need to go to empathy school.

A $200 fine for illegal parking that will be applied 90% of times when jay walk is a much more effective deterrent than a 10,000 fine that you can avoid by looking for cops first.

I think that idea has a lot better chance at being effective in not only curbing the population growth, but weeding out the people that just don’t need to be parents in the first place.