From: den Otter <neosapient@geocities.com>
>Well, it is true that many of society's problems are caused by parents
>abusing their kids. In fact, afaik, child abuse is a much bigger problem
>than all other crimes combined. Of course it doesn't explain *all* criminal
>activity, as some criminals are simply "born evil" and some crimes are
>fairly rational or due to circumstance. Nevertheless, solving the problem
>of child abuse should be high on every government's agenda (for various
>practical and "moral" reasons).
Right spot on, den; and thanks for the reinforcement. I think this merits a place on Extropian agendas as well.
>
>How to deal with it?
>
>a) Compulsory psychological screening and parenting tests for everyone who
wants
>children (let them care for a very annoying "automatic" baby that has,
>em, full bodily functions etc. for about a month. That should put off most
>unprepared parents).
>
>b) No children if you can't support them financially (abuse is especially
>rampant in poor families. Everyone's frustrated (nothing gets people more
>on edge than financial problems, as I know from personal experience),
>the parents are often drunks, the father beats the kids and his wife
>because he's a dumb, frustrated asshole etc. You know the picture...)
>Ironically, those that can least afford it often have the most children.
>
>c) A special police service for abuse victims: if you're being abused
>at home (or any other place for that matter), the police will install a
>domestic surveillance system without the abuser's knowledge and
>monitor the situation. Evidence gathered in this way will be used in
>court. Incidentally, the monitoring service can also be installed if
>others (such as doctors, friends of the alleged victim, school officials)
>point out a household as potentially abusive).
>
>d) Tough punishments for abusers (jail time and corporal punishment).
>After jail (or in the case of minor abuse after a stern warning/fine)
>permanent installment of cameras in the offender's house, as a
>preventive measure and to serve as evidence should abuse reoccur.
>The victim gets a personal alarm, which summons the police (after
>checking via integral phone and the cam system). In a libertarian
>scenario, this would be a PPA (but, how does a kid pay a PPA?
>Uh-huh!)
>
>e) In more severe cases the victim would be placed in a special
>caring center (with varying degrees of independence according to
>age, but generally speaking a lot of freedom, according to the
>golden rule). Separate living quarters for everyone, of course full
>surveillance (appartment surveillance is optional, not compulsory)
>to prevent any abuse or other irregularities by staff (strict selection,
>few or no men) or other occupants. The general feel should be that
>of a vacation resort or a hotel, *not* a (pedophile & fascist-ridden )
>prison. Education is, of course, "transhuman style", with a lot of
>emphasis on rational thinking, personal empowerment etc. Multiple
>generations of rational, law-abiding and progressive individuals
>would likely be the pleasant (side-) effect of the anti-abuse program.
>
>f) Of course, the abusers (should they ever get out of jail) would
>be slapped with a perpetual restraining order, to be enforced by
>an electronic ankle bracelet (or something more sophisticated).
>The former victim gets a receiver that goes off whenever the
>abuser gets within the "forbidden" (1 mile for ex.) radius. Of course
>the police also get a beep. Should the abuser somehow manage
>to do harm to the victim anyway (or abuse someone else), he
>goes to jail (labor camp) for life (or at least a *long* time). Should
>he kill his victim, he is to be executed in a most unpleasant way.
>
>g) It goes without saying that known abusers are *never ever*
>allowed to have kids (again).
>
All your recommendations seem reasonable, rational, and eminently pragmatic. In addition, it seems clear that uploading for any who carry memes of dysfunctional parenting ought not to occur. --J. R.