Summary
Title: Should Parents Be Licensed? Debating the Issues
Author: Peg Tittle
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1591020948
Pro:
• A lot of interesting essays you won’t easily find elsewhere
Con:
• Very controversial and touchy subject
Description:
• Collection of articles on whether the state should control procreation
• Many provide arguments for why parenthood shouldn’t be a right
• Offers interesting perspectives that should be considered.
Book Review
Because parenthood is regarded as one of the most natural things in the world, most people will react very negatively to any suggestion that a license should be required before being allowed to procreate. That would be like forcing people to have a license in order to breathe or walk — being a parent is a right rather than a privilege such as driving. But should it be?
We must keep in mind that there is a lot at stake for the children themselves. When a two people become parents, there is suddenly at least one more individual whose interests must be taken into consideration: the child. Shouldn’t children only be born into homes where they are wanted? Shouldn’t children only be born into homes where the parents know what they are doing, know how to raise kids, and can provide the children with a psychologically and emotionally healthy atmosphere? Of course — no one can deny that this would be ideal. The question is, should the state do anything to legally enforce it?
This is the central theme in Peg Tittle’s book Should Parents Be Licensed? Debating the Issues. This is not a subject that is debated very much, which would explain why this is one of the only books available right now that addresses it. It’s a very emotional issue because, as I noted above, so many people treat procreation as a right that shouldn’t be closely regulated by the government. Even a suggestion that there be licensing and regulation can be met with aggressive attacks.
Although such a reaction may be understandable, there are fair reasons for at least raising the matter. As I also noted above, we can’t ignore the fact that once people become parents, there are automatically other interests involved. The government doesn’t have any outside rights to protect that would justify regulating people’s sexual activity, but there are outside rights to protect that could affect whether people go so far as to have children.
