I know everyone who reads this blog (mainly my family) is already fully aware of the uniqueness of the newly passed (meaning, this year) Safe Haven Law in Nebraska. The law was passed primarily after a 20something woman abandoned her newborn baby at a hospital, because she KNEW she could not give the child what he/she would need in order to succeed in life. The woman was cited for something or another, and was criminally prosecuted. It was at that time, Nebraskans decided...hmmm...maybe since we're the ONLY state who does not have a law that would allow this woman to drop her newborn child off at a hospital without fear of criminal prosecution...maybe we should make that law.
So...our legislature did. The only problem is, the law doesn't specifically state "newborn child", it simply states "child". Since the Safe Haven law went into effect in July (I think that is when it went into effect), there have been 30 some "children" left at Nebraska Hospitals, ranging in age from I believe 7-18 years old. Not only that, but the Safe Haven law as resulted in children being left at Nebraska Hospitals from a total of 7 different states.
Our legislator is now in a special session to try to amend the law, to go back to the basics of the law...to protect newborn children. Nebraskans are outraged that we are in a special session. I've read hundreds of comments in the Lincoln Journal Star talking about the law is fine how it is, talking about how clearly we need this law to allow children of any age to be abanoned (because, that's what it is, no matter how you describe it, it's abandonment, I'm sorry), and how there should be MORE services offered to families by the government to help struggling parents with their badly behaved children.
All I can say is WTF!
I will be the first to say child services in Nebraska (especially) are not wonderful. Our Foster Care system isn't ranked too high in the national standings. Our Teachers have very limited ability to turn into child protective services a "suspicion" of abuse in a family. Yes, I think maybe there should be more done. Do I think it should be the government? Not necessarily.
I'm so angered right now. I'm watching the news and there were protestors outside of the State Capitol saying that the law shouldn't be changed...but expanded. That we need to offer struggling parents more services, more outlets to reach out to in times of need. Yea...maybe struggling parents do need some more outlets to reach out to...but is that necessarily the governments job?
We're living in a really crappy period in U.S. History right now. Our economy is slowly going down the toilet. Our national congress is pulling money out of their asses to bail out big money companies to "right our economy" (I'm still not sure how that works). They also are now discussing a $25billion dollar bail out of the auto industry. We're pulling out all this legislation to bail out PRIVATE companies and banks, with PUBLIC money....we're spending $10billion/month on our war in Iraq (a war against an ideal...not a actual being...kind of like the War on Drugs...yep, that worked well). Our nationa debt is increasing at a rate of approximatley $3.9billion A DAY....and we have people wanting MORE! WE don't even have the money for the bail outs that have already been passed...how can we pass a law in this state to provide even more?
People in Nebraska complain all the time about paying too much in taxes. Yes, we are one of the higest taxed states in teh country...but now, now we have protestors saying we need to offer MORE services to those struggling parents. Well, how do you think we can do that w/out raising taxes? And, do you think we can do that when our National debt is where it's at now, and how it continues to grow? Eventually...we're going to get to the point where the national government doesn't even have the money to provide to states...states will have to survive on their own.
But...I digress....this is the reason I really wanted to write this blog. I think we should offer more. I'm saddened everyday by the atrocities I see in the people who come through my office. I've seen stories of incest, and sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse being taught by parents, etc. etc. I'm saddened by the fact that there are so many children who grow up in low-income areas, with the belief that that is all they will ever have. Their parents work 2 or 3 or 4 jobs to just keep a roof over their head...and so when their child starts misbehaving, skipping school (or even dropping out), using drugs, sleeping around, getting pregnant...it's no surprise that parents are struggling and have jumped at the chance to be able to abandon their children in Nebraska hospitals w/out the fear of criminal prosecution. I think I would too! However, I DO NOT think it is our governments job to make raising children easier for us (there may be somet thin gs the government could do, such as raising the minimum wage or providing or something else the government should be involved in...POLICY, not FAMILY).
I think the thing that needs to be changed isn't more services provided by Government...but we need to develop COMMUNITIES. Parents are struggling becasue they have no one to turn to for help. People are living in communities where they don't even know their neighbors. If we build up COMMUNITIES who know us, and care what happens to us...wouldn't that make raising our children easier?
I don't know. I guess I can't judge those who have abandoned their children under this law. I don't have children, and I'm sure having a misbehaved child is hard for a upper class parent, let a lone a low-income, uneducated single parent. I think the government is doing all they can with Boys Town, and national hotlines...but at some point...when do we make ourselves responsible for what we brought into this world?
I'm done ranting. I hope someday we can all love each other, our neighbors, our children, and respect each other. I hope someday if I'm struggling I will have my family, or my neighbors to run to when I need someone to keep an eye out for my children. I don't expect the government to do it for me...I would expect my community, my family, my friends to help me get through those tough times.
But...this is all just my opinion.
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