re: #724 quickjustice

I don’t think the issue with the “octuplet” lady is whether it’s OK to have a large family or not. I think there are serious ethical and criminal issues with the doctor and/or fertility clinic that permitted this. In short, I think the doc should lose his license, and spent some time behind bars.

Fertility technology DOES change the ethics and the rules. In the olden days, a woman actually had to have a male to get it on with. That meant two parents to support however many children a couple decided to have. And lots of children meant a lower standard of living, unless the couple were wealthy. That was a choice they were entitled to make.

But with fertility technology, those social constraints no longer apply. I’d say one child at a time is a reasonable constraint to place upon a fertility doctor. And if the mother is single, so there is no father, perhaps we should vet women the way we vet parents before permitting adoption— will she be a fit parent capable of supporting the child? THat’s common sense.

One last thing: Rose, you’re likely unaware of it, but Obama’s “stimulus” bill repealed welfare reform. I’m appalled by this, but your recitation of the old welfare rules no longer is relevant.

Actually in olden days having more children meant a higher standard of living, as there were more hands to work the farm. Also, in those days not all children survived early stages of childhood, so having many children didn’t mean you’d end up with many children.