h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My best friend is too... And I'd not trade her for anything, dont worry! But bad parents still cause problems for their offspring... Whether or not their children can or are even capable of rising above it, well, you're rare and special people

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my first posting here and it's ed

Must remember not to name names. Bad GB. *slaps self*

I like the idea of having to pass some sort of assessment to gain a licence for breeding, like a driving licence. If you wanted to limit the population, you'd have a waiting list to take the test.

Of course you than have to decide what to do with those who breed without a licence. There might be a black market trading both licences and children.

Perhaps you have to be assessed and gain a licence to be considered capable of *looking after and bringing up* children. That way anyone can breed but if you're not licenced, your children will be given to those deemed responsible and capable enough...

Of course, this is a beurocrastic/board room 'solution' and doesn't take into account a person's rights to be human and not have their children removed from them etc etc.

However, we currently have a care system based on looking after children *after* the damage has been done. Perhaps the above would merely make it a case of doing it *before* the damage?

And psychiatrists would have good steady day jobs...

The argument has been brought up in a variety of contexts, but wouldn't it discourage people from practicing safe sex if they knew they could give any children away, and thus wouldn't have to face the consequences?

I'm sure there are conditions which could be stipulated. After a while I'm sure that maintenance/medical charges could be levied on the prolfic couple.

Depends how much children become worth!

I just hate to think what those children will be like as adults, especially a couple of generations down the line...