Field Marshal
Elder Lister
Thanks for using civil language. So, let me engage you on this.Its not about giving the parents a through pass, its about punishing the grownups but looking after the kids, I believe a society that neglects its young ones is a doomed society, even in biology, the animal kingdom some animals will go to great lengths to ensure as many of their young ones in a pride or pack or whatever grouping survive.
Darwin is mostly about the fittest, one thing to consider is that the rich kids might not necessarily be the fittest from a society view, for a sane society you protect all the young ones, because you just never know the future.
I have said elsewhere that the first duty of care is to oneself. YOU. You must always take care that you know that you are safe and well - that you know where you are going to eat, sleep, etc, and that your security is alright.
After you take care of YOURSEL you must take care of your PROGENY - your kids. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, not anybody else. Gavament/society only comes in to give you the support structure to enable you do this.
In a civilised society, other players usually come in when you absolutely cannot take care of either yourself or your kids (you are unwell or an invalid). Two possible interventions can be made - you are either supported financially to remain independent or the kids are taken away from you. This is usually on humanitarian grounds, and is not necessarily a right.
In Kenya we find ourselves in a funny situation. Women give birth to kids they cannot adequately care for but who they also don't want to give up for adoption. Giving them financial aid is not an option as this will only incentivise them to give birth to more kids. If you tie their tubes you have legal action on your hands.
What to do?
LEAVE THEM TO THEIR OWN DEVICES!
I have said that nature is not wasteful. Death, suffering etc is a part of life. If you go to Chicago and Detroit, you'll find junkies rotting in the streets because of the choices they made. YOU CANNOT SAVE EVERYONE FROM THEMSELVES.
True, children are innocent, but if their parents make dumb choices so be it. Remember the veryu beautiful gal that perished in the ferry accident? her mother made a stupid choice. That's Darwin at work. It's always been that way and it's always gonna be that way.