[LMB] Betan influence

[Azalais Aranxta]

On Thu, 7 Jun 2007, Elizabeth Holden wrote:

> The only explanation I've come up with is that the laws were
> set up and enforced centuries earlier, when the need for
> population control was either in question or simply less
> accepted.  But then, centuries later, the laws are still on the
> books and still very much in the public consciousness and a
> part of everyone's lives.  Hence my discomfort.

Perhaps the laws haven't been changed because most people aren't
unhappy with them.  Laws aren't enacted unless there's a
perceived need, but when the need goes away, the law doesn't go
away if people no longer wish to do the thing that the law
forbids.  Cordelia wanted to have children, multiple, but even
she chose not to when she had the opportunity, and I don't think
it was all just Miles, Miles was a lot of work but all children
are a lot of work, Miles was just...more.

I'm sure the law could be changed if enough people wanted to
change it.  Clearly they don't.

I also don't think parenting licensing is just a matter of
population control.  I'm sure that we can all think of people
we've known who had children who really shouldn't have been
allowed to have them, or at least not to raise them themselves.

I don't think there are too many people like that on Beta, what
with therapy so easily available, but the lifelong effects of
child abuse being what they are, it's probably very un-Betan to
think it would be a good idea to just let everyone breed
willy-nilly without being checked out first.

Frankly tight control of reproduction is one of the Betan social
controls that rankles me least.  I'm not sure I agree that having
kids you and/or your environment can't support is an inalienable
human right and I definitely think some people shouldn't be
allowed to take care of a houseplant, let alone a baby.

~malfoy, who is kinda glad she exists, but has her moments of
seriously wishing that she had been raised by saner people...

****************************************************************
Azalais Aranxta (~malfoy)
ataniell93 on LiveJournal and Vox
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/malfoymadness

"I know the true world, and you know I do. But we needn't let it
think we all bow down." --Christopher Morley