Do you think legally binding contracts should be drawn up before people can have children?

roscullion

It would be nice if all children were born into stable, supportive relationships that could guarantee the material and developmental needs of the child but, sadly, life does not work that way. Even if those conditions existed at the time of conception, no one can guarantee they will continue. So, much as I agree with the sentiment of your question, I suspect education and a reform of the benefits system is more likely to make a difference.

Heathen

I wish people were automatically born sterile & had to pass a series of tests before their reproductive systems were made fertile.

Lee

well, it doesn't seem to be working for fifty percent of the married couples.They stand before a preacher or JP and verbally swear to love and honor and then break the contract,so why do you think a contract to have kids will work?

Paul R

Sounds like a good idea, except that girls would still get pregnant anyway. Then what? forced termination?

If it were possible to fit teenage lads' nuts with an "on/off" tap, that would help.

thepawnbrokerroared

Who would the contract be between - presumably the individual and the state?

If the individual violates the contract, you have to consider what action the state would then take. What happens if a couple have a child without signing the contract? What happens when a couple who have signed the contract then break the contract at some point during the first 16 years of the child's life?

Presumably, the only solution would be many children being raised in state-run orphanages. Would this really be better, in most cases, then children being raised by natural parents?

Natty-Lea

No. Most children aren't planned for. If our parents didn't have to do it then why should we? We shouldn't make the next generation pay for the mistakes of the past. Children are a joy. It's not their fault that governments charge us so much money to exist nowadays. It never used to be that way. Their greed is the problem. Where are the future tax payers going to come from if nobody is having kids? :-)

lou b

Yes I do, at the risk of being unpopular. There should have to be some kind of profiency test too, before you even get to contract stage.

I used to work at an advice centre. So often, young pregnant girls would ask for advice about what benefits they will get and how soon they will get their own home etc., completely ignoring the facts such as they haven't got much of a future themselves. What kind of future will they provide for their off-spring?

And before anybody accuses me of fascism, I am a liberal. I just happen to think that too many kids are born without due thought being given to the kids future.

Ohaeri

Good God no. Could you imagine the ways that this could be abused?

Ant

No, and most young people don't choose to get up the duff it just happens

bdouglasharris

Sure, people should get married before they have children. That doesn't mean the government should stop unmarried people from having them (I don't know if that's what you're saying).

Mutt

And what would happen if someone got pregnant without the contract? The government cannot force a woman to have an abortion (at least not yet - give the 'bama some time, though, and he might find a way to do that).

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