Government programs designed to help children frequently succeed at providing early education (Head Start), nutrition (Free Lunch Program), and health insurance (Medicaid), but when does help become unwanted intervention? According to a Chicago Tribune op-ed, that line has already been crossed.
In the debate over required vaccination against cervical cancer, which is being hotly contested in several states, opponents feel the rights of the parents are being overrun by government interests and that ultimately parents should be able to decide what is best for their children.
The problem always rests in legislating childrearing practices for everyone. The laws that are meant to protect children in those cases where the parents are unfit or unwilling to do so provide protections that we as a society cannot live without. But at what point are these helps a hindrance to personal liberty? Personally, I prefer to err on the side of over-helping than neglecting an issue, especially where children are concerned.
