Consistently Inconsistent PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lady Logician   
Wednesday, 02 April 2008 10:14

I had the following forwarded to me by a dedicated reader.

Parents don't even know their child is having a newborn screening test - so you want to tell them that their DNA "might" be used against them -- give me a break!  I can't believe you privacy nuts.  You want parents to opt in to something that most parents don't know anything about - and they will do so at the expense of their child....do want to have the death of babies on your hands?  I surely hope when a child DIES because of your ignorance of a public health initiative that will help research and HELP CHILDREN IN THE LONG run.....that the parents know that YOU WERE THE ONE THAT CHANGED THE LAW.  I'll for sure let them know if you get away with this craziness!
GOD HELP YOU IF YOU DO!
 
The two emphasized lines jumped out at me.  Remember way back in 1973 when lawyers argued before the Supreme Court that the government had no business interfering in the PRIVATE decisions being made by a woman and her doctor?  You might not as it was a rather obscure case that went by the name Roe v. Wade.....Remember a couple of years ago when the Minnesota Legislature was considering the Defense of Marriage Act?  Remember the hue and cry that went out on how government had no business interfering in the private actions that take place in bedrooms of American citizens?  Remember how we, as a nation, have been arguing over the last two years about how the government has no right listening into PRIVATE phone calls of citizens and non-citizens alike?  Remember who the "privacy nuts" were in those discussions?  Why I do believe that they are the SAME PEOPLE that are today advocating that the government can take - AT THE MOMENT OF BIRTH - the most basic of private material...a person's DNA.
One could say that this is yet another example of the top down control that the government is trying to impose on us - by stripping away our individual rights to control our own DNA...and they would be correct. 
 
Personally, I see this as yet another example of the selective logic of politicians.  A minor girl has to get parental permission to get her ears pierced, but not to get birth control or an abortion.  Government can't force HIV testing in at risk populations because of "privacy" issues and yet the government is ok mandating that parents allow their child's DNA be warehoused for "research".  It's not OK to take and warehouse DNA from non-violent criminals, but it is ok to take and warehouse DNA from newborn babies without parental consent.
 
On this issue Rep. Ron Paul was absolutely correct (and consistent) when he said "It seems like everywhere you turn there's another government attempt to accumulate more information about us."  If it is SOOOO important for the government to have DNA "for research" then it is certainly important enough for the government to take a couple of minutes to explain to parents WHY it is sooooo important.  To take it by stealth and without parental consent is simply yet another way for government to spy on you. 
 

For all of you on the left who claim that it is wrong for the government to get in the middle of a woman's health care decision, why are you advocating for this when it goes directly against your rationale in support of abortion?  It's all about control.....

Cross posted at Ladies Logic where your comments are welcome