🚀 go-pugleaf

	"The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment 
	 by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."
  		-Louis Demblitz Brandeis


Sunday's (12/15/85) Seattle Times mentioned a new bill going before the
Legislature that presents an even greater threat to families in Washington.
The intent of the bill is good and I strongly support the intent of the 
authors of this bill, but there is a clear danger in its implementation. 

The bill would make it a felony to physically abuse children, including
shaking children under three, blows to the head, any spanking severe enough
to produce bruises, and so on. I doubt that anybody could argue that this
kind of abuse would ever be called for.

The problem arises with the involvement of Children's Protective Services
(CPS). Whenever faced with a situation of a possibility of abuse, these
people automatically take the position that the worst possible abuse has
occurred, and they pursue matters on that basis. Unfortunately, they have
been granted the power to do extreme damage to the family, under the rather
naive assumption that they would exercise restraint in the use of that power.

Under the current laws in Washington State, teachers and daycare workers are
required to call in CPS if they observe any bruises that could possibly be 
indicative of physical abuse, under threat of being accused as an accomplice
if they fail. The State does not provide any training in discerning 
"naturally-occurring" bruises from those arising from abuse. If you have an
active child, or one that bruises easily, you could be in for some serious 
trouble if this law passes.

As I mentioned, CPS automatically assumes the worst. Their normal first 
action is to remove the child from the home, and place him in foster care.
(With no proof, they can, at any time, remove and hold your child for 72
hours, not including weekends and holidays.) Then they start their
"investigation", which takes the form of a trial in everything but name and 
legality. You will be required to undergo psychiatric evaluation. Your child
will undergo psychiatric and physical examinations. You can expect a three to
six month separation from your child.

You also get to pay for all this, whether you prove your innocence or not.
Be prepared to shell out anywhere from $5000 to $25000.  For a bruise.


	"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."	  -John P. Curran
	"The price of eternal vigilance is indifference." -Marshall McLuhan

I must apologize for the use of a sympathetic "root" to post these items
anonymously. The intent is to protect people I know who are caught in the
system, as previously described. By putting a distance between their
indentites and the net, I am able to (I hope) effectively warn you without
bringing unjust retribution upon them from the State.

	"The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong
	 enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong
	 enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control
	 over its government." -Franklin Delano Roosevelt

I have done my duty in warning you, with places to turn for more information.
You may ignore it if you wish. It's on your heads. I shall say no more.

---
The opinions expressed above are not represented as those of any organization,
including those involved in the distribution of this posting.