The Government Wants To Help You Parent

If you have kids, help from friends and family is a good thing. We all seek advice from time to time about how we are doing. But how many of us want the government's help?

Section 440 in the health care bill -- titled "Home Visitation Programs for Families with Young Children and Families Expecting Children" -- seeks to establish home visitation by government agents to educate parents on child rearing and behavior (1). It calls for "well trained and competent staff." Who in the government is well trained and competent?

The section is the "Education Begins at Home Act" from 2008, sponsored by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO). It failed to get approval on its own so it has been reinserted here.

It goes on to say it wants to “prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low-income families or a high incidence of child maltreatment.”

It establishes home inspections by government employees to observe parent and child behavior, and monitor the achievement of outcomes - outcomes established by government. Those conducting the inspections are required to collect information about families, and provide this information to other government agencies (2).

There are already programs in every state to assist those who need help with income, parenting and more. There are also many private programs available. Why entrench and further empower the federal government?

Some serious questions should be asked:

• Why aren't the programs ALREADY IN PLACE by the states good enough?


• If these programs are deficient, what makes the federal government think it can help?


• Who sets these outcomes and how accountable is that person to the people?


• What about different styles of parenting?


• Is corporal punishment allowed or will parents who practice that become criminals?


• What about disagreements between the workers and parents?


• What happens if a worker decides a child needs more? Who pays?


• What kind of information is collected, how is it used and stored, and who else has access to it?


• How voluntary is something when it is mandated by the government?


• What about government workers that consider religion to be a short-sighted crutch?


• Why hasn't the media covered this and questioned the politicians?


• What the HELL does this have to do with health care?

This must be the "cradle" part of the "cradle to grave" the Democrats want. It has nothing to do with providing better care. It is a power grab.

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1. Burke, Lindsey (2009, July 17). "Stealth Agenda in Health-Care Bill: Early Childhood Home Visitation". The Heritage Foundation.
Retrieved August 13, 2009, from The Heritage Foundation

2. Smith, Karen (2009, August 6). "Health Care Bill a Possible Threat to Homeschooling". Fish Eaters.
Retrieved August 13, 2009, from Fisheaters.com