this week's obsession: mandatory sterilization

I think I've hit my breaking point, people.

About a year and a half ago, the Times ran an investigative report on Child Protective Services and the failings of the system. The story carried a sidebar of photos of various kids who died after being removed from foster care and placed back with their biological parents.

This week, the paper carried another story about a two-year-old who died after she was taken from foster care and placed with her 35-year-old mother, who by the way has EIGHT other kids in foster care. A family friend wrote to the judge overseeing the case to express serious misgivings about moving the toddler back with her biological family, but for whatever reason, the little girl was allowed to stay. From what I know about CPS, the ultimate goal is to reunify children with their real parents. A month after moving back with her family, the girl was dead.

An investigation is ongoing but it emerged that the mother is now pregnant with her tenth child.

Not a typo: her tenth kid.

Years ago I read a book called "War Against the Weak," which chronicled the eugenics movement in the U.S. The aim was to eliminate the poor, minorities and anyone with a perceived disability. Nasty stuff. Compulsory sterilization of poor women and those determined to be sexually promiscuous was a big part of the philosophy. I've always cringed upon hearing the phrase, as it dredges up a horrible part of this country's past and has a not-so-casual acquaintance with Nazi Germany principles.

Much to my liberal chagrin, however, I see no problem with stopping a woman like this from breeding. All of her kids are in foster care, so she's clearly incapable of actually providing for them. Think of the heartache she's created for her kids: they've been shuttled from various caregivers all of their lives. They've probably never known real love and security. What kind of legacy is that to leave another human being?

I would have no qualm about someone inserting an implant into this woman's arm and preventing her from bringing more unwanted children into the world. I'm not singling her out because she's poor or morally degenerate; I am only going on the facts, which is that she had one dead child and eight others who are at the mercy of CPS.

Oh, if I only ruled the world. One day.