This is an opinion article submitted by a citizen of Decatur County.  Comment in Talk Bainbridge

I'd like to tell you a little story....My husband and I went to school to eat lunch with our son on his birthday.  The children were very excited and very inquisitive.  Then out of the blue a little girl told my husband the following, "My mama told me that when I get 16 I can quit school and have babies."  We looked at each other in disbelief....this child was in first grade!  Before lunch was over she said it two more times.

With that being said, here is my opinion on that subject.  What I am about to say will sound inhumane and even communist but it just may be the only thing that will work.  In the famous words of Dr. Phil, "If it's not working for you, try something different."  I think it's time to try something different!

We have laws against murder, rape, child molestation...so on and so fourth.  Why not put in place a law against abusing the system by bringing children into this world and then placing the responsibility of providing food, clothing, housing, medical care and discipline on someone else?  Agree with me or not but this is how I see it....

If you have a child and you depend on the system then you have just qualified yourself for some tough love courtesy of the Tax Payers of America. Mandatory classes on parenting, being responsible, work ethics and being productive members of society and last but certainly not least, mandatory birth control! Some may say this is a violation of rights, but I feel you give up your rights when you place the financial responsibility of taking care of you and your children on the tax payers and your only job consists of laying on your back being a baby factory and driving to DFACS on your Escalade to meet with your case worker. That's just me though.

I think the farm is a great idea for juvenile offenders!  Instead of the county footing the bill for the construction of the facility, apply for government grants and use the money confiscated from drug busts.  There will still be the issue of compliance.  These juveniles are not use to boundaries, rules and being told what to do.

How will their refusal to work on the farm be handled?  They are already being punished for their crimes by being there so what else can we do to them?  What other options do we have in order to make them understand?  Once again, this is my opinion, agree or not, think it violates rights, oh well. The way I see it is if the child can't be controlled by the parent or the parent doesn't care to control the child and the courts can't get through to them, then they have just qualified for some tough love courtesy of the Citizens of Decatur County!

If they refuse to work, break the rules, fight and who knows what else they can think of, sit them down explain to them what they have done wrong and why it is not acceptable. Zero Tolerance!  Then tear their butts up! 

I'll bet that will be the first time some of them have had some good ole fashion discipline.  It may or may not get their attention right away....but I guarantee it will make them think and if there is consistency, sooner or later they will get the point.

This is an opinion article submitted by a citizen of Decatur County.

Comment in Talk Bainbridge