Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Sue the state?

Another case with unremarkable hallmarks. For as long as governments have been keeping records, child abuse has been shown to be linked with children who are ex-nuptial, and born to very young mothers who are more likely to be Maori or Pacific. Over fifty years they have thrown more and more resources at the problem only to incentivise and aggravate it.

When someone on welfare (and they almost always are) is convicted by the courts for child abuse is there a case for state to be held accountable for aiding and abetting the crime?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even worse, Lindsay, is that the state seems to go out of its way to apologise to these young mothers, even when they are known to be the abusers. Just look at the comments in today's Herald re this latest case, you would think that the teenage parents were completely blameless. Nothing will change, because the state is blind to know the truth. Should they be sued? Yes.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Can you direct me to the comments you refer to?

DigiSlidz said...

Hi Lindsay. Not sure if this is what Anon was referring to: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10525322. The part that really bugs me is that the anti smacking bill was supposed to stop this. It would be interesting to know he real effect of the legislation.