Pubdate: Thu, 15 July 1999 Source: Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Luis Obispo County Newspapers Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/ Author: Bill Denneen Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n735.a10.html FAMILY PLANNING I typically enjoy reading Teresa Mariani's excellent column. However, her column today disturbs me. It deals with the unwanted babies of drug addicts. She mentions one woman with eight children, four of whom are in foster care being treated for drug addiction. We, as a culture, have all sorts of requirements for everything from hairdresser, to mechanic, to doctor but NO requirements for being a parent. Anyone producing eggs or sperm can produce a new life even if they are 13 years old, an alcoholic, a serial killer, a cigarette smoker, a cocaine addict, on welfare, a felon, retarded, in jail, an illegal immigrant, a prostitute, a pothead, or child molester. We call it "reporductive freedom." The time has come for homosapiens to face the fact that there are TOO MANY PEOPLE on this small, deteriorating planet. A good place to start is to stop the overproduction of unplanned, unwanted, addicted, unloved babies. I suggest support of Planned Parenthood. I suggest free vasectomies for all felons, mentally retarded, welfare recipients, illegal immigrants, drug addicts, cigarette addicts and anyone that asks for one. I suggest tubal ligations for all women that are drug addicts or require government assistance. Every child born should be born planned, wanted, loved and NOT drug addicted. Bill Denneen, Nipomo - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea