Just an Example:
Survey Shows Dramatic Increase
in Child Abuse and Neglect, 1986-1993
Excerpts from HHS Release, September 18, 1996
Link to Full HHS Release
The Department of Health and Human Services released a survey estimating that child abuse and neglect in the United States nearly doubled during the seven years between 1986 and 1993.
According to the HHS study, the number of total child maltreatment instances that were investigated by state agencies remained constant from 1986 to 1993; however, the percentage of cases investigated declined dramatically.
"It is shameful and startling to see that so many more children are in danger and that proportionately fewer incidents are investigated," HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said. "Now states, schools, health care professionals -- all of us -- must commit ourselves to investigating and preventing child abuse with far greater effectiveness than we have seen in the past."
The report estimated the number of abused and neglected children increased from 1.4 million in 1986, to over 2.8 million in 1993. The number of children who were seriously injured quadrupled from about 143,000 to nearly 570,000.
First of all, the Left, like Shalala, has an ulterior motive - The destruction of the family by making every parent a suspect. In the last 15 years, parental rights have disintagrated. In my view, this is largely due to rare, extreme cases that are blown out of proportion by the press. After that, it is much easier for the nanny state proponents to pass new laws.
Second, look at the numbers you quoted. Do they make sense to you? 1.4 million to 2.8 million in 7 years? Even accounting for population increases, something is not right with those numbers. How were they defining "neglect" in 1986 versus 1993? How do they define it now? (As an aside, I grew up in the 70's. Under today's rules, I would have been long gone into foster care - just on the seatbelt laws alone).
True child abuse is horrific and should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, we should never let the exceptions be the justification for new laws that remove our freedoms. One thing that contributes to that happening is hysteria.