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.
So it is a conspiracy? Wow Pete, that is interesting. Good bye now.