http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/government/otherinfo/blueribbon.html
(quote) - Except for her disappearance - which, granted, is a huge "except'' - the route by which Rilya became a ward of the State of Florida is not at all exceptional. It is, in fact, quite normal. It is a sad route traveled each year by thousands of children in Florida and by tens, indeed hundreds, of thousands of children across the United States.
These children - many so tiny, all so vulnerable, each so full of promise if only each could get love and nurture and opportunity - are the innocent victims of others' flaws. Drug abuse. Deep poverty. Homelessness. Neglect and cruelty by their parents or caregivers, or physical or sexual abuse. Lack of timely medical care or mental health services.
And the challenges for children go on: Lack of Guardians Ad Litem to assure their rights in court. Ineffective, or at worst indifferent, protection from government agencies mandated to safeguard children - commonly because of these agencies' infighting. Each agency jealously guards its own turf. Each is suspicious of the others' competence or motives.
Cooperation too often is viewed as capitulation when, in fact, it is vital. This infighting contributes to a malign culture of self-protection that all but strips meaningful protections from those who need it most: the vulnerable children.
So it long has been. So it was with Rilya. So it will ever be until - unless - Floridians resolve to guarantee dependent and abused children the protection they deserve. This resolve will require the fullest efforts of the governor, the Legislature, DCF, the courts, the schools, the Guardians Ad Litem, law enforcement, neighborhoods and individual citizens as well as volunteers without whom agencies working on behalf of children cannot function. (unquote)
Mmmmmmmmm, gatorman will repeat the crux of the 'problem' in the second paragraph for you, "Drug abuse. Deep poverty. Homelessness. Neglect and cruelty by their parents or caregivers, or physical or sexual abuse. Lack of timely medical care or mental health services."
When parents default their RESPONSIBILITIES and children to the state - guess what? The 'VILLAGE MENTALITY' does NOT work. Government cannot be a 'PARENT' to children no matter how you try to shape a system to meet all of the critical needs required in caring for and raising a child. Can you identify a government system anywhere in the US that is actually successful?
Government assuming the role and responsibilities of the parent(s) is a figment of the imagination of the liberal left and 'cradle to grave' mentality as advocated by the DemocRATic Party.
Childcare by the state in Florida has been a miserable failure for decades. So now, all of a sudden, it is all Governor Jeb Bush's fault - yeah right. Maybe you believe these words, "You can trust me with your children . . . afterall, I am from the government" . . . I sure don't buy it!
Read that second paragraph from the Blue Ribbon Panel again. Surprise . . . that's the real problem here.
FReegards . . . gatorman
