[southern rock]

Only in the most EXTREME cases should the state ever take a child!

I say that only in cases where the natural parent has been duly CONVICTED in a court of law and sentenced to prison, should the state TRANSFER custody of the child to the next CLOSEST relative. The state itself should NEVER have a child in it's custody.

[Humidston]

I doubt under normal circumstances, the state would remove the child for a thrashing. Except these people are flight risks due to their transient and shady lifestyle.

(FYI, if any of you wonder why I seem prejudiced against Irish Travelers, it's because a member of my family was also ripped off by these people.)

[Lower55]

should the state TRANSFER custody of the child to the next CLOSEST relative. The state itself should NEVER have a child in it's custody.

Exactly.

The damage from the a$$-beating will be forgotten/forgiven by the child in short order.

The abuse by the state will be lifelong.

If lifestyle dictates who gets to keep their children, then gays, lesbians, swingers, .........well, you get the drift.