I Thought that's what Parents were For?

I have recently been trying to finish up a summary of a portion of H. R. 3590 (better known as "Obamacare"), I've been working on for Ten-Amendments.org.  Today, I was plodding through section 2953 when I came across yet another example of the government stepping in where it isn't supposed to.  Section 2953 is about "Personal Responsibility Education,"and provides funding for States (at a minimum of $250,000) and grants, for specific organizations, to carry out "Personal Responsibility Education Programs."  These programs will be able to teach the youth of America many useful things (if you can't tell, I am being sarcastic) including the following:


"(C) ADULTHOOD PREPARATION SUBJECTS.—The adulthood preparation subjects
 described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) Healthy relationships, such as positive self-esteem and relationship dynamics, friendships, dating, romantic involvement, marriage, and family inter actions. (ii) Adolescent development, such as
the development of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and  development, body image, racial and ethnic diversity, and other related subjects.
 (iii) Financial literacy.  (iv) Parent-child communication...
  (vi) Healthy life skills, such as goal setting, decision making, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, and stress management."

Seriously?  Does our government really have to step in and pay for our children to learn about friendship, positive self-esteem and decision making? Have the parents been so absent in our country that this is the steps that is necessary to prepare our youth for adult life? Unfortunately, the more I see of the world outside my little home school bubble, the more I am afraid that the answer to the last question is yes. When I was taking driver's ed this summer, there were these posters in the classroom explaining how to do things like ask questions, accept criticism and apologize to people; and this was in a high school.

Although, I find it very saddening when I think about how many kids in America are not being properly raised by their parents.  I don't believe that it is justification for the government to step in and starting parenting.  That is not the role our government was created for, and it is not the right way to raise children.  You cannot teach a child to be respectful and responsible in a classroom, if they are not learning the same lesson from their parents.  You cannot teach a child about parent-child relationships, and how to have a good marriage if they aren't seeing that when they enter their front door.  There is a very serious very serious problem in America today, and a problem that needs to be dealt with.  But not by the government

Until next time, au revoir.

~Nat