Re: [RANT] Giving Mind Control Drugs to Children

[minow@apple.com (Martin Minow)]

Simon Spero comments on Tim May's Ritalin rant:
>On Sat, 6 Jul 1996, Timothy C. May wrote:
>>
>> When the mother (a single mother, as this is California) drops her son off
>> with my friend (also single, of course), she includes several "Ritalin"
>> capsules with instructions on how to dose her son with this
>> depressant/behavior modification drug.
>
>Er... Tim... Ritalin is an amphetamine.
>

Yup, and it was the illegal drug of choice in Sweden in the 1960's,
making its use as a convenient way to quiet down rambuncious kids
a bit strange -- but the "medical professionals" have an explanation.

Interestingly, it is illegal to hit kids in Sweden -- the courts
call it assault, just as if you hit an adult. When I lived there
(in the '60 and '70s), I took an informal survey and found only
one person who had ever been spanked as a child -- and only once,
for breaking her brother's violin.

A good friend would infrequently give her infant a pat on the
bottom (when he tried climbing on the stove), but was always
careful to aim for the well-padded diaper.

You may wish to consider whether Sweden's low murder rate is
related to the lack of parent-child violence.

Martin Minow
minow@apple.com