ABSTRACT
In this book, it has been argued that society must guarantee the well-being of children. A list of childhood interests has been developed, which represent moral claims of children on society. This chapter examines some practical and policy implications of these considerations. In particular, it is argued that (1) society must ensure adequate healthcare access for children that is readily accessible and free of financial and bureaucratic constraints; (2) that society must similarly ensure adequate healthcare access for parents; (3) that parents contribute substantially to the good of society and must be compensated for their work; (4) that society must institute parental supports such as parental leave and supportive childcare; (5) and that there are clearly identifiable limits to parental authority stipulated by the parental role.
The implications identified in this chapter flow directly from the good of the child and the good of society grounded in the central assumptions of liberty. These practical conclusions therefore hold for any free society that is concerned with promoting a good, open, and free society. They do not assume any particular political view, nor are they based in any particular moral philosophy; instead, they hold for any society that takes liberty seriously.
