ITEMS IN THE NEWS

Interesting conversation on Fox News Sunday yesterday.
Two members of a special commission appointed by Virginia Governor to investigate what happened at Virginia Tech last week suggested that something may have to be done to the laws to make it easier for parents to step in and do something about an obviously mentally ill adult child.
Chris Wallace asked Virgina Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and George Washington University President Stephen Trachtenbergy, "Have our privacy and disability laws gone so far, perhaps too far, in protecting the individual at the expense of protecting the community?"
"I think that's a very legitimate question that we have to ask and answer in the wake of this tragedy," Bolling responded, "Especially given what we now know about the problems that the one who committed these crimes had experienced in the past."
When Wallace asked about the effect of current privacy laws, Trachtenberg--whose university had to pay damages to a student suspended after he was accused of being mentally ill--responded:
"Between the FERPA laws and the Buckley amendment, we can't tell parents students' grades, much less that they are drinking in excess or having psychiatric problems or other kinds of problems.
"I think it needs to be examined, and that's why I'm very grateful that the governor has appointed this commission, because I don't think we ought to do this episodically."
It's an interesting proposition, and I feel strongly about it both ways.
On one hand, there are times parents need to step in...drug use, involvement in dangerous religious cults (don't prejudge that remark until you've walked a mile in my shoes, folks), and violent behavior.
On the other, if the laws were changed, what would stop collection agencies from harraunging parents over their child's credit card debts?
What do you think?
--R.J. Dickens