Apparently, this could happen under Barack Obama.
I'm sure the leftwingers would argue, as Obama has, that "it's a disgrace" to be in the same league with Somalia because we haven't ratified this treaty. But the document could have far-reaching consequences for parents and alter how we can raise our children.
Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.
A murderer aged 17 years, 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.
Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.
The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent's decision.
A child's "right to be heard" would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.
According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children's welfare.
Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.
Teaching children about Christianity in schools has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.
Many liberals argue that good parents wouldn't be affected by the measure, but that probably depends upon one's interpretation of "good." If you want your child to attend your church and she wants to attend a different one, should the state tell you that you can't tell your child which church to attend? If your son decides he only wants to go to church once a month but you go every week, who should settle the differences? What if you want your daughter to get a job to help pay for her expenses but she wants "the right to leisure"? Should the government decide these disputes or should parents?
Good parenting requires not only trying to accommodate your child's desires but enforcing discipline where necessary. As the article notes, if you don't want your 12-year-old to have a Facebook account, the government could argue that this is a restriction on communication.
Fortunately, ratification of any treaty takes 2/3 of the Senate and Democrats have nowhere near that number. But don't think treaties of this nature are out of consideration.
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