Dateline Dayton — I realize that licensing parents-to-be does not solve our problems.

Proof: Many car accidents are caused by bad decisions — drinking, drugs, texting, using the phone or another distraction.  The driver may know the rules, have a valid license and still make a bad choice.

Last week in New York a mad driver deliberately ploughed into a crowd, killing one injuring nearly two dozen. Here in Dayton, a wrong-way on the interstate and struck a tanker truck. He was the only one killed. Could some of these situations been avoided if we had tougher penalties for poor choices?

Why do I make a case for licensing childcare persons and parents?

The present system to protect children is a failure.

Last week in Dayton, a mother shot two of her children in the head in their home. She  dragged them out of the house, into the front yard.

There probably were extenuating circumstances.  She was found outside nude.  It probably will be drugs or alcohol.  Sadly, tellingly, the mother already was being investigated by child services.   The present system does not work!

Then there was the drunk father forgot and left his small child out in the sun all day.  The youngster was seriously burned.  Mom said dad was trying to straighten out his life.  We must do something!

A five-year-old boy walked to his grandparents’ home to tell them his mother and dad were dead on the floor of his home.  Turned out they were not dead, just flattened by drugs.

We are losing the war on drugs. The problem is threefold.

• Not enough is being done to get drugs off the street.
• Not enough is being done to discourage drug use.
• Drug dealers are being insufficiently punished.

One reason for these problems: Little is being done in Washington.

Too much time is spent on who said what, who talked to this person and emails instead of dealing with the problems of our country.

We should insist our representatives take care business. Forget blame.

Reflecting

I am not a trained writer or thinker. But I enjoy sharing my thoughts, travels and life experiences.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net