"Should a parent who allows their child get fat be tried for negligent homicide for knocking years off their life?" No, but parents who allow their children to

"Should a parent who allows their child get fat be tried for negligent homicide for knocking years off their life?" No, but parents who allow their children to become morbidly obese should be investigated for child abuse. "Stay out of other peoples decision on how they raise their kids." I do. She didn't raise her kid; she killed her kid. "Do we really want the government raising our children by rule of law?" Yes. The rule of law is what distinguishes civilisation from savagery. Edited: although I'm not sure that's what you meant by 'the rule of law'. If you're against Government intervention in parenting I'm in agreement, by and large, but there is clearly a point at which intervention is reasonable. Consider e.g. infanticide; does your rejection of Government interference in parenting extend that far? The interesting cases are the grey areas. What about parents who encourage their children to participate in dangerous sports? That seems reasonable to me, although I know some of the wrap-children-in-cotton-wool brigade disagree. I don't see withholding life-saving medical treatments as a legitimate parenting option, however. Maybe we should ask the parent in question? Oh, wait, her bad ideas killed her as well.