[abetterday]

From behind Rawls' veil of ignorance, how many children would choose not to be born if given that choice? It is at least as reasonable to say that they've been given a most precious of gifts as it is to say that they were forced in to it. And if they'd really rather not exist no one can take away from them the choice to end their life. That few would say this is really an option should balance the perspective that being born is a forced burden.

The perspective of life as an infinite gift gives parents some justification for authoritarianism which some will abuse. The perspective of being forced into it gives children some justification for entitlement which some will abuse.

I think it is harder to get children to not abuse a free pass and I think that parents have a better claim overall. But parents using it is a terrible practice that will backfire. Parents need to earn respect and compliance without relying on the trump card of 'i made you'. It is up to the children to decide what obligations they have towards their parents later on. And this should mostly be a function of raising considerate and capable people with maximal possible buy-in.

I agree that the bulk of children's debt is to society and their own children. But this requires a sense of fairness to notice the debt and the capability to repay it. Parents have a crucial role to play in developing these.