On “Co-Parenting with the Government”

"Rocking the Cradle of Liberty"

Members of the South Carolina “Freedom Caucus” (all lawmakers) meet with members of Moms for Liberty at a national event (screenshot from Freedom Caucus social media).

It’s time to pick a school. You can follow the crowd or follow your heart, and pick a school that empowers them to be them…

-Connections Academy, by Pearson (online advertisement)

Difference in hue and hair is old. But the belief in the preeminence of hue and hair, the notion that these factors can correctly organize a society and that they signify deeper attributes, which are indelible— this is the new idea at the heart of these new people who have been brought hopelessly, tragically, deceitfully, to believe that they are white.

-Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me

In this peak era of meaningless, disingenuous slogans, “I don’t co-parent with the government” is probably not the worst, but it deserves special mention. I know the word “Orwellian” was long ago co-opted by every group who wanted to criticize any kind of…