An important point

A simple point, yet so very important:

Would it be better if governments had no power to remove children from their parents? It is easy to imagine, probably to point out, particular cases where such removal is justified. But in order to defend giving government the power to do something, you must argue not only that it can sometimes do good but that, on net, it can be expected to do more good than harm.

Child welfare is a prime example of a policy area where people neglect the last part of that equation, but it does not stand alone.