[alexamenos]

of all the things that raise my ire in this mess, the one that thing that is most consistently bothersome is the outlandish suggestion that the CPS and the State of Texas is somehow more concerned about the health and well-being of these children than their own mothers.

I cited earlier the "perversity" of the State's *bargain* with the mothers that they could remain with their children so long as they first checked into an abused wife shelter, thereby putting unabused women who had not abused their children in the position of lying to help the state make its case if they want to see their children.

Now, we see that the State has made another bargain with the mother's, this one being that only mothers who are themselves minors may remain with the children, thereby putting women who are not minors in the position of lying to help the State make it's case if they want to see their children.

That is, the State is using these children as bargaining chips and as negotiating leverage. That's disgusting, but it's sadly not atypical of the State's behavior.