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The left wants a law prohibiting abortion, Arthur, so how about balancing that absurdity with laws regulating which men can father children. That way each sex gets equally and lawfully screwed.

This is the kind of talk that really makes people reject the "left." Perhaps we should also prohibit men with IQs that are below a certain level, incomes below a certain level, or simply those with "incorrect" views from having children as well. Will Brian chair the "central committee" that decides who may/may not have children? Brian will you be the "decider?"

In some ways this is less of an issue for women, but I find myself thinking about all the grandmothers raising their daughters' children when the daughters can't. Of course, often the reasons have to do with the daughters' being too young, so these grandmothers aren't always very old either.

And being rich doesn't only affect Thompson's ability to provide for his children if he isn't around--it also increases his life expectancy because he can afford better medical care.

hey, that's an OK question - sperm quality does deteriorate!!!

Statistics:

A man who is 65 has a much greater life expectancy than the 74 or so mentioned on the show today.

Life expectance of a male born today may be 74 BUT a 65 year old has already "survived" long enough to expect to life longer.

Fred Thompson is not in good health. He admitted to be suffering form Hodgkins disease.

According to the CDC, annual age-adjusted all cause mortality rates (per 1000 workers) were highest for roofers (13.1) followed by painters (12.5) and airplane pilots (11.3). Is it ethical for roofers to have children? I swear this debate sounds like something from a Japanese Red Army training camp circa 1972.

Why, with so many people in the world, is having children unquestioned as a charitable act? If I want children, it's for selfish reasons. I think it's dangerous to talk about ethical parenting without opening the entire box: overpopulation, need for adoptive parents, the fertility industry...

I think Pierre Trudeau, former PM of CAnada, had a kid at the age of 79, didn't he? I could be wrong... but I'd be curious what happened to those kids.

Having children in your 60's is definitely something that should be taken with a great amount of consideration, however my grandfather is 80 years old, still works full time (by choice) running his own company. He is in excellent health and I could easily see him contending with the issues of raising a teenager or college student should he have chosen to do so. Average life expectancy is just that, average. It takes into account all of those people that die young, middle aged and elderly.

Men do all the talking, but the reality always ens up being so far away. My son's father wanted him quite late in his life (50's) after having had another family in an earlier life. He walked about a storm like Thompson did, but had never delivered one day on his words....it's been all about him in his 'early retirement". Our son rarely gets a glimps of his father who knows nothing of his son, while talking up a lot of bull about him.....and has never wanted to discuss with me on the "what if's" responsibilities/obligations in his life. It would be a rare find of an older father who really will stick around and deliver on his words/gloating.

Brian's show is becoming a forum for Marxists. Is he actually calling Fred Thompson a hypocrite because he stated that more fathers have to stick around and raise their children? And Sarah, you really have to find and befriend some better men.

fred thompson wants us to know that he is still virile. These days he looks like crap on the move. Photos of fred are not very complementary since he is not in make-up for a tv show, everyday, anymore.

What are the ethics of having children, if you below the proverty line, obese, have diabetes, smoke etc: fathers in those age groups might be more likey to be dead before their childrens adolecents.

one friend of mine was born when his father was in his 70's. I know another family where there are three girls: two born when the father was in his 60's and the other when he was pushing 80. who would argue those people should not have been born?

there are issues but I don't think you can blame people for doing it. The widow can certainly go and get remarried if needed...I particularly don't think that it is an issue with Fred Thompson who I am sure is expected to live another 20 years. just based on him being a rich white male. he's not 85!

Having the money is somewhat irrelevant. He didn't seem to suggest the issue was about whether the kids are cared for but rather whether there was the proper father figure there.

My great uncle has a great grandson who is two years younger than his youngest daughter. In her high school years, he was in his late 70s. He married three times and every time his wife was 26.

YES! Money makes a difference. I'm sure that the life expectancy (of men) increases with wealth.

Hillary - get pregnant! Quick!!! It'll be a landslide!

Responsible fatherhood, there's an oxymoron.
What the hell does a man care what age he fathers children? He doesn't have to carry it, deliver it, nurse it....hell, he isn't even required by law to stick around and help raise it. And he also has the GENETIC PRIVLEGE of never having to deal with an unwanted pregnancy.

Tony Randall died with 2 young children 6 and 7