I was listening to the Radio 5 Live phone-in programme while I was working the other day. There had been a news report in the morning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), otherwise known by its proper name of "bad parent syndrome". Some researchers at Cardiff had discovered a statistically-significant variation.
They found that 15% of the ADHD group had large and rare variations in their DNA - compared with 7% in the control group.
[From BBC News - New study claims ADHD 'has a genetic link']
Who knows what this actually means. But the BBC had a phone-in on the topic, always risky in our innumerate and semi-literate society. A female member of the underclass called in, to support the Cardiff research.
Her reasoning was impeccable.
She said, essentially...
1. I have eight children by three different fathers (at least one of whom is currently in jail, as are some of the children).
2. Seven of the eight children have been diagnosed with ADHD, so that suggests a genetic factor.
3. Because they have different fathers, I must be carrying the gene for ADHD.
4. Since it is a genetic problem, just like cystic fibrosis or whatever, it's not my fault.
Brilliant, just brilliant, and a shining example of what New Labour's Edukashun Edukashun Edukashun policy has done for the country: that is, having failed to impart any scientific or mathematical knowledge, it has filled the void with a culture of irresponsibility. Instead of this woman apologising to citizens and taxpayers for having eight children that neither she or nor any of the fathers could look after properly and then throwing herself on the mercy of the public, she was able to lay the entire problem at the door of her unfortunate genes and therefore shake off the last vestigial, submerged feelings of responsibility. I think they call this "socialism: I wonder if that has a genetic cause as well? I will scour the BBC's web site to find out.
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