Thanks for writing this. I’m interested in politics and political interventions as potential EA causes. But I do disagree with you. I think this cause is not a good use of resources because it’s not tractable and because I think it wouldn’t have any valuable direct effects either. (The indirect effects on EA diversity and composition are not considered in this comment.)
Tractable- you won’t get 2⁄3 of the Senate to concur. Opposition to these treaties is standard on the right. I would be very surprised Democrats get a majority that large in the next decade. If there’s a particular part of the treaty that you think is really valuable, like making it illegal for 17-year olds to marry it would probably be more effective to work on that at the state level. Likewise, if you want shorter sentences for crimes commited by juveniles that can be fought for at the state level.
Value of ratification- there are many countries that compared to American have much higher child mortality rates, much worse schools, more child labor and so on, that have ratified the treaty. I’m not aware of any sudden change in child mortality or any other metric in any country that ratified the treaty. If there is one, that would definitely count in favor of the treaty.
I appreciate your questions on both of these points.
Tractability—Yes, I see the senate as the roadblock, depending on the party makeup within it. Of course, lobbying state-specific-laws might be more successful, but not as comprehensive. This is the reason I am suggesting going for the big goal. It is more about universal acknowledgement of child rights as agent-less future people. Even if the senate is destined to block it, do you see the possible value in bringing child rights to the agenda, raising the issue in the news, raising public awareness, spinning the possibility US ratification as “American champions of child rights”, or any similar secondary goals?
Value of ratification—True, ratification does not directly guarantee improved child survival or welfare. It is why I am suggesting it as “hits based”. As I am sure you know, UN treaties are only as strong as the sanctions other countries choose to place on violators. If the US ratified, as a relative global power, it would carry weight in sanctions, which it cannot do now. The benefit to US children I see as a positive externality only.
The goal would be in what universal consensus represents, step one in a global value change toward the importance of future people.
As someone with interest in political interventions as EA cause areas, I am curious whether you think there is a better approach?
I’m skeptical of elevating children’s rights in this way, because people already claim to care intensely about the value of children and their futures, but differ on how to do that. The UN wants to make it harder for kids to work, I can think of libertarians who disagree. Or education about sex and sexuality- both sides claim they are protecting children and so forth.
With more novel concepts or trying to get people to widen their circle of concern to include animals or far future generations, I think maybe that’s a worthwhile way to go. But people care about kids a lot- or at least claim to!
Maybe there’s some smart solution but I can’t think of good ways to advance your goal.
Thanks for writing this. I’m interested in politics and political interventions as potential EA causes. But I do disagree with you. I think this cause is not a good use of resources because it’s not tractable and because I think it wouldn’t have any valuable direct effects either. (The indirect effects on EA diversity and composition are not considered in this comment.)
Tractable- you won’t get 2⁄3 of the Senate to concur. Opposition to these treaties is standard on the right. I would be very surprised Democrats get a majority that large in the next decade. If there’s a particular part of the treaty that you think is really valuable, like making it illegal for 17-year olds to marry it would probably be more effective to work on that at the state level. Likewise, if you want shorter sentences for crimes commited by juveniles that can be fought for at the state level.
Value of ratification- there are many countries that compared to American have much higher child mortality rates, much worse schools, more child labor and so on, that have ratified the treaty. I’m not aware of any sudden change in child mortality or any other metric in any country that ratified the treaty. If there is one, that would definitely count in favor of the treaty.
I appreciate your questions on both of these points.
Tractability—Yes, I see the senate as the roadblock, depending on the party makeup within it. Of course, lobbying state-specific-laws might be more successful, but not as comprehensive. This is the reason I am suggesting going for the big goal. It is more about universal acknowledgement of child rights as agent-less future people. Even if the senate is destined to block it, do you see the possible value in bringing child rights to the agenda, raising the issue in the news, raising public awareness, spinning the possibility US ratification as “American champions of child rights”, or any similar secondary goals?
Value of ratification—True, ratification does not directly guarantee improved child survival or welfare. It is why I am suggesting it as “hits based”. As I am sure you know, UN treaties are only as strong as the sanctions other countries choose to place on violators. If the US ratified, as a relative global power, it would carry weight in sanctions, which it cannot do now. The benefit to US children I see as a positive externality only.
The goal would be in what universal consensus represents, step one in a global value change toward the importance of future people.
As someone with interest in political interventions as EA cause areas, I am curious whether you think there is a better approach?
I’m skeptical of elevating children’s rights in this way, because people already claim to care intensely about the value of children and their futures, but differ on how to do that. The UN wants to make it harder for kids to work, I can think of libertarians who disagree. Or education about sex and sexuality- both sides claim they are protecting children and so forth.
With more novel concepts or trying to get people to widen their circle of concern to include animals or far future generations, I think maybe that’s a worthwhile way to go. But people care about kids a lot- or at least claim to!
Maybe there’s some smart solution but I can’t think of good ways to advance your goal.
I would be suspicious of anyone (the libertarians you describe) who claims to be protecting children by endorsing child labour.