On the other hand, in fifty years or less, the RFID chip is going to be the way of the world.

Period.

Fight the universal, gov’t-required RFID chip though we may — it’s going to happen. And yes, it’s going to result in more gov’t control and micro-management of our lives. But then, that’s what big-gov’t politicians and virtually all bureaucrats live for: more money and and more bureaucratic dominion over other people’s lives.

Get ready for it.

Regardless, I’d give my right arm to be able to use some kind of locator technology on my son, just in case he’s abducted.

The alternative, of course, is to teach him to fight (karate or whatever) and to be resourceful.

I don’t think we need to implant chips in children, and I hope that Madeleine is found safe, and if someone took her, then they should be punished to the full extent of the law.

OK, I hope I don’t come across as a “smug mom”, but I do think that the McCanns were irresponsible in leaving their children alone while they spent the evening in a restaurant. I have no doubt that they love their children dearly and didn’t intend for this to happen, but actually, I think they’ve gotten a break because they’re white, educated and photogenic. At first, I read that they were checking on the children every half hour, but then they said that they had checked on them at around 9 p.m., and then found her missing just before 10 p.m. And they didn’t just leave a three-year-old; they left a three-year-old and two-year-old twins. And it wasn’t as if the restaurant was just next to their apartment, where they might see or hear anything that went on. They were some distance from the apartment, and presumably the restaurant had music playing, etc. Anything could have happened - and unfortunately, it did. At the very least, one of those children could have woken up and been confused and terrified because they didn’t know where they were, and there would be no adult there for up to an hour.

I live on the 3rd floor of my husband’s parents’ house, and I never left my children up here alone when they were that age, even just to sit downstairs on the first floor. Even if I wasn’t far, I would have been unable to see or hear them, and any parent knows that things can happen even in a minute or two, with two- and three-year-olds (especially with three of them!).

I read the post you linked to, and it’s true that even when you’re diligent, a child can get away and get lost, or get hurt, etc. (And running out for a minute to take the trash out is different from what happened here.) At least you do you best and don’t put them in situations that are obviously dangerous. These were two doctors on vacation in the Algarve; surely they could have paid a babysitter for a few hours.