You talk about damage caused by this - what about damage caused by parents who don't want the children they have? If someone is so unattached from their child that they would turn them over to social services - drive hundreds of miles to do so - then there is something pretty serious going on. Is it heartless for a parent to recognize that they simply aren't cut out for the job?

There are external factors as well. During the depression in the 30s, children were routinely 'abandoned' to the state because parents couldn't care for them. That wasn't heartless - it was the best solution they could devise. Even with social safety nets, many people are facing that choice today. Would you rather see a child standing next to a parent begging on a street corner (it happens) or see them "abandoned" in the hope they have a roof over their head and food in their belly?

This belief that all adults want children, that all women want to be mothers, and that a desire to avoid child-bearing and child-rearing is wrong or abnormal - that causes more problems than all the rest of this combined. There is a very strong stigma attached to deliberate childlessness. It is powerful and pervasive and undoubtedly has pushed people into having children that they really didn't want.

The loophole in this law simply exposed a truth that people don't want to see.

Some interesting commentary here, if you're interested:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/not-wanting-kids-is-entirely-normal/262367/

parents who have children they don't want. Good point And harsh economic times certainly play a role. You're right about the stigma about mothers, it can be really bad. My wife and I have one child; he is going to be six soon, and we have been asked countless times where is number 2.

My own mother even asked if something was wrong w/ my wife, not me, didn't even cross her mind that perhaps I didn't want more children. Perhaps its the strong catholic background we come from or the stay at home mom, she was raised to be... Grandfather was the time type that said women belonged in the kitchen, and should take care of the house...