What gives the government the ability to determine what is in the best interest of a child?

Question

What gives the government the ability to determine what is in the best interest of a child?

Answer 1

Children are not property. They are people whom the law says are not old enough to make many decisions for their own.

Since a child cannot walk away from an abusive situation, it is the responsibility of the government to assist them.

Answer 2

Voters who don't want to be responsible for their children give government the power to judge what is in the best interest of a child.

However, nothing gives government the ability to do so.

Answer 3

Supposed so-called experts the government listens to, like sociologists, psychologists and social workers.  Problem is, these people often disagree, almost violently with each other, that is from one group to another.   Like, for example, Freudian therapists might differ from Cognitive Behaviorists.  That is regarding the government's "ability."  The government's authority is that of the gun.  Mildly put, "do it or well put you in jail" or in the extreme "execute you."

Answer 4

They have made all children nothing more than a textbook reference.  They don't know what's best.  That's a parents job and I wish they would just butt out and let us raise our kids.