Foes of Idle Hands, Amish Contest a Child Labor Law

The Amish are asking the Congress for an exemption from Child Labor Laws....

"The Amish just want to be let alone, he said, but the federal government is meddling in their lives and livelihoods by fining Amish sawmills and woodworking shops that employ teenagers, in violation of child labor law.

"What are we supposed to do with them if they don't work here, have them stay on the street all day?" said the furniture maker, who insisted on anonymity. "I see what other teenagers do when I'm installing kitchens in people's homes. I see kids watching TV. They don't know what to do with themselves. Shouldn't they be occupied doing something worthwhile?""


While I agree that children under 18 should be occupied with something worthwhile but definitely not in a saw-mill. What if they get injured or crippled? Who's going to look after them for the rest of their lives? I understand that the Amish refuse any form of welfare or medicaid...