Problematically, the Only If It’s In My Own Back Yard mindset basically follows: ‘Why should I care about others' children’s troubles and turmoil — my family and I are alright?’ or ‘What is in it for me, the taxpayer, if I support programs for other people’s children, however abused?’

While some people will justify it as a normal thus moral as well as ethical human evolutionary function, the self-serving OIIIMOBY mentality can and does debilitate progress, even when it is most needed. And it seems this distinct form of societal penny wisdom but pound foolishness is a very unfortunate human characteristic that is likely with us to stay.

The wellbeing of all children — and not just what other parents’ children might/will cost us as future criminals or costly cases of government care, etcetera — should be of great importance to us all, regardless of whether we’re doing a great job with our own developing children.