I ask myself that very question on a regular basis and have yet to find the answer. Two possible solutions: read to your children every night and spank them when they act like shitheads.

Jeez. That's pretty cold there, Angie. I take it you've never been around someone who's totally lost their shit.

So I take it this gives you expertise on the depth and breadth of things that can go wrong with an organ that, let's face it, we don't really understand the workings of. I've had heavy enough depression to very strongly consider snuffing it (in situations that weren't that bad, in retrospect, but tell that to my chemistry), but I don't necessarily think that makes me an expert on the postpartum variety. Seems that by the same token having had a skinned knee and a broken ankle means I'm supposed to fully understand the mindset of someone who's been shot in the gut and left to die.

Mental illness and past life experiences/injustices and drug/alcohol abuse have been long worn out excuses

Whoa now. Who said anything about justification? I don't think that anyone can "justify" what happened to her children.

Is losing someone's shit an excuse for them to kill their children?

It's not an excuse, but it does seem that there's very strong evidence that it may have been the reason. And remember, murder is a very specific charge, one that hinges on the state of mind of the killer. Our justice system recognizes that people die at the hands of others for a variety of reasons, and that these reasons must be taken into account when we determine punishment. First Degree, Second Degree, and Third Degree murders are regarded differently. Same goes for manslaughter.

I, for one, think that we have to consider more facts than whether someone broke a law or not when determining how to deal with them as a society. Black and white is not a realistic way of looking at life.

quit placing blame elsewhere and put it where it belongs...

Please tell me how placing blame "where it belongs" will address the death of these children. And whom does it compensate? Compassion is not tacit approval, but rather recognition that humans have inherant frailties and failures for which they cannot be expected to bear all responsibility.

Again, that's a very rough generalization, and submit that I am not an authority on such things. But all killings are not regarded equally.

Texas has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty. She ain't exactly getting away with it. What do you want them to do? Torture her on live TV? I'm sure there are plenty of "responsible" adults who would watch and cheer.

Cheers,