General Discussion

Nederland

(9,976 posts)

68. Certainly

Sat Dec 29, 2012, 12:51 AM

Dec 2012

Right now its only a problem in Japan and Europe. The US birthrate is around 1.9 the last time I looked, and that number is probably a healthy one. In other words, I agree with you that the world needs fewer people, but you have to be careful about how quickly you do it. If trends continue however, the US could be in the same boat as Europe. Places like Italy that have birthrates around 1.3 are basically screwed unless something changes in the near future. You simply cannot halve your population in under 50 years without some serious social unrest.

Here is a good article, but you could also look at the wikipedia article on 'Population Decline' for a more academic review.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/magazine/29Birth-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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No Kids - No Debt - No Regret [View all] TheMastersNemesis Dec 2012 OP

+1 NMDemDist2 Dec 2012 #1

You can bet if there is a hell reagan is there madokie Dec 2012 #2

i am glad you are happy with your choices. i feel so blessed to have experienced life with my two seabeyond Dec 2012 #3

Same here. femmocrat Dec 2012 #44

4 children, 3 grands, plenty of debt, retired, no regrets. To love and be loved...a gift. nt kelliekat44 Dec 2012 #71

I feel loved by my husband. DNW children (or pets. Not the caretaker type.). WinkyDink Dec 2012 #169

3 kids, plenty of debt and a small regret krakfiend Dec 2012 #126

we have two kids and I had no idea it would cost this much to raise two kids liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #4

The sad thing is that middle class people should not have to make the choice between having spooky3 Dec 2012 #24

Exactly. Our parents and grandparents never had to make that decision. HughBeaumont Dec 2012 #28

Perhaps its for the best AldoLeopold Dec 2012 #127

If that is true, a failure to provide adequate pay and benefits for deserving work should not be spooky3 Dec 2012 #134

Absolutely Agreed AldoLeopold Dec 2012 #135

I wonder where the autistic and mentally disabled children were when I was growing up in the 1940s a JDPriestly Dec 2012 #58

The ADA helped a lot liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #77

children like this CountAllVotes Dec 2012 #85

There weren't as many back then. a11ig8r Dec 2012 #93

Exactly, it's another medicare scam for doctors preying on hysterical young mothers. xtraxritical Dec 2012 #100

Simply not true. It's a real condition, and it is exploding in frequency. It's cruel to suggest Squinch Dec 2012 #152

I'm sick of this crap liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #116

Autism isn't exactly an anxiety disorder Kennah Jan 2013 #177

Unlike the Great Depression, our money, over the past 30 years, has been removed from our country DhhD Dec 2012 #99

That is b/c we have let special interests go unchecked! We no longer have representative democracy! Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #104

Retired 11 years ago. safeinOhio Dec 2012 #5

No kids, no debt, no regrets and retired socialindependocrat Dec 2012 #6

i thank my stars i don't have kids on a near-daily basis. HiPointDem Dec 2012 #7

Same here. What the world does not need is more people. xtraxritical Dec 2012 #101

+1 RoccoR5955 Dec 2012 #114

Me too XanaDUer Dec 2012 #128

The decision to have children or not is very personal.... Swede Atlanta Dec 2012 #8

I envy you especially the NO DEBT part loyalkydem Dec 2012 #9

Me too. a la izquierda Dec 2012 #33

standard words heard too often CountAllVotes Dec 2012 #10

Same here. Thank God daily ProfessionalLeftist Dec 2012 #12

my husband grew up in a household where there was alcoholism and abuse liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #15

Beautiful post. I agree with all you've said Number23 Dec 2012 #129

Somebody has to take care of you Nederland Dec 2012 #19

So, one should have a child so it can care for them some day? CountAllVotes Dec 2012 #26

No Nederland Dec 2012 #31

Say what? theaocp Dec 2012 #36

You teach kids for a living Nederland Dec 2012 #45

what? is the world having a 'people' shortage? wow, shitty question... PeaceNikki Dec 2012 #49

In some countries yes Nederland Dec 2012 #55

In the world. Not selective. quakerboy Dec 2012 #122

You can't look at the world as a whole Nederland Dec 2012 #139

Bologna. quakerboy Dec 2012 #155

Disagree Nederland Dec 2012 #157

Incorrect quakerboy Jan 2013 #180

There is no shortage of people obviously Nederland Dec 2012 #165

The problem with Japan and Europe athena Dec 2012 #158

A very American way of looking at the problem Nederland Dec 2012 #159

A very European response, to claim that the U.S. has no culture. athena Dec 2012 #163

Isn't it appropriate to have a European response? Nederland Dec 2012 #166

Japan does not refuse immigrants. Bonobo Dec 2012 #162

Not only does Japan refuse immigrants, it tries to send back the ones who are already there. athena Dec 2012 #164

Look, it's just not true. Bonobo Dec 2012 #171

They are adding to the problem of overpopulation. Anything else? n/t theaocp Dec 2012 #60

Only if they have more than two kids Nederland Dec 2012 #61

Dangerous? theaocp Dec 2012 #63

The social safety net falls apart Nederland Dec 2012 #65

An interesting concept. theaocp Dec 2012 #66

Certainly Nederland Dec 2012 #68

"contirbuting to society" is 1 per center propaganda a11ig8r Dec 2012 #94

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you and Nederland liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #53

Since we don't take care theaocp Dec 2012 #59

Since we don't take care Nederland Dec 2012 #62

Again, say what? theaocp Dec 2012 #64

Overpopulation is not uniformly distributed Nederland Dec 2012 #67

Children regularly pay others to care for their elderly parents - why is it okay for DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #90

good post. Two other points: spooky3 Dec 2012 #133

Those are great points as well. DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #153

Yes, they pay somebody else... Nederland Dec 2012 #137

You say that choosing to not have children is "the easy way out"? DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #154

You are missing the point Nederland Dec 2012 #156

Has been nothing to "understand", until this post and the last paragraph explained your real issue DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #167

Response Nederland Dec 2012 #168

Response DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #173

Interesting response Nederland Jan 2013 #182

that's a rather callous way of looking at humanity liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #70

People without kids HAVE done a great service to society. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #79

I have a mutated gene that puts me at risk of cancer liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #82

So can I assume that you will commit suicide... Nederland Dec 2012 #138

having children shanti Dec 2012 #111

On the other hand, not having children is a guarantee (nt) Nederland Dec 2012 #141

OMG, how disgusting! postrinserepeat.... Dec 2012 #119

Really? Nederland Dec 2012 #140

Huh? Iris Dec 2012 #146

Could you elaborate a little more? Nederland Dec 2012 #150

Are you serious? I have children and in no way would I ever expect them to care for me. madinmaryland Dec 2012 #124

Not necessarily your own children Nederland Dec 2012 #136

Yes, yes, we know and they are also going to have to "Pay our God damn Social Security!" RB TexLa Dec 2012 #142

Or maybe they won't Nederland Dec 2012 #144

That did nothing? Like pay taxes to build the schools they learned in, pay the first responders to RB TexLa Dec 2012 #145

Please Nederland Dec 2012 #147

Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #148

And it is not offset by government, not even close Nederland Dec 2012 #149

2 kids 3 grandkids Pharaoh Dec 2012 #11

I am 42... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2012 #13

Just one, love her, but has done nothing with her life Faygo Kid Dec 2012 #14

I have six grandchildren and they are treasures coldbeer Dec 2012 #16

I have no debt hfojvt Dec 2012 #17

No human kids, some debt, NO regret! BigDemVoter Dec 2012 #18

Same here! haha glinda Dec 2012 #20

The owner of the company I work for had one child, Tobin S. Dec 2012 #21

Two adult kids, no debt and no regrets. n/t RebelOne Dec 2012 #22

Three adult kids, small credit card debt, no regrets. BlueCaliDem Dec 2012 #34

Would not trade my 3 kids for anything in the world. JoePhilly Dec 2012 #23

it's all worth it liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #25

My parents were always on the brink of bankrupt ... JoePhilly Dec 2012 #30

On the flip side of that, it wouldn't matter if I were in debt up to my eyeballs, DapperDon Dec 2012 #27

Me, too.you cannot measure the joy they bring me, and the worries, in money adigal Dec 2012 #47

There is no right or wrong when it comes to having children liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author harris8 Dec 2012 #29

Get them to apply to the best schools they can get into adigal Dec 2012 #50

checking in to that -thanks lunasun Dec 2012 #83

K&R abelenkpe Dec 2012 #32

No kids, never wanted any, never had any... 1620rock Dec 2012 #35

Same here JeaneRaye Dec 2012 #39

+1,000 CountAllVotes Dec 2012 #86

Agree a11ig8r Dec 2012 #96

August 3rd, 1981 was "P-Day". HughBeaumont Dec 2012 #37

No kids but can't say I don't have regrets but often I'm relieved Raine Dec 2012 #38

One kid. Adopting him was worst financial decision we ever made -- by far. LuckyTheDog Dec 2012 #40

I would rather live modestly with family than like a lonely queen. nolabear Dec 2012 #41

+1 uponit7771 Dec 2012 #97

It's not like those are the only two options. Jokerman Dec 2012 #108

Right. And that's the type of person I am. I love both friends and family. Not judging. nolabear Dec 2012 #112

You made sensible choices mokawanis Dec 2012 #42

Just last night, the thought crossed my mind how much money I would have if... Bonobo Dec 2012 #43

no kids and damn proud to maintain a SMALL CARBON FOOTPRINT because of it. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #46

Filed for a marriage license... there were checkboxes at the bottom of the form... smccarter Dec 2012 #48

Two kids, two college debts, no regrets CranialRectaLoopback Dec 2012 #51

Two girls - Tons o' debt - No regrets. Throd Dec 2012 #52

No kids either! PasadenaTrudy Dec 2012 #56

I decided to have kids young. Kokonoe Dec 2012 #57

Just this year I have regret annm4peace Dec 2012 #69

I'm sorry you are feeling this way liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #73

It's not too late, I had a friend 48, she had twins with help and then a single 11 months later... NotThisTime Dec 2012 #121

Single, educated women with steady incomes are adopting more and more Number23 Dec 2012 #130

I used to be adamant that I didn't want kids democrattotheend Dec 2012 #72

You still have lots of time liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #74

I used to be like you. athena Dec 2012 #160

Maybe you would and maybe you wouldn't be in the same situation... MrMickeysMom Dec 2012 #75

No kids, just a wife and dog. Ibisa Dec 2012 #76

always knew I wanted kids, didn't think I wanted a dog liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #78

two kids - no debt - no regrets spanone Dec 2012 #80

you know, I am 49 and I have an almost 4 year old boy tandot Dec 2012 #81

Wonderful that couples can choose whether to become parents. mykpart Dec 2012 #84

My wife and I had 2 beautiful daughters and I retired young NNN0LHI Dec 2012 #87

OMG Don CountAllVotes Dec 2012 #88

Stupid evil cancer DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #92

{{{{NNNOLHI}}}} Best wishes to you. WinkyDink Dec 2012 #170

Thanks to all you guys, (CAV,DR,WD), for the kind words NNN0LHI Jan 2013 #181

Well, arent you special DiverDave Dec 2012 #89

No reason to act like a condescending jerk... Jokerman Dec 2012 #109

that's how jealous people respond Skittles Jan 2013 #179

Donna and I never wanted kids because neither of us wanted to risk the hell we went through. hobbit709 Dec 2012 #91

No kids, no regrets. DeschutesRiver Dec 2012 #95

Husband and I had only one. OnionPatch Dec 2012 #98

I'm Doug Stanhope.......and that's why I drink............. thelordofhell Dec 2012 #102

IMO too many have kids for their own personal satisfaction and not for that of their kids! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2012 #103

5 Kids More Debt than I will ever pay and I would not give up any of the kids for all the debt $$$ Moostache Dec 2012 #105

Most of the Liberals I know had 1-2 kids if any BarackTheVote Dec 2012 #106

You would have gotten lots of tax breaks for having the kids treestar Dec 2012 #107

K&R Reagan era = our demise n/t flamingdem Dec 2012 #110

Reagan defunded organizations that helped the homeless have shelter,food,clothing & basic needs judesedit Dec 2012 #113

I would kill myself before I'd give the rest of this century to my child. stuntcat Dec 2012 #115

I have lots of kids. I dont know where they are though. ErikJ Dec 2012 #117

The GOP are corporate shills and the CEOs are corporate criminals. Initech Dec 2012 #118

Same here. Deep13 Dec 2012 #120

Life is kids The Jungle 1 Dec 2012 #123

OK Kokonoe Dec 2012 #132

I've never been as pessimistic, I suppose michigandem58 Dec 2012 #125

Two girls - almost 17 and 15 exboyfil Dec 2012 #131

Life is so much easier without them. Other people can raise children. RB TexLa Dec 2012 #143

Two kids- some debt- total joy JReed Dec 2012 #151

People with kids seem to have an innate need to proselytize--a telltale sign of doubt... nt Romulox Dec 2012 #161

This OP is an example of the opposite though. nt Bonobo Dec 2012 #172

happily child free. Scout Jan 2013 #174

Thirty five years employed, retired, 2 kids, 3 grands, regret ex-son-in-law, some debt. mfcorey1 Jan 2013 #175

I will never understand how an OP this bad gets over 100 recs. Prometheus Bound Jan 2013 #176

a lot of people think their kids will help them Skittles Jan 2013 #178