Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General The decline of resources in America

Education and a high standard of living are the best way to curb population growth. You only to look at the complete list of countries to notice that the countries with highest standard of living and best public education (western europe) have the lowest rates of fertility.

Then they are faced with the growing concern of who will take care of them and pay their Social Security in their “golden years” infirmity. With a declining younger population and a top heavy older one that is a sticky issue that will need to be dealt with. It is currently being addressed by opening the floodgates for immigrants. Can that continue?

Excellent advice.

Almost none of those coutries are as low as Japan is. Japan has a fertility rate of 1.22 and people seem to not want to have more than 1 child there and since the population in Japan is heavily concentrate in small areas they have the feeling that they are still too crowded.

And btw, if you think some Americans are opposed to immigration, you should travel through Europe a bit. Most people there are opposed to immigration even if it is legal. Go to Sweeden and try to find a job there. You won't be able to. Same for Finland and Norway. However, they take care of their own.

One of the reasons Japan's birthrate is so low (according to the link I posted here yesterday) is that pregnancy and birth are not covered on health insurance, because they are not illnesses. This makes having a child incredibly expensive. (Condoms provide about 80% of the birth control used in Japan, as the pill was not approved until 1999 - possibly due to government worries about the low birth rate.) Abortion is legal for the first 22 weeks in Japan.

There are also a number of cultural reasons for the low birthrate in Japan which do not apply in the United States.

All this brings me to another thought. As I recall, no one has questioned Rick's suggestion from a constitutional perspective, and I find that surprising on a board like this.

Since contraception is barred by some religions, and since the 1st amendment protects religious belief, any kind of law imposing an economic penalty on the birth of children would condemn members of certain religions to a life of celibacy or to financial strain resulting from the practice of their religion. I can see where that might be considered to prohibit the free exercise of a religion.

I can also see an argument that such a law would also contravene the sentiment of the Declaration of Independence and its statement regarding the the and would also appear to impede our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Further, I think some Christian faiths regard the purpose of marriage (perhaps life) to be reproduction. One marries in order to have children.

So I think even if Rick's original suggestion were to be attempted, it would be tied up in the courts until the end of the millenia...

That's a big 10-4 Julia! While it's fun to talk about legislation preventing pregnancy it's also pretty pie in the sky to think it would ever happen. Education and free contraception to anyone who chooses to use it are about as far as it could ever go. This might make a considerable difference in the long run though.

Don't you wonder why pregnancy rate is much lower in Europe where sexuality is not shoved into a closet like it is in the US?

I'm not saying that Europe is doing everything right, they have their faults as well, but this so called "modesty" that is touted in the US makes me sick.

Well when you get right down to it, as grim as it may sound, the “purpose” of life for every living thing on earth is to eat, sleep, and reproduce. All the rest is commentary.

"Modesty" that only exists in the minds of an uneducated population. The same population that constantly has sexuality thrown in its face constantly by television, movies, the internet and all forms of advertising. It's hard to get a grip when you're sliding down a two edged sword.

Ow Greger! What a painful metaphor!

It's interesting though, isn't it Ken, that although that is the apparent purpose for every living thing on Earth, humans hold the distinction of having eternally queried "why am I here?" As if the answer should be less obvious.

Perhaps, for humans, it is.