Would you support a birthrate law?

[...Rousseau...]

A law stating that parents who can't afford to have a lot of kids...should not be allowed to have a lot of kids? like if your household makes less than $30,000 a year, you have a one child limit. if you make over $80,000m you can have up to 3 children. ect. if you want to have more kids, you must provide proof that you can raise them, maybe through a meeting or something.

I'm an American and my country was founded on the principle of limiting government control whenever possible, but when you have a ton of kids and can't afford to raise them, that hurts everyone, not just you, and so I think government intervention is justifiable here.

[awahl63]

Yes I would.

[NJlifter88]

no... i think thats big government at its worst.

[dabbmw2002]

I think if you withdrew the government handouts creating incentives for people to have kids in order to get a bigger government check, that would stop a lot of that without the gov having to be cohersive.

[swordsmanzenn]

i live in new orleans and i see tons of young people having one or more kids. they are unintelligent and don't know a lick about parenting. it disgusts me because only stupid people are breeding. over population will become an apparent problem soon.

[ZenBowman]

I think if you withdrew the government handouts creating incentives for people to have kids in order to get a bigger government check, that would stop a lot of that without the gov having to be cohersive.

This. There are many couples in line for adoption. If you have too many kids and can't care for them, give them up for adoption. This will cut down welfare abuse real quick.

[Melkor]

I think if you withdrew the government handouts creating incentives for people to have kids in order to get a bigger government check, that would stop a lot of that without the gov having to be cohersive.

This. There are many couples in line for adoption. If you have too many kids and can't care for them, give them up for adoption. This will cut down welfare abuse real quick.

If you stop rewarding people for having kids they can't afford, they would stop having kids they can't afford. A basic principle in business management is "people do what you reward them for doing".

[An hero]

No, I do not support totalitarianism

For the good of the nation!

Strong hypocritical anarchist

[WilyCoder]

Less Government. More Win.

[st_jimmy]

I would like to see sterilization of individuals who accept welfare and fathers who refuse to pay child support. Seems fair to me really.

[hooked4life]

If you stop rewarding people for having kids they can't afford, they would stop having kids they can't afford. A basic principle in business management is "people do what you reward them for doing".

I don't think people having kids is always a question of zero-sum gain or rational self-interest.

[YUL]

I prefer incentives for responsible parenting (tax free trust funds, salaries for stay @ home moms and so forth)

[Melkor]

I don't think people having kids is always a question of zero-sum gain or rational self-interest.

People know exactly how to make every possible dollar out of the system. It may not "always be", but people will, on average, do what they are rewarded for doing. If people are paid to have more children that they can't afford, they will do so. If they knew that if they had a child they would have to work 10 more hours per week, or get a second job, or whatever other consequence, they would work a lot harder to NOT have children they couldn't afford.

[hooked4life]

I prefer incentives for responsible parenting (tax free trust funds, salaries for stay @ home moms and so forth)

I think creating a situation where parents, either would be fine, could be around to raise the kid/s when they are young would be huge. I grew up in a small town with a lot of rich kids and some of the parents making the most money raised some of the kids that will/have cost us the most money. Conversely, some of the middle class/poor families raised amazing kids doing amazing things because they had strong morals/guidance/parental supervision growing up.

[hooked4life]

People know exactly how to make every possible dollar out of the system. It may not "always be", but people will, on average, do what they are rewarded for doing. If people are paid to have more children that they can't afford, they will do so. If they knew that if they had a child they would have to work 10 more hours per week, or get a second job, or whatever other consequence, they would work a lot harder to NOT have children they couldn't afford.

I'm curious just how much of an economic intensive currently exists for a mother, say making 25k a year, to have a 3rd kid. Know anywhere I could find this out?

[9987]

I don't think people having kids is always a question of zero-sum gain or rational self-interest.

True. Not to mention that even though some suggest adoption for unwanted children the percentage of mothers that give up their children for adoption is something like under 5%.

[badbart]

I think if you withdrew the government handouts creating incentives for people to have kids in order to get a bigger government check, that would stop a lot of that without the gov having to be cohersive.

Bingo! In my state you can get free food, free insurance, freechildcare, and subsidized housing. So if you poor having a kid is not as big as a burden like it is for responsible people. My wife worked at a daycare that accepted government money from the poor for child care the parents were the most worthless people I've ever been around. Almost every parent had at least two kids from tow different dads. I guarantee most would have been more responsible if they had to work 12 hour days to support their reckless behavior.

[9987]

People know exactly how to make every possible dollar out of the system. It may not "always be", but people will, on average, do what they are rewarded for doing. If people are paid to have more children that they can't afford, they will do so. If they knew that if they had a child they would have to work 10 more hours per week, or get a second job, or whatever other consequence, they would work a lot harder to NOT have children they couldn't afford.

Nope. Considering under your conditions the family size on average should be increasing throughout the years, but it is not.

[DangerDan]

No, I think we should stop giving them free **** that enables them to have tons of babies!!!! That's where the problem lies!

[T150]

No. That's a slippery slope for all types of sh*t.

And when you complain....

It's "For the good of the nation".

[Melkor]

Nope. Considering under your conditions the family size on average should be increasing throughout the years, but it is not.

That's not true. The majority of Americans are having fewer children, but poor people are having more, and more of them are illegitimate.

[zodiac666]

Hell no, my parents didn't make any money while we were growing up. They were hippies who lived up in the mountains with no running water or electricity. For a good 5 years or so my dad just helped work a neighbor's farm so we could live in a little shack on their property. We grew/butchered almost all of our own food and all 3 of us were near the top of our class when we started school in 6th grade.

You absolutely need to be able to provide food/shelter to your children but there is so much more to raising kids than making money.

[DangerDan]

This song is very relevant to this thread.





It's not the right time to be sober
Now the idiots have taken over
Spreading like a social cancer, is there an answer?

Mensa membership conceding
Tell me why and how are all the stupid people breeding
Watson, it's really elementary
The industrial revolution
Has flipped a bitch on evolution
The benevolent and wise are being thwarted, ostracized, what a bummer
The world keeps getting dumber
Insensitivity is standard and faith is being fancied over reason

Darwin's rollin' over in his coffin
The fittest are surviving much less often
Now everything seems to be reversing, and it's worsening
Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool
Now angry mob mentality's no longer the exception, it's the rule
And I'm startin' to feel a lot like Charlton Heston
Stranded on a primate planet
Apes and orangutans that ran it to the ground
With generals and the armies that obeyed them
Followers following fables
Philosophies that enable them to rule without regard

There's no point for democracy when ignorance is celebrated
Political scientists get the same one vote as some Arkansas inbred
Majority rule, don't work in mental institutions
Sometimes the smallest softest voice carries the grand biggest solutions

What are we left with?
A nation of God-fearing pregnant nationalists
Who feel it's their duty to populate the homeland
Pass on traditions
How to get ahead religions
And prosperity via simpelton culture

The idiots are takin over

[mehdi84]

I think if you withdrew the government handouts creating incentives for people to have kids in order to get a bigger government check, that would stop a lot of that without the gov having to be cohersive.

Very good answer.

Additionally, I would like to add that the 'cost' of raising a child is relative. As such, I think it's absolutely ridiculous to define how much someone someone to minimally make before being able to legally raise a child. Rather, we should stick with the laws which attempt to ensure that children are getting the proper care. Someone can make $100k a year, but neglect their children. While others could mirror the life of "The Pursuit of Happiness".

[hooked4life]

So does ANYONE have any numbers, facts or anything on how much aid you get for having kids you can't afford?

[NorthMass]

I believe in freedom, so no.

[paolo59]

I believe that the parents of children have much more to do with their upbringing than the dollar amount that they may earn annually. Any parent, rich or poor, who demands respect and honor from their children, is involved in and recognizes the value of education (yes, public education) and isn't afraid to discipline the little suckers when they don't tow the line, will generally speaking, raise respectful, responsible, productive kids. I teach in an inner city school, low income, what most would consider very limited in opportunity. There are some incredible parents, with incredibly bright, hard working, excellent kids. Interestingly enough, the more recent their immigrant status, legal or otherwise, the more discipline, respect, and responsibility that I see. Respect for their parents, ie. respect for their teachers. I have parents who literally tell me to grab their kids by the ears and warm up their backsides if they don't do what they're supposed to! LOL Those are the type of parents that any teacher begs to have! It is not the amount of money that a family earns, it's the love, expectation, and respect that they show, demand, and instill in their children.

[An hero]

Strong Sarcasm Detector!

My bad

[9987]

That's not true. The majority of Americans are having fewer children, but poor people are having more, and more of them are illegitimate.

Then show some data that shows an increase in family size due to the reward of welfare.

Everything that I have looked at shows a decrease in the number of children in all socio-economic categories.

[RIKTER]

No. I would however support our govt paying woman between the ages of 15-22 to voluntarily choose to become temporarily steril, etc, as to slow down the pandemic of unwed single teenage woman having children. The numbers dont lie in what type of offspring single teenage mothers produce. Many of societies ills can be directly linked to this.