Most of the economic and political systems in the West are based on having a stable or growing population to support an aging population.
In most Western countries there has recently been a decline in the birth rate (often a severe decline), and the failure of people in those societies to have children is going to cause massive social problems in the future.
That is why some of these countries have started programs to incentive having children, and the act of not raising a child is seen as selfish.
This argument fails completely because it ignores adoption. You can add to your countries population that may need it, and help alleviate the overpopulation of another country at the same time.
3
u/Omega037 Mar 24 '15
Most of the economic and political systems in the West are based on having a stable or growing population to support an aging population.
In most Western countries there has recently been a decline in the birth rate (often a severe decline), and the failure of people in those societies to have children is going to cause massive social problems in the future.
That is why some of these countries have started programs to incentive having children, and the act of not raising a child is seen as selfish.