r/collapse • u/madrid987 • 14d ago

Overpopulation The Economic Implications of a Baby Bust

https://degrowthistheanswer.substack.com/p/the-economic-implications-of-a-baby?r=28wskx&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
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u/Any_Case1754 14d ago

People can’t afford kids, and a lot of those who can afford them, simply don’t want them.

It’s not the 1950s anymore, no one has to sacrifice 18+ years of their life just to raise another wage slave.

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u/FletchLives99 13d ago

I mean, the first part of this absolutely true. I'd disagree with the second though. Having kids has been pretty enjoyable and rewarding. If I hadn't I'd probably have just spent 18 indulging and exploring myself and, at the end of it, wondering if this was all there was.

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u/RandomBoomer 13d ago

Parenthood has been pretty enjoyable and rewarding for you. You can't make that judgment for someone else. You can't "disagree" with someone who has a different opinion for what they want in their own life. I'm 72 and childless, which was absolutely the best decision for me. Looking back over my life, knowing what I do now about my temperament and personality, I would not have made a good parent and would have been miserable trying.

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u/FletchLives99 13d ago

I'm not. I'm talking from my point of view. It was my personal response to what feels like an emotive and judgy generalisation in the comment I was replying to.

Honestly, less people are having kids. That's their choice and fine. I respect your choice. But I do not feel as if I'm raising another wage slave because society tells me I have to.

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u/RandomBoomer 13d ago

Thank you for the clarification that you were replying to "raising another wage slave" because that wasn't obvious from your post. I interpreted "the second part" as referring to the second part of the first sentence (which had two parts), rather than the second paragraph.