How many Aspies will be victims of this "childless tax?
Part of the justification for this talk of 'population shrinkage' in the UK is the big pensions shortfall we have at present. But breeding more kids to pay for the gap is akin to the African tribesmen who have lots of children so they will be better at finding the food which is scarce. It's fine in the short term but dangerously self-defeating in the long run.
If economics is the science of allocating scarce resources then surely less people must equal more resources for those remaining, sooner or later?
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The Sociable Hermit says:
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cruimh_shionnachain
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I think that the population in the world is high enough.
If the global population goes down by, say, 1-2 billion, that could only be a good thing.
Starvation would go down, classrooms would be less crowded and 3rd world countries would be able to care for all their citizens.
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The British have been doing this for years! In the past mainly from Africa, but right now we have a big influx of Eastern Europeans. Some UK-born people don't like it, but they're generally the kind of people who moan about everything and everyone else to disguise the fact that they're not very useful people themselves. Plus they're always quite happy to eat fast food and buy their fags and booze from stores manned almost entirely by immigrants, the hypocrites. One hope of mine is that this new influx of people will improve racial tolerance and possibly dilute the gene pool a little so we don't produce so many idiots.
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The Sociable Hermit says:
Rock'n'Roll...
If the global population goes down by, say, 1-2 billion, that could only be a good thing.
Starvation would go down, classrooms would be less crowded and 3rd world countries would be able to care for all their citizens.
Not necessarily. It depends on what portion of population goes up and what portion of the population goes down.
For instance:
With an average of 1.36 children per woman, Germany has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe and immigration cannot make up the shortfall. Not only are Germans not having children, but the population is also getting older and living longer. That would mean a 22 percent drop in the working population, according to the statistics office.
Fewer workers and more retirees would put the country's already strained welfare state under even more pressure.
(source)
Similar patterns, although not as extreme, are being scene through Europe, as well as Canada, and Japan, and to a lesser extent the United States. To compensate it is necessary to bring in immigrants who, in the case of Muslim immigrants to Europe and their immediate decedents, do not appear to share the tolerant viewpoints of the more secular enlightened Western Europe. They are likely, however, to make up an ever expanding part of the population. Fortunately, these are only projections, and projections can change as realities on the ground change.
As for a drop off in population being the answer to starvation, I am not not convinced. In the 1970s doomsday prophets claimed that the world was headed to starvation to the population explosion, yet their predictions did not come to pass. In fact the opposite has occurred. Despite often corrupt governments, starvation in both Africa and Asia is not as severe as it once was, despite a more then doubling of population in the former case, and an increase of more then half again in the latter. The reason is improvement in technologies as well as, partially due to the fall of the Soviet Union, a lessoning of socialism in economics.
If the goal is to reduce further starvation, prolifiration of the free-market structure, an end to Western pressure to prevent development, especially in Africa, of industry and power generation (such as coal and oil), as well as an cutting wasteful farm subsidies would be the most efficient course.
Govts can't get enough taxpayers can they? it wouldn't matter how many children people had, they'd still want more wageslaves so they can waste more money on junkets and frou frou. More efficent govt would require less taxpayers, but duh, somehow they don't seem to be able to grasp that concept and see the only solution as more taxpayers. very shortsighted.
The childfree seem to be becoming the 'new poor' and showing up in increasing numbers as homeless.
.......punish the innocent and reward the guilty
To not have children is an individual decision. If governments see a falling population and attendant problems as such a threat, it's a collective problem, not the fault of individuals, there's no need to hit individuals with an extra tax or whatever. I can't believe what I've been reading.
Some of those who are in powerful positions are upset that there won't be as many "worker bees" to toil thanklessly in menial jobs at the bottom of the barrel so the ones at the top can have an easier life. That and some men hate the idea of women actually leaving the house to do things beyond housework and child rearing - it's a threat to their traditions. Before I get slammed, I don't mean ALL men, dammit. Just some.
----Begin Rant----I don't want kids, I will never have kids and if someone tries to convince me otherwise they'll get a sharp kick in the rear. It's an insult when people do this, as if they think I haven't thought it through rationally and weighed all my options. It's a big decision and it's mine to make, thank you very much. If I change my mind I'll let you know.---End rant---
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Instead of putting a Tax on childless people, the Australian government had a different idea, the prime minister introduced a "baby bonus”. for every child someone has they get $4000 or so dollars, seems like a great idea however its causing teenagers with no idea of how much a baby costs to care for are deciding to have children just for the measly $4000 dollars. I’m 18 and even I can see the folly in having a child for $4000. and that’s $4000 Australian dollars, it only equals about $2750 in US dollars.
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"Her luggage is inscribed "H.R.H.", which means her real name must be "Henrietta R Hippo". -Homer simpson talking about the Queen
Population decline? Population decline? What? Last I heard the population was increasing. The earth is going to reach it's threshold on how many people it can carry eventually.
Pretty soon there's going to be a tax to breathe.
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Though most countries did this you get tax relief if you are low paid or get given money back. I know the UK does this I get an extra £200 a month for mine. (hmm sounds wrong not sure how to reword at the moment)
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