[MinorityRepublican]

There's a lot more to the demographic transition than that (especially since Social Security checks alone can't and don't keep most retirees afloat financially).

It's a safety net. We know that we can depend on the government for Social Security. 40% of Americans depend on Social Security for at least 50% of their income.

Without Social Security, we'll depend on our families, therefore we'll need to have children.

This is why the fertility rate has declined everywhere including the West, East Asia and even the Gulf States in the Middle East.

[ek_hornbeck]

I didn’t say that Social Security wasn’t a factor, I said that it’s not the sole or even most important factor. Women who want an education and careers aren’t going to give it all up and start having kids in their teens even if you did away with Social Security, and the welfare state, nor do people need to breed their own farm hands these days, welfare state or no welfare state.