[sageb1]

The fact that Angela Merkel doesn't have children doesn't bother me. If women are that fiercely dedicated to the idea of having a career, then it follows that they will not be able to dedicate the proper time to raising a family.

Shifting economic aid to young families is not the answer. One of the biggest reasons women work while trying to raise a family is the fear that if they do not, they will become destitute should they outlive their husbands. I would like to hear more debate on how to solve this problem because it will be the only way to convince women to have children and raise them themselves instead of relying on the socialist network to raise their children for them.

[Giant Conservative]

Again, the fathers of the children should raise them.

[cgbg]

I see the problem as twofold--a leftist ideology against the family has influenced many women and the economic forces you cite.

The economic forces can be overcome by major increases of productivity when "working at home" becomes common-place (which I believe it will when virtual reality and paperless offices are the norm).

The ideological bias against children, imho, will be the tougher challenge to overcome.