Posted on 05/31/2006 4:55:34 PM PDT by sergey1973
With Europe locked in the depths of demographic winter, the World Congress of Families offers a thaw ("the natural family" as "the springtime of nations") as it prepares for its 4th Congress -- Warsaw 2007.
The population bomb, hyped by the likes of Paul Ehrlich (AKA: Malthus Man), turned out to be a dud. The Western world now faces the reality of depopulation. Since the 1970s, worldwide fertility rates have been cut in half. In all, 59 nations with 44% of the worlds people have below-replacement birthrates.
To maintain a stable population requires a birthrate of 2.1 children per woman. Italys rate is 1.2. In Spain, the average is just 1.15.
Russia is losing 700,000 people a year by attrition. If the trend isnt reversed, by 2050, the nation could lose one-third of its current population (146 million).
Confronting this chilling prospect, Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a pro-natalist policy, including a $110-monthly stipend to Russian families that have a second child. Stay-at-home moms would receive 40% of their former salary, and families with two children also would get a direct payment of $9,000.
For years, Western governments have created financial disincentives to child-rearing, so its encouraging to see some leveling of the playing field. Still, the question remains: Can families be paid to have children?
Pope Benedict XVI doesnt think so. At a recent meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the pope blamed the "eclipse of love" and "materialistic visions of the universe, of life and human fulfillment" for falling birthrates.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
Ping !
Article that can fit in a number of categories, including Eastern Europe, Europe, EU, European Union, Poland, Russia, Family, homosexual agenda etc. But first and foremost, it's about Families and their future worldwide.
Paul Ehrlich (AKA: Dumb@$$ Man)
That's nuts!!! Where's *my* pony?!
"Lebensborn" is the answer! Who wants to volunteer and help those Russian women?
Whats nuts is that Russia desperatly needs people.
Big ditto.
Not really.
Stay-at-home moms would receive 40% of their former salary,
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Our children are being raised primarily by low paid day care helpers in circumstances more akin to a prison than a loving home
With all the caution flags flying high, we once again confront irrefutable secular trends irretrievably tied to declining birthrates and are actually witnessing dramatic socio-economic dislocations in several areas such as Germany.
Having been more than twice burned and many more times more shy now, it may be understandable to be ever so cautious as to exactly who joins this party and exactly which "gifts" they bear. Certainly those bearing gifts having to do with homosexual issues will have a less than zero prospect of being welcome to any serious consideration as will those bearing Vatican- inspired concepts.
Here we wearily go again.
One of G. Gordon Liddy's best lines: "You let an illiterate who speaks guacamole take care of your child."
LOL
Put in other terms, there appears to be a sincere desire to "fix things" by merely doing physical evidence analysis and not actual review of the several and multiple larger socio-economic and political phenomenon that actually produce these miserable elements of wreakage.
"Solutions" whipped up by special interest advocates may wreak of sincerety yet actually address little if anything to true understanding and meaningful actual change
"Discouraging abortion might be intelligent. But they won't do it."
That and their average lifespan is 58.8 in Russia.
Or they may actually "reek" of guacamole.
I love an audience with the "Kittymyrib-types" sitting in it.
It's right out of a Charles Addams cartoon: A sweeping shot of the whole audience with everyone in tears of sadness save for an impish "Kittymyribs-type" laughing their asses off.
I have always suspected insanity on my part. "Kittymyribs-types" confirm it.
Oh yeah. I forgot. They'll cut your damn head off, won't they?
So THIS is why W and most of the Senate are inviting ILLEGAL aliens into America. I got it figgered out now!
And they are offering two free tax years also to the illegals...What a deal... How about two free tax years for us dummies that keep putting these idiots in office. With policies like this, Hillary can just declare victory now. The pubbies will all stay home.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.