Posted on 05/31/2010 12:18:33 PM PDT by Lorianne
Germany is already facing a demographic nightmare as birth rates fall despite a slew of family-friendly policies. Now, new statistics show that more people are leaving the country than immigrating -- adding to concerns about the country's shrinking population.
Germans fretting about the country's looming demographic problems are unlikely to have been cheered by recent news on birth rates and emigration. With its graying population, the country's cradle-to-grave welfare system could become unaffordable due to a dearth of working-age people to keep the system going. And the country seems to be failing to either attract enough immigrants or produce babies fast enough to dispel fears of future demographic disaster.
Only two weeks ago, hopes of a government-created baby boom were dashed by the latest birth rate figures. The Federal Statistics Office revealed that despite heavy investment in maternity and paternity pay and other family-friendly policies, the birth rate was actually declining in Germany, with 651,000 children born in 2009, fully 30,000 less than in 2008.
With an average of just 1.38 children being born to each woman, the birth rate is not high enough to keep the population stable. The aging country will find it hard to secure the tax revenues to support all those pensioners of the future or to maintain economic growth. In fact, demographers expect Germany's population to fall by 17 million from the current 82 million over the next 50 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Why not slash the marginal tax rates?
Or make old age pensions dependent to some degree at least on the number of children you raised to responsible adulthood?
Children interfere with one’s social life, and put a damper on Spanish vacations.
It’ll make it a little more difficult for them to start another World war.
Good idea. They also need to quit killing all the babies.
Besides, when a child is born, Gaia cries.
The last World war made it certain that the Germans will never start another.the best German blood soaked into the ground in places like Stalingrad,what’s left is well,more docile.
You mean they ain’t birthin’ no babies to become stooges for paying for the old timers debts?
Good idea. They also need to quit killing all the babies
Oh...No Who is going to pay for all those socialist programs that the Germans enjoy?? Don’t worry Germans I’m sure all the Muzzies will be happy to pay.../sarc
ping
After the US eliminates 0bama and his fecal policies, we can start rebuilding the economy on sound principles-low taxes, less regulation and free markets. If we again become the beacon of liberty, we will attract a new wave of enterprising and energetic European refugees.
In addition to an aging population, Europe is fast becoming Eurabia. And with that comes increased ethnic strife, enclaves and Sharia law. More reason for young Europeans to come to the US in the A0 years(after 0bama)
Ahem! Attention, Mexico!
I’m sure that raising taxes on young people will help. The Unions will demand it!
According to the stats I can find, about 15% of pregnancies in Germany are aborted. That’s of reported pregnancies.
At some point the West will wake up to the SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION gone mad, perpetrated on them by Liberalism (even though I really doubt the liberals knew where it would take them).
First, it started with the pill, then abortion, then workplace equity....and it keeps going.
At this point, having kids in the West is a LIFESTYLE CHOICE for women, when it used to not be (unless they wanted to hang out at home doing nothing all day, and not even have sex). And way too few are taking that option to keep up with even population replacement rates (feel free to read Mark Steyn if you have a problem with that). Until (and unless) Western governments realize what has been going on...they will simply be eliminated over the next 50, maybe 100 years, at best.
So, what to do now? Really two options, you can give women incentives to have kids (like really serious pay), to make that a life style option for enough of them - or you can turn back the clock (if that is even possible) and simply eliminate birth control, abortion, and the right of women to work (at least during child bearing years).
Oh yea, there is a third option - do nothing, and watch 2000+ of history disappear in a few generations (sooner in Europe). It is our choice.
Materialism and Feminism has destroyed child rearing.
Yep, Mark Steyn has been ringing the alarm about this for awhile now.
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.