[colorado tanker]

This has been going on in Western Europe and later America since the last quartile of the 19th Century. So it's you who might want to learn some history.

Everyone loves to play out their own pet political and social issues against these statistics but the trend has been going on so long it defies any political explanation.

[nopardons]

Oh gee...you're telling me that birth control products were readily available, to one and all, in the late 19th century and chiding me for stating actual FACTS?> LOL

Okay...let me introduce you to some more FACTUAL HISTORY!

In the last couple of decades of the 19th century, there was recessions, bank closures, and one GIGANTIC depression, that I doubt you have ever heard of. Throw in strikes and deaths due to now curable illnesses and work related incidents or maiming ones, and it adds up to some people having less children, which has been THE NORM, since time began.

Some people ( upper middle to wealthy ) people, of that era could get a form of contraceptive product; however, it was male oriented.

But people in the early years of the 20th century, could and were JAILED for trying to supply/advocate female contraceptives. And it was impossible for a unmarried woman to get one. Which only left illegal abortions as their "way out". The latter choice either leaving the woman dead or sterile.

And no, I am NOT "advocating" abortion; so you can forget about attempting to smear me with that canard.

Some people, for one reason or another have always been sterile.

Some may have had children; however, since many children once died before reaching adulthood, some couples, though they had children, wound up childless.

Then throw in war and illness, which removed one spouse from another, or took away the men whom women were or hoped to marry and never did remarry/marry anyone else...which nipped in the bud having more/any children.

So, diddums, it is YOU who are playing games re your own agenda; not I.