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Posted on 05/25/2006 7:14:53 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Russian President Vladimir Putin has inadvertently spotlighted one of today's momentous mysteries: collapsing birthrates in industrialized countries. Putin proposed that Russia pay women to have children to remedy a "critical" population outlook. Actually, he might have said "desperate." In 2000 Russia's population totaled almost 147 million; Putin says it's declining by 700,000 a year. With plausible assumptions, the U.S. Census Bureau projects it at 111 million in 2050. The median age (half the population above, half below) would be almost 50, up from 38 now. Could this Russia maintain a strong economy, national optimism or a capable military?
Russia's case, though extreme, isn't isolated. There's no more population "explosion." In wealthier countries, motherhood is going out of style and plunging birthrates portend population loss. This is a hugely significant development, even if we don't fully understand the causes -- 30 years ago experts didn't predict it -- or the consequences. One way or another, the side effects will be massive for economics, politics and people's well-being. Indeed, they may already have started. Is it a coincidence that Germany and Italy, two countries on the edge of population decline, are so troubled?
First, some facts. On average, women must have two children for a society to replace itself. The number of children per woman is called the "total fertility rate," or TFR. Here are the estimated 2005 TFRs for some major countries: Germany, 1.4; Greece, 1.3; Italy, 1.3; Japan, 1.4; Spain, 1.3; and Russia, 1.3. Low fertility rates don't instantly lead to population declines. They can be offset by immigration, longer life expectancies and greater numbers of young mothers. But ultimately low fertility rates suggest falling populations. The table below compares the 2005 populations (in millions) for four countries with the Census Bureau projections for 2050.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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Second of all: child tax credits agogo!
Russia has a special problem due to the large number of deaths in men between 30 and 50. This is due to drinking, violence, and disease.
You won't see this in the other countries with population problems.
Simple, ban vodka in Russia.
Yeah, that's how you keep a Western culture strong.
1) Buy gatorade.
2) Take B12 supplement
3) Introduce self to young Russian, German, and Italian women
I know it's dirty work but someone has to do it!
Duh, what about the brutal propaganda factor? They terrorized us for years with the spectre of overpopulation, and now they want to act surprised that we complied! Just quit the social engineering.
Malthus and macroeconomics provide only a partial picture of the deeper motives for the trend.
I believe the biggest motive is Yuppie self-absorption promoted by rampant materialism, unchecked by spirituality. Why bother to have babies when the prospect exists for almost indefinite life extension? Hence the spiraling market for nutritional supplements, personal care products and services, and rejuvenation treatments.
Watch for renewed worries about a First World population explosion of oldsters after medical investigations of immortality-promoting drugs begin to bear fruit within the next fifty years.
Whole new sets of questions about the absolute and relative values of life, innovation, economics and wealth distribution caused by these "advancements" will make today's arguments look like sandbox warfare.
Same deal...
Ice age!!!!
Global warming!!!
Chicken Little lives on.
"a First World population explosion of oldsters"
I'm waiting for the "revolt of the workers", who refuse to pay in to a "social security" program in which each of them is supporting 1.5 retirees.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637296/posts
Didn't you just post basically the same thing 2 days ago?
This is an editorial by Robert J. Samuelson, a columnist for the Washington Post. Go to the site to read the rest of the column. I am not allowed to show anymore here at FR.
You sure that you are in the right place?
Pretty hateful post. And if you want to start railing on about men there are plenty of people on FR who will be glad to regale you with stories of women who done them wrong by lying, cheating, screwing around, running off with the kids, keeping a revolving door on their bedrooms while their kids are at home, not honoring visitation agreements/orders, etc..
I am aware that this is from the Wash Compost but you also posted the same subject 2 days ago.
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