Since 2000, we have added 51 million people going from 281 million to 332 million. In 1970 the population was 203 million. The almost 130 million increase is equivalent to adding the current populations of Germany and Spain combined.
Posted on 05/12/2021 5:15:09 AM PDT by Kaslin
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that births in the USA reached another historic low in 2020.
For the sixth consecutive year, the birth rate dropped -- this time by 4%. The average annual drop in the five previous years was 2%.
The rate at which American women are having babies is way below the rate necessary to keep the population steady-state -- that is, for the population not to shrink.
A steady-state population requires a total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman. In 2020, it was 1.64.
Needless to say, for politicians, there is no problem that does not have a government solution, and the birth dearth is no exception.
Both President Joe Biden and Sen. Mitt Romney have plans for bolstering American families. The president's American Families Plan proposes to spend a modest $1.8 trillion. Romney is pitching his Family Security Act, which proposes per-child government payments up to $1,250 per family per month.
Romney writes in The Wall Street Journal, "Young people are marrying less and having fewer kids in part because they don't feel confident about their job prospects and financial security."
But if less marriage and fewer children are the result of today's economic stress, why is it that in 1960, the fertility rate was 3.58 -- more than double today's 1.64 -- yet today's real per capita income, per the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is over three times higher than it was in 1960?
According to the Institute for Family Studies, in 2018, 35% of Americans ages 25 to 50 had never been married. In 1970, only 9% in this age range had never been married.
Is this because times got harder? I don't think so. Per capita income in 2018 was 2.4 times higher than it was in 1970.
I don't think our young people are avoiding marriage and children because of concerns about financial security.
I think they are avoiding marriage and children because they don't want marriage and children.
In a Pew Research survey conducted in 2019, 16% said having children is essential for a man to have a fulfilling life, and 16% said marriage is essential for a man to have a fulfilling life, while 57% said "having a job or career they enjoy" is essential for a man to have a fulfilling life.
Regarding women, 22% said having children is essential for a fulfilling life. Seventeen percent said marriage is essential for a fulfilling life. And 46% said "having a job or career they enjoy" is essential for a fulfilling life.
What does it all mean?
In 1960, 9.1% of our population was over age 65. By 2019, 16.2% of the population was over 65.
A graying population, due to fewer and fewer children, means a shrinking portion of the population that is working and producing, and increasingly large numbers of elderly and retirees whom those working must support.
Consider our Social Security system, where retirees' benefits are drawn from the payroll tax paid by working citizens. In 1945, there were 41.9 working citizens for every retiree. By 1950, this was down to 16.5 to 1. By 1990, it was 3.4 to 1. And as of 2013 (the latest data available), it was 2.8 to 1.
Trustees of Social Security report that by 2034, 13 years from now, the system will only have sufficient revenue to pay 76% of the benefits due to retirees.
Per the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2016, those age 65 and over constituted 16% of our population yet represented 36% of all health care spending.
The collapse of marriage, family and the national birthrate is the result of the secularization of our culture. Faith and values have been displaced by materialism and egotism.
How do we turn it around? As a starter, let's have more parental choice in education so parents can get their children out of public schools and into religious schools, where they can learn values that sustain life.
It depends on what the parent values. I know a guy who sold his house in Florida and moved to Pennsylvania because the right school for his kid was here. He was a handyman.
Economics is also a part of the problem. Yes per capita income is much higher but look at the cost of living.
I have not researched it however I know that the cost of living has gone up much more than that.
Look at the cost of a vehicle. What could you buy a Cadillac for in the 1970’s $20,000 now what do you pay $80,000.
This may be extreme but look at what our shrinking dollar buys. It is about to become a whole lot worse with the present administration. Gas $3.00 per gallon will soon be $5.00 or $7.00 per gallon.
When it takes all your money to survive as a working person where does the money come from to raise a family.
Bill Gates and company want to depopulate the country. Does this not help accomplish this.
Remove head from sand and look at the total picture. It is both economics and the destruction of values both.
What does the media glorify and pedowood as well. Are their values constructive or destructive.
Thinks for yourself not what the mainstream wants you to think.
Addendum to the government rule of tens: There is no ‘problem’ that the government can’t make 10 times worse.
Add that to the first Government rule of Tens: Every government program will cost 10 times more than the original estimate.
Corollary to the first rule: This also applies to the revised estimate.
“When self gratification is the highest value...”
______________________________
Hedonism.
The right course of action is for America to pump out so many babies that people in other countries start to question if THEY should be allowing in more American children because we are EXPORTING them out.
More government has resulted in less economic confidence.
More government has undermined the family structure.
More government has made divorce catastrophic.
More government has resulted in less parenting of children
More government has resulted in an inferior education of children
More government will not fix these problems.
The famed triple post arises.
Is it a full moon?
Did you buy a lotto ticket yet?
What amazes me is the large number of married couples without the slightest concern or desire for children. Just incredible. What’s the point of marriage? Do they also live in a house without a roof? Or buy cars without an engine in them?
Cost of living is related to where you live. I don’t buy the “big man is keeping the little man down” meme. If where you live is too expensive to do what’s right for your kid, move. (I did it and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted.)
There’s lots of things that aren’t necessary. Booze, pricey vehicles, smart phones, tv’s, vacations etc. that eat into a budget. Kids are more important than any of that.
That doesn’t answer the question I asked.
Well, honestly, I never understood the mentality that you HAVE to have children if you’re married. I always assumed it was about friendship and companionship first, then — before getting married — you carefully discussed what was right for both of you. And I’ve seen too many marriages fall apart because they thought they had to have children. Some even tried it to “fix” the marriage.
Since I was a small child — like Rush Limbaugh knowing he was going to be in radio — I always knew I never wanted children. Even told my parents that on multiple occasions, and they always said, “yeah, you say that now but you’ll meet a nice girl, get married and have children.”
I did meet a nice girl, finally (mid-30’s), one who also never wanted children. It had nothing to do with being selfish or materialistic — it was just something we never wanted. And we couldn’t be happier. We never fight, are always together — even work together — and love the simple little life we’ve built... together.
Well said. Too many selfish people out there.
Here’s a test: Are birth rates higher in lower property tax states than higher property tax states?
Inquiring minds want to know.
I like imports and exports. I guess I want fewer drugs and porn imported...beyond that I like imports.
Why property tax? Why aren’t you asking the same question as it relates to income tax?
No, Mittens. Try "welfare replacing fathers," "no-fault divorce," "men getting the shaft in family court," "third and fourth-wave feminism" and "hookup culture". Those are your answers.
Let’s be honest. You’ve voted with your bodies that our culture and our nation should die off. Enough people vote that way and it will come to pass.
I think they are avoiding marriage and children because they don't want marriage and children.
This - exactly. The Left's anti-parenting propaganda - especially that aimed at young women - has been overwhelming for decades.
Interesting perspective. Since I was a small child, all I ever dreamed about was having job good enough to support a wife and a small family.
I managed to do that, and now I’m enjoying the new round... grandkids. It’s all I ever really wanted out of life, and it’s kept me going.
As I look back, I could have had more money, more “stuff”, I guess, if we’d not had kids. Even more if I’d never married. I spent a LOT of my time and money on the kids. But, I just can’t imagine a life without them?
Different strokes, I guess. And, that’s fine. But, if everyone felt like you did, we’d be gone in 100 years. So, I’m kind of hoping people with your view remain in the minority.
Since 2000, we have added 51 million people going from 281 million to 332 million. In 1970 the population was 203 million. The almost 130 million increase is equivalent to adding the current populations of Germany and Spain combined.
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