The Left in America is obsessed with population: either there are too many people (those who don't vote for them) or too few (illegal immigrants who might vote for them). But I don't think it's just population they want to control, but the number of families. That's what the Left really hates and wants to destroy through abortion, trans operations and putting people into “affordable” housing projects where “family” will mean the government that “takes care” of their health (through mandatory vaccines and manufactured food products) and education (indoctrination) and punishes and exiles any parent who objects.
Agree on families. When my new born son needed orthopedic help that I could not afford, I was told that if we divorced then the government would pay even if we continued to live together. We did not do that.
Thank you, Dr. Aijian, for another fine article. I always enjoy reading you. I'd like to throw into the mix, that tandem with decreased birth rates in the West, the turning away from traditional marriage, the foundation for childrearing. We are two sexes for one primary reason: the propagating and rearing of offspring (over an extensive period of time for higher order mammals). There is now this trend either rejecting marriage, especially among women; or, grotesquely, the narcissistic belief that anyone can be a parent regardless of what is in the best interest of the child. That single question -- What is in the best interest of the child? --is left out, legislated out, of any consideration. Also meriting serious examination, the government's increasing role in childrearing. Is it really to a child's benefit to lower school entry to Pre-K? Many students are now deposited at school early morning where they are fed breakfast, remaining on campus until early evening with only the last few hours of the day with a parent or parents whose job is now relegated to tucking them into bed.
Yes, thank you, Dr. Aijian for addressing this taboo topic. Yet it should come as no surprise that your pronatalist screed appears now as this is a topic being championed in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. But before we go there I feel compelled to correct a few of your many misreported data points:
You also falsely state, "These are just a few of the factors that might explain the phenomenon of declining population." To wit: the world's population is not "declining," in fact, it is still very much growing by some 70 million annually--which is like adding a "new" Great Britain each and every year, or a "new" Los Angeles each and every month, or a "new" Santa Barbara-Goleta-Montecito-Santa Maria (together some 220,000) each and ever day!
However, you are right in saying the Total Fertility Rate is in decline. In 1950 it was nearly 5.0 children per mother whereas today it is 2.27. Problem is, there are three times as many people on the planet today, ergo, the population is growing faster than ever.
You also besmirch Stanford Professor Dr. Paul Ehrlich's "doomsday predictions" of global famine and such. Well, you're kinda right in that Ehrlich's prognostications were premature. However, this was because he did not know then that the "Green Revolution" would (in some instances) quintuple production of certain grains through the discovery and implementation of synthetic fertilizers. However, the impacts of this "revolution" is draining our aquifers and fresh water sources and causing vast "hypoxic dead zones" in oceans around the world due to effluent run-off. Also, it might be noted that more people than ever today are faced with malnutrition, famine, and general "food insecurities"--not to mention air and water pollution and waste plastics in their bodies.
The most recent World Wildlife Fund's "Living Planet Report" shows that over the last 50 years global wildlife numbers have plunged 73%, all while our human population has more than doubled. Correlation? You betcha. All due to the fact that humanity is usurping former wild habitat to accommodate our insatiable expansion.
Thank you, thank you Robert for your post! Too many wrongly state our population is declining, when it’s growing too quickly! In 1950, there were 10M CA residents when our statewide infrastructure plan was adopted for all-time max capacity of 30M. We’ve passed 39M and due to the children of ‘newcomer unlawful residents’ is forecast to continue to sustain or grow, if 1) alien migration allowed to continue, and/or 2) taxpaid government social programs continue to be funded: housing, SNAP, child care, varied public school parent support or replacement programs, including laundry services. Breeding is different from parenting which is a costly, labor intense lifestyle.
As a two+ decades Director of and Advisor to Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), the crisis is real and avoided. Major donors and Foundations concluded CA is hopeless, doomed, resulting in CAPS being absorbed by NumbersUSA. Unlimited growth has been avoided or denied for too long. Financial literacy and demographic training in our government run schools would help make students aware of their reality to prepare. Space generations by delaying pregnancies. Females can now bank unfertilized eggs for future use later in life. My family going back to civil war birthed at 36 or later.
AI will reduce the need for unsustainable growth. Universal Basic Income (UBI) may ultimately provide for the future jobless, if national debt and spending is ever taken seriously by voters.
NOTE: The GOP is pushing baby making at the same time its Social Security Platform recommends cuts, discontinuing SS spousal benefits.
Who is to raise these babies? Certainly not a 24/7 parent!
Rather it seems GOP thinks moms paying for infant care, and taxpayers funding public government schools will pay to raise the children to sustain America. Both Moms and Dads must remain in paid workforce to pay taxes.
Sophomoric as a comment on style not content. I find the style bombastic and off-putting. You are right though, my writing sucks but not because it’s sophomoric but rather because you don’t like it.
Do you think his name is really Dick Johnson? What’s with these names? John Thomas, Dick Johnson? If I ever decide to become a Democrat I will change my name to Juan Dong.
Jeff Barton: Not sure who the "Dick Johnson" you referenced is, but my name is indeed Robert Johnson (yes, a common name as there are some 13,000 of us) and not some pseudonym as you seemed to suggest.
Also, I'm sorry you feel my writing is "sophomoric" and "bombastic"--thanks for the tips, I shall work on that. But were there any factual errors in my, ahem, screed?
You know, Thomas, poking holes in Jeff’s previous posts doesn’t make him wrong about the long winded nonsensical blather that Robert is dedicated to convincing Independent readers is the truth. Sorry for my tone, but I’ve grown so weary of hearing the same ol’ same ol’….truly.
Thank you Dr. Aijian for addressing a complex, sensitive and complicated issue. Clearly a “hot button” issue for many. It seems the issue of immigration and assimilation cannot be civilly discussed without the “R” bomb being dropped at some point and off limits for some.
EU countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, Spain and others, social fabric have changed dramatically and most likely permanently. As implied, there are “no go” enclaves in predominantly Middle Eastern neighborhoods which outsiders are not welcome, in several EU countries.
Kudos to Viktor Orban on proactively addressing the Balkanization of Hungary.
I feel like an outcast because there are no children in our family. I married late in life because I'm a geek that spent all his time on different projects. My wife wasn't interested in kids, too. I'd rather dig deep into my current projects ... it has been that way all my life. I can self-entertain myself which I can remember doing since I was a kid. Once someone on YouTube mentioned he didn't feel like he had done anything in life after reading a list of things I had done. At the time I thought, "Who's excuse is it that you feel you didn't accomplish anything?" I suppose I had lots of time doing my own thing without being surrounded by kids. Is that the only purpose in life is to have kids?
W.C. Fields had humorous comments about children, such as: "There's no such thing as a tough child - if you parboil them first for seven hours, they always come out tender," "Yes, I do like children ... Girl children ... about eighteen or twenty," "Never work with animals or children," "Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad," "I like children - fried," "Children should neither be seen or heard from - ever again," "I like children. If they're properly cooked."
Regardless, maybe Mother Nature controls the population on earth in mysterious ways.
Believe me Pal, when you get to the other end you'll be plenty sorry you didn't have kids. I consider I've had a successful life, but the ONLY thing I regret is not having a bunch of kids. Family is the only thing that really matters.
Wrong Earl, the thought of regretting having any kids has never entered my mind. Suum cuique, or "to each his own." Or more commonly stated, "To each their own." Have you ever heard anyone say, "I wish I never had kids." I have.
Bill: Your accomplishments, your productivity pursuing your varied passions are your significant, appreciated contributions to US, as a non-parent.
Few in my family had children, like you and your wife for whatever reason. Some say, no “selfish need” to create a legacy. Small is great! From 4 children in 1908-1914, there were 6 (with 2 of us still alive). From these 6, three chose to have a kid- one each plus 2 for me, starting at age 40. My two have no kids, the other two have one each. We aren’t a lesser family, or less Patriotic. We’re self sufficient, not government aided; and the non-parents are highly productive humans, like you, and help us raise our kids.
Thanks for the kind words. I do admire those that have raised ten kids, that's amazing to me. My older sisters had about five or six kids each. My mother had bad memories of her dad, and she would not aid him when he got older if her life depended on it. I liked my granddad and fortunately for him he took 100% care of himself till 101 when he died at his home. I'm hoping the same. I remember granddad mentioning he was ready to "go" anytime when he was in his eighties, but he had to wait about another twenty years. I plan to make the best of each year doing what I like to do which hasn't changed at all, tinkering with stuff.
Interesting piece ... folding in a number of issues.
I was first introduced to the population demographics in 1964 at SBCC where it was clear that there would be a decline in the total population with the passing of the Greatest Generation and the post WWII population boom. Which brings up another topic.
If the numbers of illegals and intentional open border advocates had not changed the population there would be an excess of housing and impacts on the environment........
Dr. Aijian's comment "These are complex issues, and whether declining population is even a “problem” is debatable, depending on whom you ask. One thing for certain, the global replacement rate is headed into negative territory ....." Makes the sky is falling crowd, high density "Pack'm & Stack'm" crowd in Sacramento look very foolish.
Has anyone seen the mechanization of the Ag. Industry? Output vs. bodies to raise the crops has fallen. A joke among my friends is if you could get the self adsorbed current generation to stop their insane 88 days a year on cell phones there would not have to be the influx of Indians, and Southeast Asians to work jobs here. But then again I was 14 digging foundation ditches for family contractors, started working summer jobs when 15, and felt privileged to take a week off between summer work and before starting full load college work.
There is not enough money in the State to justify high density government owned Socialist housing. There is not enough money to hand out welfare without end, and medical coverage for illegals and the rotating welfare queens.
My take away on this well done article is, the party of power in Sacramento is intent on using the bank accounts of previous and my generation for unsustainable social policies. Until they find an end to spendthrift government they are the losers....... unfortunately we are suffering the outcomes.
I highly recommend the work of Dr. E Michael Jones called "Libido Doinandi: Sexual Liberation and Political Control." His books can be found at https://www.fidelitypress.org/ He talks about how sexual liberation was an intentional mass marketed campaign to weaken our society. His work has inspired many men to recover from porn addiction. Wilhelm Reich was a communist who thought psychology could be used to weaken society and make people interested in communist revolution. He was interested in fusing the work of Marx and Freud. In order to accomplish his revolutionary goals, he wanted to separate people from their families and their Church, two structures which he defined as oppressive and "authoritarian." He opined that it was impossible to debate people out of their faith, but if you could get them involved in sexuality, all thoughts of God would leave their mind. Getting young people involved in sexual activity, such as porn use, would harm the relationship to God and family, so you can see how Reich would see the average introduction of our boys to internet porn by age 11 as a wonderful advance thanks to technology, but we who want our society to be healthy and sane would see this for the poison it is.
I recommend reading Reich's "Mass Psychology of Fascism" to see him in his own words. He is pretty direct. And then there is the powerful influence of Freud's nephew on propaganda aka mass marketing aka public relations, Edward Bernays. We have been seen, not as citizens with a say, but as marks to be manipulated for a long time. If we don't understand how social engineering works, we can not make informed choices for our families well being or in the voting booth, workplace and civic life for the country's well being. Christ called us to be innocent as doves and wise as serpents.
Oh my, American women are going to college, pursuing careers, and NOT making enough babies! Obviously, something must be done; America needs more breeders, not readers! Is that why the oligarch regime has banned abortion and is seeking to ban birth control? Is that why the Trump cult is sealing our borders to keep out those pesky overbreeding untermenschen? This reeks of eugenics and the "replacement theory"! What's next, sperm banks for Heritage Foundation vetted seminal males and breeding farms for young women? If I follow the math correctly, if every woman on earth had just ONE baby, human population in 50 years would still be more than it was in 1968. That would go a long way toward resolving California's current housing shortage and traffic congestion.
We’ve plenty of foster and adoptable children in CA needing committed, capable parents. Seems GOP seeks only additional babies for a head count. Why is that?
Just a point to make—service animals do not require any “certificate” or certification (although you can easily buy fake ones online). Businesses can ask if an animal is a service animal require for a disability, and if so, what tasks is the animal trained to perform.
They are permitted a different level of access than an Emotional Support Animal.
Excellent article Paul, but I’m still waiting for the mention of the elephant in the parlor (abortion) that eliminated 10’s of millions of children over the last 50 years, regardless of the justification, it’s a form of societal genocide. As for European identity collapse, and replacement by other people groups and religions, it all stems from the rejection of the church and God and replaced with a secular humanist ideology, and this vacuum is quickly being filled with a Muslim culture that believes in reproduction to build their numbers and power. As you mentioned, Christian church member reproduction rates are normal and above. Draw your own conclusions.
Will this birth rate be sustained if all the USAID NGOs are defunded? These folks may have to actually grow and harvest their own food, find their own water supply, and build their own houses.
Perhaps nature/god/ecosystem (whatever one wishes to call it) is indeed self-regulating; and far more complex than we previously imagined. It wouldn’t be unprecedented as throughout history every time we think we understand something thoroughly; we find out that we are just scratching the surface.
Also, I would hypothesize that as any society becomes more economically wealthy, its birthrate declines. Since the entire world has undeniably become more economically wealthy and prosperous (with a few exceptions) it would make sense that population would plateau and begin to decline.
As to the exact reason and method of achieving lower birthrates…above all of our pay grades I’m afraid.
I too have wondered if there is a biological self regulation mechanism. Perhaps a psycho-somatic component as well. I know that after watching AOC speak I prefer an ounce served neat over a bounce on the sheet.
With the discussion about kids, I've been thinking about Elon Musk and his fourteen children. Elon seems to pick his favorites and ignores the others. Frankly, I don't understand how he can ignore the others. He rarely visits some of his kids. This to me is a strangeness in Elon's personality, or mindset. Obviously, some of the kids have to feel unloved by their dad, Elon. Maybe the money compensates for some of that?
Thank you Paul for an excellent piece. I think the normalization of abortion plays a significant role. In days past, children were taught wnere babies come from at an appropriate age. Today they are taught how to avoid pregnancy, the tools provided to avoid pregnancy and free abortion if plan A fails. Often neither parental concent nor notification are required. All this before children have developed minds sufficient to distinguish shit from shinola. A state of mental development where, goaded by a Tic Toc video, they might find themselves eating either. Finally, I have wondered if young Christan men have higher sperm counts than their atheist counterparts. I would guess that the answer is yes they do have higher sperm counts and the really interesting part would be why is this so?
Huh Jeff? Do you have children? Have you ever considered that many men are responsible, pragmatic, hard working and choose to become a parent when ready? Baby making has little to do with sperm count in today’s tech world.
“dogs have become the new surrogate children and grandchildren.” Ain’t this the truth! And people take them everywhere, the toilet, the grocery store, Starbucks, restaurants, everywhere! They’re a dog, they don’t need to be there. But they’ve created a society of declining testosterone, meaning they are making everyone weaker.
“they are fighting the EU over their fences and more restrictive border policies.”
“we are (or at least were) witnessing the intentional abandonment of our southern border”
Ah, no duh. Look at the EU nations as well. It’s a bum rush, like a black Friday sales event. The government chooses to dilute its citizen population, primarily white Christian’s.
“We should have seen a return to pre-Covid death rates after Covid became the more benign Omicron variant”.
You think? But the people buy the lies, the drugs are totally safe and effective despite common sense saying otherwise.
Bottom line:
Yes, you are being replaced.
Notice how it’s the Christian type countries that are being attacked in this way.
Remember Covid and the policies and which countries bought the jabs and coerced their populations into taking them, mostly white Christian countries, mostly NATO. But they’ll sell and kill anyone who is not part of their agenda.
Come on Bill Gates told us what they’re going to do when he publicly said, “If we do a really great job on new vaccines, healthcare, reproductive health services, we could lower that by 10-15%.”
Like the snake in the garden the propaganda machines all at work saying “he didn’t mean what he said”. How many times did we hear that when Biden openly called every Trump voter an extremist.
This is a spiritual war, but no one has connected the dots yet.
We are headed to a one world religion and government, people just don’t see it yet.
Wait till we make really good friends with the Catholic Church and “Christian” values are mandated in law.
Read your Bibles, tell me where it says the Sabbath commandment was abandoned while they kept “do not murder.”
Show me where it says Easter is now Passover, except we’re going to not celebrate on Passover. Yes the KJV stated Easter for 300 years out of 1,700 years of a written Bible.
Show me that Jesus was born on Dec 25, prove it. You cannot.
This spiritual war has been going for centuries.
The lies have been slowly consuming the world.
They have been reducing the population for decades.
Emmett- Love and agree with your introductiry dog comments! I need a list of stores and restaurants where no dogs allowed! Costco finally enforces but where else?
Yesterday I watched at a 100+ pound so called support dog in a restaurant sniffing the buffet table; the walking, sighted owner feeding the food to the dog from her seated place, and not giving a hoot about the other guests for whom the food on the buffet table was intended. Classless or no upbringing; or is this adult behavior now acceptable? No one asked the female owner to relocate or tie her beast dog outside.
My neighbors invite me often as their guest to restaurants. I now decline, after this year their dogs started joining us. High priced restaurants ($150 for 2 to lunch at Restoration Hardware Upper Village) allow dogs. One dog from a neighboring table licked my feet. Isn’t he cute? NO!I guess I must stay home.
FYI: Island Restaurant LaCumbre allows dogs but will pay your meal tab if one seated near you, after you are served.
Personally, I need a list of No Dog businesses to support!
The Left in America is obsessed with population: either there are too many people (those who don't vote for them) or too few (illegal immigrants who might vote for them). But I don't think it's just population they want to control, but the number of families. That's what the Left really hates and wants to destroy through abortion, trans operations and putting people into “affordable” housing projects where “family” will mean the government that “takes care” of their health (through mandatory vaccines and manufactured food products) and education (indoctrination) and punishes and exiles any parent who objects.
Agree on families. When my new born son needed orthopedic help that I could not afford, I was told that if we divorced then the government would pay even if we continued to live together. We did not do that.
Don't worry Pol, we'll be Moonies before it gets too bad.
Thank you, Dr. Aijian, for another fine article. I always enjoy reading you. I'd like to throw into the mix, that tandem with decreased birth rates in the West, the turning away from traditional marriage, the foundation for childrearing. We are two sexes for one primary reason: the propagating and rearing of offspring (over an extensive period of time for higher order mammals). There is now this trend either rejecting marriage, especially among women; or, grotesquely, the narcissistic belief that anyone can be a parent regardless of what is in the best interest of the child. That single question -- What is in the best interest of the child? --is left out, legislated out, of any consideration. Also meriting serious examination, the government's increasing role in childrearing. Is it really to a child's benefit to lower school entry to Pre-K? Many students are now deposited at school early morning where they are fed breakfast, remaining on campus until early evening with only the last few hours of the day with a parent or parents whose job is now relegated to tucking them into bed.
Yes, thank you, Dr. Aijian for addressing this taboo topic. Yet it should come as no surprise that your pronatalist screed appears now as this is a topic being championed in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. But before we go there I feel compelled to correct a few of your many misreported data points:
The present global population is 8.2 billion, not the 7.8b. (For a precise, active tally you can search https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/)
You also falsely state, "These are just a few of the factors that might explain the phenomenon of declining population." To wit: the world's population is not "declining," in fact, it is still very much growing by some 70 million annually--which is like adding a "new" Great Britain each and every year, or a "new" Los Angeles each and every month, or a "new" Santa Barbara-Goleta-Montecito-Santa Maria (together some 220,000) each and ever day!
However, you are right in saying the Total Fertility Rate is in decline. In 1950 it was nearly 5.0 children per mother whereas today it is 2.27. Problem is, there are three times as many people on the planet today, ergo, the population is growing faster than ever.
You also besmirch Stanford Professor Dr. Paul Ehrlich's "doomsday predictions" of global famine and such. Well, you're kinda right in that Ehrlich's prognostications were premature. However, this was because he did not know then that the "Green Revolution" would (in some instances) quintuple production of certain grains through the discovery and implementation of synthetic fertilizers. However, the impacts of this "revolution" is draining our aquifers and fresh water sources and causing vast "hypoxic dead zones" in oceans around the world due to effluent run-off. Also, it might be noted that more people than ever today are faced with malnutrition, famine, and general "food insecurities"--not to mention air and water pollution and waste plastics in their bodies.
The most recent World Wildlife Fund's "Living Planet Report" shows that over the last 50 years global wildlife numbers have plunged 73%, all while our human population has more than doubled. Correlation? You betcha. All due to the fact that humanity is usurping former wild habitat to accommodate our insatiable expansion.
For more information on this, here's the link to the article I wrote for the Independent on the occasion of the planet reaching the 8 billion mark. Hope you read it. https://www.independent.com/2022/11/15/some-inconvenient-truths/
Thank you, thank you Robert for your post! Too many wrongly state our population is declining, when it’s growing too quickly! In 1950, there were 10M CA residents when our statewide infrastructure plan was adopted for all-time max capacity of 30M. We’ve passed 39M and due to the children of ‘newcomer unlawful residents’ is forecast to continue to sustain or grow, if 1) alien migration allowed to continue, and/or 2) taxpaid government social programs continue to be funded: housing, SNAP, child care, varied public school parent support or replacement programs, including laundry services. Breeding is different from parenting which is a costly, labor intense lifestyle.
As a two+ decades Director of and Advisor to Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), the crisis is real and avoided. Major donors and Foundations concluded CA is hopeless, doomed, resulting in CAPS being absorbed by NumbersUSA. Unlimited growth has been avoided or denied for too long. Financial literacy and demographic training in our government run schools would help make students aware of their reality to prepare. Space generations by delaying pregnancies. Females can now bank unfertilized eggs for future use later in life. My family going back to civil war birthed at 36 or later.
AI will reduce the need for unsustainable growth. Universal Basic Income (UBI) may ultimately provide for the future jobless, if national debt and spending is ever taken seriously by voters.
NOTE: The GOP is pushing baby making at the same time its Social Security Platform recommends cuts, discontinuing SS spousal benefits.
Who is to raise these babies? Certainly not a 24/7 parent!
Rather it seems GOP thinks moms paying for infant care, and taxpayers funding public government schools will pay to raise the children to sustain America. Both Moms and Dads must remain in paid workforce to pay taxes.
“Nuevo Jalisco,” formerly known as California.
If your Independent piece is written in the same sophomoric voice as your post, I’ll pass on reading it.
Sophomoric? Have you re-read your posts here today Jeff? Sheet bouncing? Speculating Christian males have high sperm counts because of a huntch?
Sophomoric as a comment on style not content. I find the style bombastic and off-putting. You are right though, my writing sucks but not because it’s sophomoric but rather because you don’t like it.
What's not to like about a neat drink or looking at AOC? (But I'll let you own the sperm count speculation)
I think you find Robert's writing 'bombastic' only because you disagree with it.
Do you think his name is really Dick Johnson? What’s with these names? John Thomas, Dick Johnson? If I ever decide to become a Democrat I will change my name to Juan Dong.
Jeff Barton: Not sure who the "Dick Johnson" you referenced is, but my name is indeed Robert Johnson (yes, a common name as there are some 13,000 of us) and not some pseudonym as you seemed to suggest.
Also, I'm sorry you feel my writing is "sophomoric" and "bombastic"--thanks for the tips, I shall work on that. But were there any factual errors in my, ahem, screed?
You sure are infatuated with penis relations Jeff. That's all cool now - you should be proud and accepting of your obsession.
You know, Thomas, poking holes in Jeff’s previous posts doesn’t make him wrong about the long winded nonsensical blather that Robert is dedicated to convincing Independent readers is the truth. Sorry for my tone, but I’ve grown so weary of hearing the same ol’ same ol’….truly.
Thank you Dr. Aijian for addressing a complex, sensitive and complicated issue. Clearly a “hot button” issue for many. It seems the issue of immigration and assimilation cannot be civilly discussed without the “R” bomb being dropped at some point and off limits for some.
EU countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, Spain and others, social fabric have changed dramatically and most likely permanently. As implied, there are “no go” enclaves in predominantly Middle Eastern neighborhoods which outsiders are not welcome, in several EU countries.
Kudos to Viktor Orban on proactively addressing the Balkanization of Hungary.
…and a self loathing apologist. Why then do you wet your pants over the concept of MAGA?
…and you’re an imbecile Riskin!
I rest my case Riskin, you are an imbecile. Haven’t you heard the news? Ya, that’s right, the lefts searing hatred of Jews…like you!
Julia likes to slander people with hateful terms…why not just call them all irredeemably deplorables?
Thank you, Paul, for a very comprehensive article on an important issue that faces us all.
I feel like an outcast because there are no children in our family. I married late in life because I'm a geek that spent all his time on different projects. My wife wasn't interested in kids, too. I'd rather dig deep into my current projects ... it has been that way all my life. I can self-entertain myself which I can remember doing since I was a kid. Once someone on YouTube mentioned he didn't feel like he had done anything in life after reading a list of things I had done. At the time I thought, "Who's excuse is it that you feel you didn't accomplish anything?" I suppose I had lots of time doing my own thing without being surrounded by kids. Is that the only purpose in life is to have kids?
W.C. Fields had humorous comments about children, such as: "There's no such thing as a tough child - if you parboil them first for seven hours, they always come out tender," "Yes, I do like children ... Girl children ... about eighteen or twenty," "Never work with animals or children," "Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad," "I like children - fried," "Children should neither be seen or heard from - ever again," "I like children. If they're properly cooked."
Regardless, maybe Mother Nature controls the population on earth in mysterious ways.
Believe me Pal, when you get to the other end you'll be plenty sorry you didn't have kids. I consider I've had a successful life, but the ONLY thing I regret is not having a bunch of kids. Family is the only thing that really matters.
Wrong Earl, the thought of regretting having any kids has never entered my mind. Suum cuique, or "to each his own." Or more commonly stated, "To each their own." Have you ever heard anyone say, "I wish I never had kids." I have.
Bill: Your accomplishments, your productivity pursuing your varied passions are your significant, appreciated contributions to US, as a non-parent.
Few in my family had children, like you and your wife for whatever reason. Some say, no “selfish need” to create a legacy. Small is great! From 4 children in 1908-1914, there were 6 (with 2 of us still alive). From these 6, three chose to have a kid- one each plus 2 for me, starting at age 40. My two have no kids, the other two have one each. We aren’t a lesser family, or less Patriotic. We’re self sufficient, not government aided; and the non-parents are highly productive humans, like you, and help us raise our kids.
Thanks for the kind words. I do admire those that have raised ten kids, that's amazing to me. My older sisters had about five or six kids each. My mother had bad memories of her dad, and she would not aid him when he got older if her life depended on it. I liked my granddad and fortunately for him he took 100% care of himself till 101 when he died at his home. I'm hoping the same. I remember granddad mentioning he was ready to "go" anytime when he was in his eighties, but he had to wait about another twenty years. I plan to make the best of each year doing what I like to do which hasn't changed at all, tinkering with stuff.
Interesting piece ... folding in a number of issues.
I was first introduced to the population demographics in 1964 at SBCC where it was clear that there would be a decline in the total population with the passing of the Greatest Generation and the post WWII population boom. Which brings up another topic.
If the numbers of illegals and intentional open border advocates had not changed the population there would be an excess of housing and impacts on the environment........
Dr. Aijian's comment "These are complex issues, and whether declining population is even a “problem” is debatable, depending on whom you ask. One thing for certain, the global replacement rate is headed into negative territory ....." Makes the sky is falling crowd, high density "Pack'm & Stack'm" crowd in Sacramento look very foolish.
Has anyone seen the mechanization of the Ag. Industry? Output vs. bodies to raise the crops has fallen. A joke among my friends is if you could get the self adsorbed current generation to stop their insane 88 days a year on cell phones there would not have to be the influx of Indians, and Southeast Asians to work jobs here. But then again I was 14 digging foundation ditches for family contractors, started working summer jobs when 15, and felt privileged to take a week off between summer work and before starting full load college work.
There is not enough money in the State to justify high density government owned Socialist housing. There is not enough money to hand out welfare without end, and medical coverage for illegals and the rotating welfare queens.
My take away on this well done article is, the party of power in Sacramento is intent on using the bank accounts of previous and my generation for unsustainable social policies. Until they find an end to spendthrift government they are the losers....... unfortunately we are suffering the outcomes.
I highly recommend the work of Dr. E Michael Jones called "Libido Doinandi: Sexual Liberation and Political Control." His books can be found at https://www.fidelitypress.org/ He talks about how sexual liberation was an intentional mass marketed campaign to weaken our society. His work has inspired many men to recover from porn addiction. Wilhelm Reich was a communist who thought psychology could be used to weaken society and make people interested in communist revolution. He was interested in fusing the work of Marx and Freud. In order to accomplish his revolutionary goals, he wanted to separate people from their families and their Church, two structures which he defined as oppressive and "authoritarian." He opined that it was impossible to debate people out of their faith, but if you could get them involved in sexuality, all thoughts of God would leave their mind. Getting young people involved in sexual activity, such as porn use, would harm the relationship to God and family, so you can see how Reich would see the average introduction of our boys to internet porn by age 11 as a wonderful advance thanks to technology, but we who want our society to be healthy and sane would see this for the poison it is.
The usual suspects, Freud and Marx. What a surprise.
I recommend reading Reich's "Mass Psychology of Fascism" to see him in his own words. He is pretty direct. And then there is the powerful influence of Freud's nephew on propaganda aka mass marketing aka public relations, Edward Bernays. We have been seen, not as citizens with a say, but as marks to be manipulated for a long time. If we don't understand how social engineering works, we can not make informed choices for our families well being or in the voting booth, workplace and civic life for the country's well being. Christ called us to be innocent as doves and wise as serpents.
Julia, we agree on something! I bet there are more things we agree on. Be careful, we might end up becoming friends...
Oh my, American women are going to college, pursuing careers, and NOT making enough babies! Obviously, something must be done; America needs more breeders, not readers! Is that why the oligarch regime has banned abortion and is seeking to ban birth control? Is that why the Trump cult is sealing our borders to keep out those pesky overbreeding untermenschen? This reeks of eugenics and the "replacement theory"! What's next, sperm banks for Heritage Foundation vetted seminal males and breeding farms for young women? If I follow the math correctly, if every woman on earth had just ONE baby, human population in 50 years would still be more than it was in 1968. That would go a long way toward resolving California's current housing shortage and traffic congestion.
We’ve plenty of foster and adoptable children in CA needing committed, capable parents. Seems GOP seeks only additional babies for a head count. Why is that?
The issue is that restaurants are not allowed to question or ask to see support dog certification.
Welcome to anything goes lawless society.
We distanced ourselves from people that take their dog everywhere It’s obvious they have emotional issues
From the phone to the dog, the human relationship, do use construct is being destroyed.
Just a point to make—service animals do not require any “certificate” or certification (although you can easily buy fake ones online). Businesses can ask if an animal is a service animal require for a disability, and if so, what tasks is the animal trained to perform.
They are permitted a different level of access than an Emotional Support Animal.
Thanks Emmett for educating me! I had no clue that dog owners cannot be questioned at the door. https://ochealthinfo.com/sites/hca/files/import/data/files/60803.pdf
I’m now house confined without an ankle bracelet. Too many new CA laws to know…
What’s that called when the government tells you what you can, or, can’t say?
Oh, yeah!
It’s been estimated that 1 in 4 Americans currently live with a mental health illness. Register your psychiatric service support dog here.
https://usaservicedogregistration.com/
Help turn Santa Barbara into one big dog kennel. I invested in doggie daycare but too few takers.
Excellent article Paul, but I’m still waiting for the mention of the elephant in the parlor (abortion) that eliminated 10’s of millions of children over the last 50 years, regardless of the justification, it’s a form of societal genocide. As for European identity collapse, and replacement by other people groups and religions, it all stems from the rejection of the church and God and replaced with a secular humanist ideology, and this vacuum is quickly being filled with a Muslim culture that believes in reproduction to build their numbers and power. As you mentioned, Christian church member reproduction rates are normal and above. Draw your own conclusions.
Most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have the Christian church member reproduction rates beat by a mile. Draw your own conclusions.
Will this birth rate be sustained if all the USAID NGOs are defunded? These folks may have to actually grow and harvest their own food, find their own water supply, and build their own houses.
Perhaps nature/god/ecosystem (whatever one wishes to call it) is indeed self-regulating; and far more complex than we previously imagined. It wouldn’t be unprecedented as throughout history every time we think we understand something thoroughly; we find out that we are just scratching the surface.
Also, I would hypothesize that as any society becomes more economically wealthy, its birthrate declines. Since the entire world has undeniably become more economically wealthy and prosperous (with a few exceptions) it would make sense that population would plateau and begin to decline.
As to the exact reason and method of achieving lower birthrates…above all of our pay grades I’m afraid.
I too have wondered if there is a biological self regulation mechanism. Perhaps a psycho-somatic component as well. I know that after watching AOC speak I prefer an ounce served neat over a bounce on the sheet.
Actually, it takes four ounces of expensive single malt to get me through any AOC speaking event.
With the discussion about kids, I've been thinking about Elon Musk and his fourteen children. Elon seems to pick his favorites and ignores the others. Frankly, I don't understand how he can ignore the others. He rarely visits some of his kids. This to me is a strangeness in Elon's personality, or mindset. Obviously, some of the kids have to feel unloved by their dad, Elon. Maybe the money compensates for some of that?
If more 'activity' is required I'm available.
Thank you Paul for an excellent piece. I think the normalization of abortion plays a significant role. In days past, children were taught wnere babies come from at an appropriate age. Today they are taught how to avoid pregnancy, the tools provided to avoid pregnancy and free abortion if plan A fails. Often neither parental concent nor notification are required. All this before children have developed minds sufficient to distinguish shit from shinola. A state of mental development where, goaded by a Tic Toc video, they might find themselves eating either. Finally, I have wondered if young Christan men have higher sperm counts than their atheist counterparts. I would guess that the answer is yes they do have higher sperm counts and the really interesting part would be why is this so?
Huh Jeff? Do you have children? Have you ever considered that many men are responsible, pragmatic, hard working and choose to become a parent when ready? Baby making has little to do with sperm count in today’s tech world.
Great article
“dogs have become the new surrogate children and grandchildren.” Ain’t this the truth! And people take them everywhere, the toilet, the grocery store, Starbucks, restaurants, everywhere! They’re a dog, they don’t need to be there. But they’ve created a society of declining testosterone, meaning they are making everyone weaker.
“they are fighting the EU over their fences and more restrictive border policies.”
“we are (or at least were) witnessing the intentional abandonment of our southern border”
Ah, no duh. Look at the EU nations as well. It’s a bum rush, like a black Friday sales event. The government chooses to dilute its citizen population, primarily white Christian’s.
“We should have seen a return to pre-Covid death rates after Covid became the more benign Omicron variant”.
You think? But the people buy the lies, the drugs are totally safe and effective despite common sense saying otherwise.
Bottom line:
Yes, you are being replaced.
Notice how it’s the Christian type countries that are being attacked in this way.
Remember Covid and the policies and which countries bought the jabs and coerced their populations into taking them, mostly white Christian countries, mostly NATO. But they’ll sell and kill anyone who is not part of their agenda.
Come on Bill Gates told us what they’re going to do when he publicly said, “If we do a really great job on new vaccines, healthcare, reproductive health services, we could lower that by 10-15%.”
Like the snake in the garden the propaganda machines all at work saying “he didn’t mean what he said”. How many times did we hear that when Biden openly called every Trump voter an extremist.
This is a spiritual war, but no one has connected the dots yet.
We are headed to a one world religion and government, people just don’t see it yet.
Wait till we make really good friends with the Catholic Church and “Christian” values are mandated in law.
Read your Bibles, tell me where it says the Sabbath commandment was abandoned while they kept “do not murder.”
Show me where it says Easter is now Passover, except we’re going to not celebrate on Passover. Yes the KJV stated Easter for 300 years out of 1,700 years of a written Bible.
Show me that Jesus was born on Dec 25, prove it. You cannot.
This spiritual war has been going for centuries.
The lies have been slowly consuming the world.
They have been reducing the population for decades.
Emmett- Love and agree with your introductiry dog comments! I need a list of stores and restaurants where no dogs allowed! Costco finally enforces but where else?
Yesterday I watched at a 100+ pound so called support dog in a restaurant sniffing the buffet table; the walking, sighted owner feeding the food to the dog from her seated place, and not giving a hoot about the other guests for whom the food on the buffet table was intended. Classless or no upbringing; or is this adult behavior now acceptable? No one asked the female owner to relocate or tie her beast dog outside.
My neighbors invite me often as their guest to restaurants. I now decline, after this year their dogs started joining us. High priced restaurants ($150 for 2 to lunch at Restoration Hardware Upper Village) allow dogs. One dog from a neighboring table licked my feet. Isn’t he cute? NO!I guess I must stay home.
FYI: Island Restaurant LaCumbre allows dogs but will pay your meal tab if one seated near you, after you are served.
Personally, I need a list of No Dog businesses to support!