Baby Bust. Low Birth Rates.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/06/baby-bust-wont-end-without-government-action/
“The most recent CDC data on the total fertility rate — how many babies a woman could be expected to have over her lifetime, if age-specific fertility rates stayed constant over time — suggest that the average woman will have just 1.6 children.”
That number needs to be at least 2.1 to keep the population from shrinking.
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Tax something more, you get less of it.
While this isn't necessarily a tax, the more children a couple has, the less income they have for things like housing, cars, etc.
The wife and I were kicking some of this around this morning...The pastor at the church is very Old Skool in some personal beliefs, one being that the husband makes the living and the wife stays home to take care of the children and run the household. His children have followed the same path. His boys (3) are either in the trades or are apprentices. One is married with two children. The girls(3)... One is married with two children. The other two are still in school. I suspect both married couples will be having more children.
Of the two married couples, the son is living in a trailer house on donated land. The girl is living in a nice home in the country, mainly because her husband grew up in a HVAC business where he worked with his dad (being very thrifty) and later joined the state police, where he has done well.
So, I guess big families can work, provided the income is there. But how often does one spouse make that kind of money?
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Mrs. Dr. Phibes wanted 4 kids right up to the point where we had 1 kid.
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Taiwan is down to 1.2 birthrate. It is a big problem and big news. The government is trying different things to increase it.
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China also reports record low birth rate and severe aging of its population going by its 2020 census:
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If you want a progressive social safety net - especially for old age - that goes hand in hand with neeing higher birth rates than where we are.
Deferred benefit social programs don't really work below replacement levels. Skimming off the top of other countries' human capital also seems less than progressive.
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Yup, it is a big problem in most developed countries.
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/07/26/child-free-childless-adults-pew-study/74561070007/
Why are more adults not having children? New study may have an explanation.
57% of adults under 50 who say they’re unlikely to ever have kids say a major reason is they just don’t want to; 31% of those ages 50 and older without kids cite this as a reason they never had them
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Right, because ultimately we became a very selfish and me-first global society. Nice job!
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/07/26/child-free-childless-adults-pew-study/74561070007/
Why are more adults not having children? New study may have an explanation.
57% of adults under 50 who say they’re unlikely to ever have kids say a major reason is they just don’t want to; 31% of those ages 50 and older without kids cite this as a reason they never had them
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Teen birth rates hit another historical low in 2025, CDC says
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5777587/teen-birth-rates-hit-another-historical-low-2025-cdc
The teenage birth rate in the U.S. fell by 7% in 2025, ...
Reasons cited include:
higher use of contraception and lower sexual activity for youth, and ... continued access to abortion care
Overall, nearly 126,000 babies were born to mothers ages 15 to 19, according to the analysis of provisional data. The birth rate for that age group was 11.7 births per 1,000 females. By contrast, the teen birth rate in 1991 was 61.8 births per 1,000.
The report also explored other topics related to births in the United States. The overall birth rate fell 1% from the previous year, also continuing a long decline. ...
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If I poke holes in someone's condom, do I have any legal exposure?
@grok
Yes, you have significant legal exposure. This act—sabotaging a condom by poking holes—is widely recognized as a form of reproductive coercion, stealthing (non-consensual condom removal or tampering), or sexual assault/battery in many jurisdictions. It is not a harmless prank; it can expose you to criminal charges and civil lawsuits.Criminal LiabilitySexual assault, battery, or rape by deception: Courts in various US states and countries have treated intentional condom sabotage as vitiating consent. The other person consented to protected sex, not unprotected sex with the risk of pregnancy or STD transmission. This has led to convictions for sexual assault or related offenses.
Aggravated assault or reckless endangerment: If it results in pregnancy, STD transmission (e.g., HIV, herpes, chlamydia), or other harm, it can escalate to felony charges involving bodily injury or disease transmission.
Examples of laws:Many US states (e.g., California, New York, Michigan) explicitly or through case law cover non-consensual condom tampering under sexual assault statutes.
Federal aspects could apply if it crosses state lines or involves certain transmissions.
Internationally, places like the UK, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe have prosecuted similar acts as assault or fraud.Prosecutors can pursue this even without pregnancy if there's evidence of intent (texts, witnesses, damaged condoms).Civil LiabilityLawsuits for damages: The victim can sue for battery, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, or wrongful pregnancy/child support issues. You could face liability for:Medical costs (prenatal care, STD treatment, abortion, or childbirth).
Child support (in many places, courts have ruled that deception doesn't eliminate parental financial responsibility, but you can still be sued for other harms).
Emotional distress, lost wages, therapy.Punitive damages are possible if the act is deemed malicious.
Evidence and ConsequencesModern forensics (DNA on condoms, residue analysis, packaging examination) plus digital evidence (messages admitting intent) make this traceable. Victims often report it after discovering pregnancy or infection. Convictions or settlements can include jail/prison time, sex offender registration (in some cases), fines, restraining orders, and lifelong financial obligations.Even if not convicted criminally, civil discovery and reputational damage are major risks. "It was just a joke" or "they didn't notice" is not a defense—courts focus on lack of informed consent.Strong recommendation: Do not do this. It is unethical, violates consent, and can destroy lives (yours included). If this is hypothetical, the answer is clear: high legal risk with potentially life-altering consequences. Consult a lawyer in your specific jurisdiction for personalized advice, but the general rule is avoid entirely. If you're dealing with relationship issues around consent or contraception, seek ethical communication or professional counseling instead.
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"U.S. birth rate continues to fall"
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5779627/birthrate-united-states-babies-immigration
710,000 fewer babies were born last year in U.S. compared with two decades ago
The U.S. fertility rate continued its slide to historic levels, due to plunging teen pregnancies and far more women delaying motherhood into their 30s and 40s.In 2007: 4.2 million babies were born
In 2024: 3.6 million babies were born
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