Back when we used to live on farms and grow our own food, families would have tons of kids because they couldn't afford not too.
Discussion
Pretty much anywhere that isn't a 3rd world country has declining birth rates. Probably because they're the only places where they need kids for labor
Sorry, I should have said developing or third-world. That's probably a lot of the world, though.
There are many countries in the same state as the US. I would argue that they have been trapped into the same mindset of modern fallacies, warped values that lead to an existential impasse.
I also don't see anything wrong with children helping to run a family business. It's a great learning experience. My family that live on farms and the kids helped out as they grew up are some of the most productive and capable adults I know.
See my note on the Amish, below. I think it's an interesting example that challenges the "We can't afford children narrative."
Thanks for the good talk 🤙
Yes, but only during periods of peace and/or expansion.
Marriage rates fluctuated with the economy then, too, but most problems were local or regional.
My point is just about anyone can have children. You just have to align your values and lifestyle into a structure that can support them.
The Amish have had a steady birthrate well above the national average since WW2 at 6 to 7 kids per family.
Are they living on welfare checks? Do they have more income than an upper-middle class family that lives in a big US city?
No, they value family, community, and self-reliance above self-worship.
The Amish are a hyperbolic example to prove the point. But, are modern Americans incapable of the same things on a smaller scale? Only if they refuse to sacrifice.