Gmail always comes up with weird headlines at the top of my page and the one yesterday had to do with "who gets a say in having a 3rd child?" Instead of starting more laundry, I clicked on it and it went to this debate board that started with this article a woman wrote about how having a 3rd child now is the new luxury item, like showing off that you can afford to support another one. Clearly this was not written in the midwest, where the public schools are good, you already own a mini-van or SUV because you drive everywhere on vacation, and you cook at home most nights... adding a 3rd child might make your life more difficult but it's not really all that more expensive. Time it right with them all in college together and you'll get a real break when it comes to financial aid too.
Well, this woman was shocked by all the responses she got having to do with how it is a huge sin against the environment to have more than 2 kids. Let's review the assumption made in that argument:
1. Having 2 kids is like just having replacements for you and your baby daddy.
a) Do you and baby daddy die when your 2 children are born? Or do you keep on living? So the population is actually growing still?
2. Does having only 2 kids automatically mean that you are more environmentally conscious?
a) Or is it possible that you still drive the same car you would if you had 3 kids? Is the family vegetarian when they have 2 kids but not 3? Is it that 3rd that really makes you crave a steak? I know the 3rd can make you crave wine.
Anyway, the whole thing is very short sighted, failing to note all the negative affects the 1 child law in China has had on society there. What happens when everyone has one boy and treats him like a prince?? A lot of interesting articles about that. Some people on there go as far as to suggest that abortion is a necessary means to saving the world. People also wonder how anyone with 3 kids can remember their names let alone all their likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. I don't know, how do people remember all the details about their favorite characters on TV shows or their stats for fantasy football??? So many stupid comments and I don't think they were kidding.
If people really wanted to reduce the population they would at the very least space out the generations. They think it's bad to have 3 kids by 35, try having 3 kids and 9 grandkids by 40!!! Happens a lot. Also if people didn't live so long they wouldn't be ruining the environment so long. Should everyone be given a bottle of sleeping pills and a bottle of vodka to wash it down on their 65th birthday? I'm afraid to be sarcastic and post that idea on there for fear people would start that movement.
Bottom line, it is easy for people to go online with their ideas to force people to comply with their ideas of how a family should be than to suggest changes that would be good for the environment but not so good for the economy- and not so fun for them. How about never buying new clothes again? Wear your current clothes until they rip, then patch them up. Then go buy used clothing from the vast amounts that everyone throws away or donates each year. Based on what I have heard about charities just throwing clothes away, I think we could last a long time...
2 comments:
Amen girl! I seem to remember you sending me an great Father's Day article from Atlantic Monthly where the writer expressed his regret for only having two children. It was fantastic - and really focused on support your siblings give you in life.
Are we in the 70s again? That old only 2 kids thing should have stayed dead. Everyone I know who had a small family is very regretful and envies me for my girls and grands. I remember talking to my mom about the disapproval we felt when we were having babies, she said "we can't have too many good people in the world." We sure made good people.
Post a Comment