19 things that are cheaper than raising a child in 2014

[The Brain]

Alpacas eh.

[Syt]

Baby alpacas.

[Martinus]

Why would I want any of that shit?

Yeah but then I feel the same way about having kids.

[Martinus]

There is not enough effort put into PSAs encouraging people not to breed. Especially if you can't get your life together, you shouldn't bring more people into this world.

Edit: and before I get slaughtered by mad parents here, I actually think that most of those Languishites who have kids should have them. I am talking about other people.

Our economic and social systems require a constant and furious increase in population.

We need to redistribute more. That's ought to fix it.

Care to explain how this in any way relates to my point that upper and middle class should be breeding while the lower class should be discouraged from breeding?

I would imagine the need to redistribute would increase in the current model, where the lower class is doing most of the breeding while the upper and middle classes are breeding less, thus leading to accumulation of capital in the hands of the few. In fact such model, coupled with your aversion to redistribution, is a sure-fire way to a revolution.

[CountDeMoney]

Care to explain how this in any way relates to my point that upper and middle class should be breeding while the lower class should be discouraged from breeding? I would imagine the need to redistribute would increase in the current model, where the lower class is doing most of the breeding.

Thing is, that's the best and easiest way to keep them lower class.  Why do you think conservatives hate the concepts of reproductive rights, access to birth control and abortion?  Because they love little black babies?  How many do you think derspiess has in his collection?

[Martinus]

There is not enough effort put into PSAs encouraging people not to breed. Especially if you can't get your life together, you shouldn't bring more people into this world.

Edit: and before I get slaughtered by mad parents here, I actually think that most of those Languishites who have kids should have them. I am talking about other people.

Our economic and social systems require a constant and furious increase in population.

The fetish of demographic growth has done more harm than good to modern economy. The capitalism of the late 20th and early 21st century has led to a situation where the lower class is effectively encouraged (or rather has no disincentives) to breed, has no access to decent birth control but, on the other hand, can have as many children as they want in a relatively responsibility-free environment.

Meanwhile, middle class, with its increasing workload, career model that discourages people (especially mothers) from splitting time between work and parenting and the ability to afford birth control, is postponing having children until later age. This leads to a situation which is the exact opposite of the desirable - i.e. people who shouldn't have kids have them and people who should do not.

[Razgovory]

That's stupid.  And your stupid for saying it.

[Josquius]

That is only a problem if mobility is fucked as it is in Britain.
Not all lower class kids have lower class abilities  and ambitions.

[Admiral Yi]

has no access to decent birth control

Are condoms expensive and hard to find in Poland? 

[Valmy]

Why would I want any of that shit?

Yeah but then I feel the same way about having kids.

So we both chose....wisely.

[Valmy]

There is not enough effort put into PSAs encouraging people not to breed. Especially if you can't get your life together, you shouldn't bring more people into this world.

Edit: and before I get slaughtered by mad parents here, I actually think that most of those Languishites who have kids should have them. I am talking about other people.

I think things are going your way Mart.  Birth rates are way down in countries where girls are not forced to start popping out kids at age 15.

I had never thought of 1950's America as a place where girls are forced to pop out kids at age 15, but there you go.

I had never thought 1950's America as a place existing today, but there you go.  And anyway I was not being literal.

[Ideologue]

I think about it all the time.

[Valmy]

I think about it all the time.

Back when the rich paid the fair amount of taxes eh?