"America's Propensity to Procreate": The Consequences

by Rhonda J Mangus | July 19, 2008 at 05:27 am

661 views | 56 Recommendations | 39 comments

 Update 07/21/08: ABC News reporter, David Wright, authored the original story Record Births Create Population Milestone. The complete story reports a "benefit" as well as the "downside" to this recent trend. A video titled Baby Boom 2.0, and hosted by ABC News' Charlie Gibson, accompanies the story here: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5399077

A record number of 4,315,000 babies were born in the US last year, nearly the double of those born a century ago, the National Centre for Health Statistics said.. `It's a record, and it's a particularly interesting record because the year it beats is 1957, which was the height of the baby boom," Robert Engelman, author of "More: Population, Nature and What Women Want, was quoted a saying by ABC.

"This is the first year that we've actually beat the baby boom," Engelman, who is vice president for programmes at the Worldwatch Institute based in Washington, D.C, said.

Today's population trends, ABC News said, are remarkable when you think of the conditions that led to the Baby Boom.

Historians attribute the 1950s-era boom to the carefree prosperity of those post-war years, which today seem like a distant memory.

"So with gas prices soaring, housing prices faltering and the economy in a tailspin, America's propensity to procreate now may seem odd," it said.

The reasons given for this recent trend include statements that parents are having fewer children, more women are bearing children later in life, and child-birth among unmarried women is at an all-time high. But the biggest factor contributing to this "baby boom", according to demographers, is immigration. Particularly among Hispanics, where demographers claim, the birth rate is rising fastest.

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Paschen

Why American should learn Spanish! It is not really a record though, since it does not take into account the Population change over all! Today the US Population is almost double of what it was in 1940 th! It is like comparing apples with Oranges!

SOLARLIFE
SOLARLIFE
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:02 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

2020 the majority of Americans will speak spanish, 2050 the majority of Americans will be black. Well birth rate rising like in France; but is this to compare with the 50's, the Lassy Pick-up truck family, when American could start to enjoy full employment after war? Rhonda I know it's a difficult delecate question, but should we not start like the chinese to regulate our birthrates and remake conditons for young people to make a living with one child above poverty level.

In France young women often get a child from someone, just to get a priority right on a appartment. They could not bring the working contracts, security payments. The result many children not loved by parents.

2050 we should stay below 10 bn people with at least some survvival chance with upcomining epidemics of overpopulated cities. Unfortunately most baby booms come ourdays from poor people increasing their poverty. This is unpopular to touch. But help is useless, if uneducated people spread poverty over communities with just no birth control or responsabilty. 

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Johnny Summerton

Solarlife. Interesting perspective on single parent families in France. Young women having children to get ahead on the social housing list? Of course that'll be the reason. I guess you have the stats to back up the information or is it just a "gut feeling" based on.....what?



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SOLARLIFE

Hi Johnny it's up to you to get the stats, you live in Paris with centralised administration access; I live in the south in one of your Paris colonies, for sure I am not a number cruncher, and my intention is not to hurt your feelings. But I show the american way how we can make progress to get the bad Apartment situation under control, people don't have to live inhuman with 17 sm for normal people. Others living in government paid palaces with no problems. By the way the current president tries to adress all this problems, but French minorities want not to give up their priveleges.

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Barry Artiste

Geez, what a loaded question there Solar, you make some valid points, but on the other hand, I guess what it should boil down to is if you cannot afford to have kids, don't have em.  If you do, then it is you not the state who is responsible for them financially.

Many in this country who are unemployed have kids based on the more kids, the bigger the welfare cheque, plain and simple. And for the most part Immigrants who have the most kids work their butts off as they are too proud culturally to rely on government handouts. 

It is the native born citizens in this country who are the ones who feel the world owes them a living, thus many guys look for single moms to ride the welfare gravy train.

There are today as in the past where generations and generations of Welfare people feel like welfare is a career ambition, and pass this wisdom onto their children, thus starting another family welfare cycle of teen moms.  

Many instances when investigators went to welfare paid housing communities in Canada to find late model cars of the luxury kind, belonging to boyfriends who would shack up with welfare Moms for the free rent, yet would not take responsibility for the kids.

Welfare paid housing is meant for people and their kids, not the free loading boyfriend (most who are deadbeat dads of other single moms) who most times would add to the brood, with the Mom telling Welfare officials she didn't know who the father is.

Why?  because in Canada we have family enforcement laws, whereby if it is known who the father of the children are, Provincial agencies hunt these deadbeat Dads down with the voracity, that would make the CIA Hunt for Osama Bin Laden pale in comparison.

Once caught these deadbeat dads are forced to pay child support for their kids, thus reducing the single moms welfare payments,  Dads who quit their jobs to avoid child support, cannot get a drivers license, sometimes even housing as the credit bureau flags them.  Hence why a lot of deadbeat dads, look for other single moms out there to shack up with. 

Once the kids are in school, Mom is offered back to school training, most take advantage of it to better themselves,  some get pregnant in cycles to ensure they can stay home and pursue their career as Maury Povich and Jerry Springer fanclub members on Who's Mah Baby's Daddy?.

Now many here will say I am full of crap, here is another tidbit I am sure some will say, Barry, you're a racist!  Well I never knew stating a fact could be construed as racism?  Ottawa for instance has a large African community, comprised of Somalians.  Take a Guess where this is going, Career Welfare and Machete carrying crime youth Gang Culture wise? I am sure you can all figure that one out.

Yet in the 1980's Canada accepted thousands and thousands of Vietnamese refugees, who for the most part were off and running almost immediately when they got on Canadian soil, improving, socialising, assimilating into Canada as proud Canadians.  So anyone who says, yeah but Barry the Somalians are refugees, yadda, yadda, followed by useless diatribes and lefty comments.

I put it this way if the Vietnamese can do, and believe you me, they were living under far worse conditions back home, floating on rafts in shark infested waters looking for a place, then the Somalians have no excuse period.

When our Government said, enough is enough and implemented a immigration policy, whereby preferential treatment will be given to immigrant families who are ranked higher points wise if they have marketable skills which Canadian companies need.  Skills from carpentry and other construction jobs needing immigrants, and as valued as foreign doctors, certainly a step in the right direction in my opinion.

How do I know all of the above as fact? Before I came to BC, it was my job to investigate these known and other publized facts.

In ending, my original statement is this, you want kids, pay for them yourself, otherwise don't complain about your lot in life.


  

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Paschen

Barry, in Canada, abortion is legal for Woman and Canada has an Equal rights as well, so why can the Man not reject Fatherhood as well! Come on, fair play! I know Fathers that pay what they are supposed to, send extra gifts on birthdays and so on, yet cannot see their Children because Mom uses them to get back at Dad! It is never that clear cut and easy as you put it here!

Further, those Kids will grow up and pay taxes and for all those people that will get old and retire and that never had children to raise and enjoyed their life like it was a free for all without any responsibilities what so ever! Heck yes they should pay more taxes for Child care services for those families in need! I would even get all the Child less singles or married to pay double the taxes! Those Kids will pay for their medical bill soon enough!

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Barry Artiste

True, in Canada, abortion is legal, but for those who wish to make welfare a career, children are a prerequisite. For without Kids,  they would not be on welfare and forced to earn a living.  Now I am not saying all women with kids are career welfare Moms, many were abused or came from different circumstances, I am just stating what I uncovered which ruins and stigmatizes  the rest who want out of the welfare trap.  Men, I being one may reject fatherhood, but when the little head takes over the big head, sex and the resulting conception results.  Many, both men and women feel responsibility ends with conception, especially the man. The women on the other hand it seems do not see a child, but a 18 year long term payday, complete with generous benefits.


What you say in custody battles, visitation etc, may be true, but denying your child support hurts the kid, rarely the mother.

As for Kids of welfare parents growing up to be productive citizens, you would not believe how many Welfare investigators and child enforcement officers who came from a welfare background growing up. These men and women make the best investigators as they have seen all the scams, and when interviewing welfare scammers can tell almost instantly a scam is underfoot.  Hence why so many cases in court result in successful prosecutions and though welfare is still given, conditions such as back to school have to be met.  Of course some welfare recipient's claim a disability, sore back, neck injury etc.   Again, Investigators catch them on video doing extraordinary feats, which able bodied people would have a hard time accomplishing.  Like I said, welfare fraud investigators could give the CIA a run for it's money when it comes to gathering intel.


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Paschen

Like I said Barry, it is not clear cut, and rather complicated and different from case to case! Nor did I suggest that Fathers could or should be able to reject father hood after a divorce, however they should be able to do so before birth if they them self do not wish Children just as a Woman can reject Mother hood if she choses to before birth or what ever the number of weeks are! I for my self am not in favour of either, however from a judicial-stand, equal rights mean equal rights for all and in all cases as well! Why this is not simple nor clear cut!

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Barry Artiste

Of course they can reject fatherhood, but regardless who is at fault, if a child results, then  the Father just cannot divorce child support payments,.

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Paschen

I never said he should be able to nor any thing in that direction! Once a child is born that is it! Every one better eb all grown up and responsible!

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Barry Artiste

Of course I agree, I was not being contrary my friend.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Paschen, thank you for your comments. However, your comment : "It is not really a record though, since it does not take into account the Population change over all!" is incorrect.  If you re-read the article, it is clearly indicated that the over-all population is considered. [It] "...is nearly double what it was in the '50's,...".

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Paschen

It was not in your article and that is what I read! I am not chasing after sources, unless I writ it my self!

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Rhonda J Mangus

Paschen, "chasing after sources" is not something I place upon my readers. Simply read the article from which "my story" originates.

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Paschen

My point exactly!!

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Rhonda J Mangus

Paschen, what is your point?

Barry Artiste
Barry Artiste
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:11 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi Barry, thanks for the Flag!

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Rhonda J Mangus

Solarlife, thank you for your comments and the Flag! Although I can not comment on the stats you provide as well as your statements about the young women of France, for reason of lack of knowledge, I do agree that the question of "regulating birthrates" is a difficult one. And one, here again, I could not possibly elaborate, since I have not given it any consideration or study at all; perhaps now is the time:)! Thanks again!

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SOLARLIFE

Hi Rhonda, this is the Explainer Renting US / France:

Let me say you rent a Appartment in the US you put the rent $350 on the Table, if you don't pay 3 times that was it; simple. Not so in France, people most make no money with Business creation ( to complicated insiders only ), but renting and selling refurbished Apt. Now the difference you need a so called Bail with someone taking guarantee for you, security of a unlimited Work contract CDI (not existing in the US) with 3 times Salary / to rent rate; Young people not have this, so many get pregnant to get a "social Apt". The sad situation has not yet changed much. For normal french people it' s almost impossible to get a "social Apt." They are all taken. This is why so many areas with "burning cars" are existing.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi Solarlife! Unfortunately it is not as easy as "...if you don't pay 3 times that was it;..." In New York State, Tenants have rights. For non-payment of rent, a Tenant must be served a 3 day notice -- if the Tenant refuses to pay the rent, the Landlord/lady must file a lawsuit and win.  Then, only a sheriff, marshall, or constable may evict a Tenant and only with a court-order. See NYS Tenant Rights Guide here (evictions): http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/tenants_rights_guide.html

On social class difference, compare NYS - most renters are required to give a security deposit (bail?) plus one month's rent upon signing of a Lease Agreement. This security is returned at the end of the Lease if the apartment is in good order, etc. A renter in most cases, must be employed to rent an apartment (exceptions would be social security, social security disability, etc).  It could also be the case that if a Tenant has poor credit history, the Landlord/lady would ask for a second signature on the Lease (guarantee?). You are right, the US does not employ (outwardly) a "...with 3 times Salary / to rent rate;...." Nevertheless, salary is taken into consideration.

I do understand the notion that "...so many get pregnant to get a "social Apt". You could compare "social Apt" to what is called "the Projects" in the United States, or low-income and/or subsidized housing.

Thank you for giving me a better understanding of the French system. I hope you have a better understanding of the American system too, at least that of New York State. I do have one question however, your reference to "burning cars". Could you clarify that for me?:)

 

Luiz Castro
Luiz Castro
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:58 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

mchawk
mchawk
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:59 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff - and especially interesting when British media would have us believe that birthrates have been falling around Europe for years.


I find it encouraging that people still have the stones to bring a child into such a messed-up world, and worrying that the planet can barely sustain the billions of us already here.

I'll let Bill Hicks have the last word on this who, concerned about scarcity of resources, said: "Can't y'all quit your rutting for one minute while we figure-out this food/air deal."

Blunt - but I think he had a point

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi Ifcastro! Glad to see you are on-site today! Many thanks for the Flag!

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Rhonda J Mangus

mchawk, I don't know that I personally "... find it encouraging that people still have the stones to bring a child into such a messed-up world,...". but I do thank you very much for your comments and the Flag! BTW I like Bill Hicks take on it::)!

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Rhonda J Mangus

mettacara, thank you!

PEP
PEP
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:53 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Hi Pep! Thanks for the Flag!

generaldecay
generaldecay
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:08 on July 19th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, interesting. Thanks for posting.

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Rhonda J Mangus

Generaldecay, thank you for your comments and the Flag!

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July 19, 2008 at 05:27 am by Rhonda J Mangus, 661 views, 39 comments

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