NSFW Episode 4: Silver, Welfare Reform, Winter Inflation

Gekko21:

Eddie-I think you raise some good points about birth control with the poor, although I do believe that there should probably be a two kids limit of some sort (of course actually enforcing will be hard---what are you going to do take away their assistance, talk about a PR nightmare). It just comes down to it, that if you can't support a yourself and two kids, it would be better for all parties involved if you not have a third---give your first two as much as you can.

Scientific American and other science publications touch on the subject of population control frequently. They bring up a lot of different ideas and perspectives; some are quite rational and others seem as if they were concocted in the Third Reich.

One of their (more civilized) ideas comes stemming from China's two-child policy and applying a similar policy to the US and other nations. With world population projections significantly increasing in the coming years, it seems odd (to certain magazine writers) that the US would only incentivize people to have more children when the growing future demand for sources, such as energy, is very uncertain. I'll save you (and myself) from explaining in detail a few years worth of articles, but the main idea is that world unrest could stem as a result of heavily encouraging society to overpopulate given that more of the earth's resources (nonrenewable) would be consumed faster. One of their suggestions: incentivize people to not have children via tax breaks instead of the other way around. It's not mad scientist evil but it's an interesting proposal. One thing is for certain, society will be a lot different in 50 years than what we know today.

Some of the ideas and theories of the topic are not finite or viable options (given that many science publications take a Utopian view of the world) but it is a very interesting and mind stimulating subject nonetheless.

In regards to welfare, incentivizing recipients to not have children would indeed cause some PR issues let alone a breach of what is moral; could one really cut another person off of financial assistance for becoming pregnant... when did pregnancy become grounds for penalty (see taxes above)?

Edmundo Braverman:

We're working on it. Stay tuned.

Okay cool. I think the last time you said something like this it ended in you telling us that PlayBoy had done a story about you. Looking forward to whatever you guys have in store for this idea.

GoodBread:

The last thing this country needs is slower population growth. Mustering the political will to cut retired boomers' benefits will be impossible and unpalatable for anyone who's parents aren't loaded. Our country grows on the backs of Mcdonalds workers and illegal immigrants, not just the IB/PE/HF complex.

Very true, but also very complex. The highest birth rates in America are found in the most big-gov dependent environments. Are you sure that kids who are brought up New Deal-ists from day 1 are going to be looking at social security as the endless pit that we know it as OR will they consider it some form of "birthright" like so many of our current countrymen and women?

GoodBread:

I think it's a numbers game. Living on welfare isn't exactly fun and enough kids will go on to being productive, in part because they see their parents as having failed.

The problem is that they will see that their parents have failed and demand more government assistance because instead of being able to teach them about hard work and success, they will teach them about government handouts.

Without good parenting, the only way your going to make it is if your slinging crack rock or got a wicked jump shot.

GoodBread:

I think it's a numbers game. Living on welfare isn't exactly fun and enough kids will go on to being productive, in part because they see their parents as having failed.

Not to be a complete asshole but I think you are being naive. What about their lifestyle or upbringing would make them feel like their parents have failed? Though I personally haven't experienced welfare and the projects, I had some good friends that did and they always maintained that there is not relevant sense of success for them growing up. None of them look at their parents and say that they are failures because in that environment, there is nothing wrong with not working and collecting a welfare check. It's more of a "us against the world" mentality, in which, taking money from the government is a way of winning...especially if you aren't working. I personally know of some people who live in situations that would not be considered fun, but they manage to linger there for months and years at a time...places I wouldn't want to drive near much less lay my head down at night to try and sleep.

This is not to say there aren't some who do feel like they can do better, because there are and they can, but there is nowhere near "enough" kids becoming productive out of welfare environments.

Regards