Population Decline

[Bo Diddley]

Sorry, PAC. I know there were some uncalled for cheap shots in there.

[Northwestcoug]

Hey I did my part. You'd think that having 4 kids chances were high for some demographic relief. But there is nothing on the horizon, Maybe one kid will feel differently in a few years. But the 3 others still seem set against having kids.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Hey I did my part. You'd think that having 4 kids chances were high for some demographic relief. But there is nothing on the horizon, Maybe one kid will feel differently in a few years. But the 3 others still seem set against having kids.

We have 4 kids and 5 grandkids with 1 on the way. No way will we reach 8. Maybe 7 if we are lucky.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Our six kids have produced fourteen grandkids, and they're done. That level of fecundity would have prompted derision or worse a generation ago. Now, with half those (not including six-tax-paying in-laws) paying into Social Security, we should get thank-you notes from recipients on the second Wednesday of each month.

[Clark Addison]

Hey I did my part. You'd think that having 4 kids chances were high for some demographic relief. But there is nothing on the horizon, Maybe one kid will feel differently in a few years. But the 3 others still seem set against having kids.

Yeah, that's like my entire family with the exception of one brother (coincidentally(?) the only one of us that lives in Utah). He had 6 kids and has 10 (I think) grandkids. The other 8 of us have 18 kids and a total of 0 grandkids. Granted he is the oldest, but 10 of the 19 are at least 20 and 4 at least 30.

My four have expressed little interest to this point

[falafel]

Yeah, that's like my entire family with the exception of one brother (coincidentally(?) the only one of us that lives in Utah). He had 6 kids and has 10 (I think) grandkids. The other 8 of us have 18 kids and a total of 0 grandkids. Granted he is the oldest, but 10 of the 19 are at least 20 and 4 at least 30.

My four have expressed little interest to this point

Two of my HS friends are now grandpas, neither is over 50.

[Bo Diddley]

Two of my HS friends are now grandpas, neither is over 50.

I was 49 when my first grandchild was born. We had our kids as fast as we could by design so we would be young enough to enjoy our grandkids and life in general while we are still relatively young.

We are slackers though. Three kids and four grandkids. I think that's probably it. I come from a family with eleven children. Mrs. Diddley comes from a family with six children.

[wally]

Japan is falling off a cliff and there is little hope for a correction.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...095be609c290aa









Given US trends, this is likely our future too. Pretty bleak. But hey, hurray for careers and self-realization right?

I wonder how this trends? Like does population in Japan crash down to a certain level and taper off? Do they incentivize any type of immigration? Will be interesting to see what happens. I am kinda glad that these orgainzed Asian Nations like Japan and Korea get to devise solutions before we have to, so that perhaps we can use their blueprint.

alternately, maybe China, to stave off its own demographic decline, just invades and takes them over when they reach a certain vulnerable threshold. This is all so exciting!!!

[Joe Public]

Do they incentivize any type of immigration?

That would be a vast cultural bridge to cross.

[wally]

That would be a vast cultural bridge to cross.

I totally agree, but what about immigration from other asian nations like Taiwan/Philippines? Or maybe a 'repatriation' effort? Like, return to Japan for free housing, Crunchyroll subscription, and J-pop concert tix?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wonder how this trends? Like does population in Japan crash down to a certain level and taper off? Do they incentivize any type of immigration? Will be interesting to see what happens. I am kinda glad that these orgainzed Asian Nations like Japan and Korea get to devise solutions before we have to, so that perhaps we can use their blueprint.

alternately, maybe China, to stave off its own demographic decline, just invades and takes them over when they reach a certain vulnerable threshold. This is all so exciting!!!

In a lot of the articles you read, they use expressions like "experts say it is too late to reverse the trend", but they don't elaborate.

I have no idea how we reverse this. Access to birth control and high-functioning economies lead to less births everywhere. Maybe when things get catastrophic, priorities will change. Who knows?

[frank ryan]

US immigration practices of wanting to remove 100,000 foreigners is not a good occurrence.

[Jeff Lebowski]

US immigration practices of wanting to remove 100,000 foreigners is not a good occurrence.

Yeah, it is asinine. Especially cutting off green cards, etc for highly skilled immigrants. What a moronic own-goal.

[chrisrenrut]

I totally agree, but what about immigration from other asian nations like Taiwan/Philippines? Or maybe a 'repatriation' effort? Like, return to Japan for free housing, Crunchyroll subscription, and J-pop concert tix?

Could Japan be a good place to retire too? Might be some deals on housing, etc., but the thought of limited services and resources going forward is a bit scary.

[Northwestcoug]

Hey I did my part. You'd think that having 4 kids chances were high for some demographic relief. But there is nothing on the horizon, Maybe one kid will feel differently in a few years. But the 3 others still seem set against having kids.

I've thought about my kids' situation a lot. All 4 of them deal with anxiety. I am sure the second one who is adamant about not having children is worried about her and any kids' problems with anxiety. I wonder if her witnessing the significant mental health issues of our first has only reinforced her worries. Mrs. NWC was very disappointed in her decision, but I'm sure that has its origins in her sacrifice in raising children and seeing her daughter's decision as devaluing hers. Our first hasn't written it off entirely but she understands being an OB/gyn would be challenging to being the mother she would want to be. Our son? Ha. He lives for the day and is still doing seasonal work. He has no significant plans for the future, let alone after summer. Our hopes and dreams for continued progeny now lie with baby daughter. She's in a relationship and if it endures there is sufficient income to consider starting a family. But again, she's anxious caring for her cat...

A few years ago my mindset was I can wait a long time before becoming a grandpa. I could still wait a few years, but there is a distinct possibility that we may never reach that stage. And now that the landing gear for our retirement is down I would like for that stage to happen while we have good health and energy. Until then, we have dogs...