I don't see much wrong with that post myself, unless I'm misunderstanding what he's saying.
I certainly wouldn't decide to have a child unless I thought I was both emotionally and financially able to cope.
Obviously that doesn't mean poorer people shouldn't have children. Someone with relatively little income might well decide they're nonetheless in a position to handle the financial strain of having a child. They'd be stupid not to take that factor into consideration though if they're actually in a position to make the decision in that way.
There is nothing wrong with taking your financial decision into account when deciding whether or not to have kids. Everything else is the problem.
Having kids is a privilege that is often taken for granted.
Already we are off to a great start. Who are these people who are taking advantage of having children? What does this even mean? People were having children before democracy, before industry, before literacy, before language. Having children is not a privilege given to us but anything except the gods or fate if that's your kind of thing. No one died for our right to have children.
In my opinion it is absolutely vital that you asses your means before deciding to bring a child into the world.
Of course the financial side of thing is important, but it's not the most important. I've met rich kids who had a terrible childhood, and I've met poor kids who had a childhood that I would dream of having. One of my best friends grew up very poor, on benefits, etc. He's now a hot shot in London earning more a year than I will earn in a decade.
If you're already struggling to make ends meet whatever would push you to make your financial situation even worse by introducing a child into the equation? The emotional side of things unfortunately is not enough because you can't feed yourself with love.
Firstly, in almost any financial situation, kids are going to make it worse. They aren't cheap. Secondly, being poor shouldn't mean not being able to feed your kids. If we live in a country where kids are going un-fed, that's atrocious, and the tories should declare moral bankruptcy right now. Thirdly, the rich can become poor, just like the poor can become rich.
But fourthly, and most importantly, this is extremely delusional thinking. It simply doesn't work that way. People will have children. 16 year olds will get pregnant. Homeless people will get pregnant. Drug addicts will get pregnant. People have children. Unless you are proposing a hitler-like solution (hence why I am calling him hitler) then there answer is a state-provided safety net, nut shaking your finger and tutting and how stupid people can be.
The ultimate qualification.
I decided that I wanted to give my child the best possible start in life so opted for a private school. Me and my wife would like to have another child but currently we wouldn't be able to afford the same arrangement so we decided to wait until our circumstances change. Ours is not even a case of being able to make ends meet but rather a lifestyle choice so I can't comprehend how those who would struggle would make that decision.
fecking hell! So you've opted not to have a child because you can't afford to send him to some fancy private school. Wait a private primary school? What is the point of a private primary school? Let your kids have some fun! I can understand sending your kids to a private secondary school, but why private primary!?
But more importantly, have you thought about other factors at all?
Firstly, fertility. Women are a ticking time bomb, and men don't last forever either
This 1957 study found that
- By age 30, 7% of couples were infertile
- By age 35, 11% of couples were infertile
- By age 40, 33% of couples were infertile
Waiting forever simply isn't an option. Waiting for your finances to improve could lead to not being able to have any children at all. Or alternatively, lead to a greater risk of your child being born with defects such as Downs Syndrome
Absolutely, some people are just not qualified to have kids at all but I think having your kids go to school hungry is a bigger issue than spoiling them to oblivion.
Again, Jesus christ. Letting your kids go to school hungry is terrible, but financial implosion could happen to anyone. Have we no compassion to help?
