Why Is Population Growth Seldom Discussed?

[LWolf]

210. Because it intersects

choice, freedom, and responsibility, and that's a hard discussion to have.

It's a slippery slope to attach limits to choice and freedom. So while I personally am in favor of responsible choice, rather than unfettered choice, I wouldn't legislate it.

I have other ideas about global over-population. The U.S., though, needs to start at home. Since the U.S. is defiantly uber-capitalistic, I'd like to see the following measures instituted. In the beginning it would be about changing reproductive behavior, hopefully leading to a change in societal conventions:

1. Do away with tax deductions for dependent children.
1A. Universal national health care program, paid for by taxes, 100% free at point of service, a living wage, and guaranteed employment...as well other strands of a deep, many-layered safety net to go with #1. Included: A public education system, pre-school through University or trade school, 100% free for every citizen.

2. Give a very generous tax deduction to every adult who produces no biological children.

3. Give a smaller deduction to every adult who produces one biological child.

4. No deduction, but no tax, to those who produce 2 biological children.

5. A small deduction to anyone who permanently adopts any child not biologically their own in the U.S. of any age who needs a family for any reason.

6. A tax on every adult who creates more than 2 biological children in a lifetime, with that tax increasing exponentially with each further child.

7. And finally, or more probably, FIRST, to go along with U.S. style market incentives above, a comprehensive effort to educate the public about why it's so critical to address population growth.