Categories:
Family Economics
One year ago today, we welcomed our third child into the world. We named him David Simon Carden–David for the Old Testament king, foibles and all, and Simon after Julian Simon. One of the most tragic beliefs people have today is the idea that there are “too many” people. One of the most outrageously offensive beliefs people have is that it is irresponsible and perhaps immoral to have more than one or two children. When we learned we were expecting him I started the Julian Simon Club. The problem isn’t that we have too many people. If anything, we have too few.
Happy birthday, David. May your name be a constant reminder that you are more valuable than you can imagine.
READER COMMENTS
Jack PQ
Jun 18 2013 at 8:21am
I am with you 100 percent, but I think zero-population growth reasoning is not so much outrageously offensive as just incomplete thinking, and thus deeply incorrect. Seeing humans not as parasites but rather as creatures who can be both a cost and benefit to the planet ought to be a revelation to Gaia worshippers.
What I find offensive is to hear people reject the argument out of bullheadedness.
egf
Jun 18 2013 at 10:23am
Don’t you think that kind of statement can’t be true generally and absolutely. That is, did Octomom do the right thing? How about a welfare dad with 22 babies by 15 different women? Given the importance of nurture, shouldn’t the parent’s ability to provide for their child matter in this, or do you think children are so productive others are obligated to invest in these insanely productive seed corn (via state welfare)?
guthrie
Jun 18 2013 at 2:26pm
egf,
What is your objection? To people having babies, or to the welfare state?
egf
Jun 18 2013 at 5:43pm
guthrie: I don’t like the welfare in general, but that’s not my point.
Many people are either unable or unwilling to invest in their children. Those people shouldn’t have more children, because others will do a lousy job at raising them, and such children will not be a boon to humanity on average (surely, some will, I’m talking on average). Many other people have the ability and willingness to invest in children, but worry about their how this will affect their career, etc. (eg, the Idiocracy intro with the yuppie couple). Those people need to be reminded that benefits accrue decades later, so do not focus too much on the costs.
So, I agree many people should have more kids, but disagree with the implication that everyone should have more kids.
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