I have learned a lot of
interesting things this week, it may be lengthy, but I wouldn't share it if I
didn't think it was worthwhile. Here it is...
The population of the whole word is declining due to
the drop in the fertility rate. Basically, less
people are having children. This means that the replacement rate is so low
that the population becomes smaller. A replacement
rate is the number of
children that each woman needs to have to maintain current population
levels. What happens with a smaller population?- there will be more of the
older generation, and less of the young. Human
Capital-is the stock of knowledge, talents, education- basically someone's
skills that contribute to economic value. It is the "capacity" that
people acquire to be competent, or productive.When there are more people there
is more Human Capital. When there are less people this means that more people
have to offer more Human Capital. So either these people offer more Human
Capital, or the economy will suffer. Just think about it, the innovative
group is shrinking this means an increase in work and a decrease in income.
Also, think about it... If there are more of the older generation who are
retiring and will be receiving social security then there are less workers per person
to provide that social security.
What are the causes of this decline in population???
Just off of the top of my
head... Here are a few:
- Women's Revolution- This was a
time where education for women and role in the work place was increased. With
this revolution, the world began to "redefine" motherhood. Women became more likely to pursue
success in career paths, and were less likely to follow the
"homemaker/stay at home mom" path than before. Another contributor to
this revolution is women starting
families at later ages. I
believe that many women even today decide to first receive education, and
follow their career path... and then desire to, or assume that they will
start a family later. When this happens, males and females are an older
average age when they marry and begin to have children. People starting to have
children at an older age= people having less children. The likelihood that
someone who begins their family at 21 will have 5 children rather than someone
who starts their family at the age of 30.
-Sexual Revolution-
The sexual revolution changed many views and beliefs in society. This sexual
movement or "liberation" brought the mindset that sexual
relationships could be accepted outside the bonds of traditional heterosexual
marriage. This revolution brought: Premarital
sex as a norm. Homosexual
relationships. Contraception and
the pill were made available. The legalization of abortion.
Regarding this topic Don
Feder has said, "This sea change in attitudes and behavior
includes at first, separating procreation from marriage, then separating sex
from procreation and finally separating love or any sense of commitment from
sex,”. (To read more follow this link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865590687/Sexual-revolution-leading-to-population-decline-crisis-speaker-says.html?pg=all)
Just think about it,
society does not view sexual relationships as means of just
"procreation" anymore. The world does not view it as something that
should be solely shared between husband and wife.There are now many ways
available to prevent pregnancy, or even end it... Really, the truth is,
those who are most likely to have the most children are a husband and wife
within a family bond. It seems today, that marriage has decreased, while sex
outside of marriage has increased.
Individualism- According to good ole' Merriam Webster, this is the definition of Individualism-
in·di·vid·u·al·ism
: the
belief that the needs of each person are more important than the needs of
the whole society or group
:
the actions or attitudes of a person who does things without being concerned
about what other people will think
I am not saying at all
that individualism is a bad thing. I do though, believe that our individual
rights or views of these rights have become extreme. It seems like we love our
selves over anything else. We want to make money, we want to travel the world,
we want to have successful careers. These are all good things in moderation. In
this individualistic society in which we live the shift is on self. Marriage
isn't easy. Children are expensive. Raising a family requires much
sacrifice of the things that we want in our own lives. I believe that for this
reason, that people are more likely to have less children or none at all.
What can cure this?
This question has been
asked before. Solution? Money!!!? Give them money to have babies!!! In many
countries the governments have decided to give monetary incentives for having
children... but it didn't work. Why? Well just plainly, the people don't want
the government to tell them what they should do. Secondly, if you have more
money, it is more likely that you will want less children to enjoy it.
It looks like we are in a
pickle here...
The world is declining
faster and faster in both morals and in population. The solution is: Strengthening the Family
Unit.
Like I have mentioned
before, a man and woman who are bonded in marriage are most likely out of all
people to have more children. This is how we can increase the population rate.
This addresses "quantity"... but what about quality? It seems like
the world is not only declining in population, but also in moral values as
well.
I have heard a few times
before, that "the cradle of moral capital is the
Family." What does this mean? To me, this means that family is
where people learn moral principles, where they are able to lay a foundation
and be taught to make wise choices.
The document that I have
below is called The Family: A
Proclamation to The World. I know that this is an inspired document from
God. All the while I was pondering what has caused of what I have shared today
and more it repeatedly came to mind. If you have a moment, please take some
time to review it and consider how God's counsel to us given by His prophets
can help with us with these issues in the world.
Follow the link below to
read:
