Saturday, September 27, 2014

What in the World?

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:


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