this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2025
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[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 65 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Desperation?

People don't want to have kids. I wonder why. Remember the laying flat movement and the 996 culture.

I wonder why.

If only there was an actual solution to this LOLOL....

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 35 points 1 day ago (12 children)

If I lived under an authoritarian regime, I would not want to bring a child into it.

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 56 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The truth is that the strength of a democracy has little relation to the birth rate. If you live in the US, for example, you only live in a democracy if your income is in the top 10%. This has actually been studied. The opinions of the poorest 90% of the population have absolutely zero bearing on what government policy is implemented.

The US and China actually have similar levels of democracy. China forms all its policies from the CCP, an organization of about 100 million people. The share of the population in China that has any impact on policy is actually quite similar to the share that does the same in the US.

[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 5 points 11 hours ago

It’s true. The very poor people I’ve known in the US have believed that “the system is rigged” and they have little freedom and no voice. They believe they are exploited by powers far beyond their ability to challenge and the last way any of it would ever change is through voting, which they see as an empty, farcical gesture.

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

While you are correct, taking a piss poor example of democracy against another piss poor example of democracy doesn't really explain anything. I said authoritarian regime, I stand by that.

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 22 points 1 day ago (4 children)

What democracy currently have population replacement birth levels?

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[–] antonim@lemmy.dbzer0.com 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

Ehh, the character of the regime doesn't seem to affect birth rates a whole lot. Brutal dictatorships that make China seem like a gentle puppy could have perfectly ok birth rates. E.g. Nazi Germany had 2.5 fertility rate in 1939 and 1940, it was their highest since 1922: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Germany

I really don't think the average Chinese cares too much about how authoritarian their govt is when it comes to deciding on whether to have kids. The consequences of one-child policy, economic prospects, stability, general cultural optimism/pessimism, social habits (and the effects of technology on them), etc. are all likely to be much more important factors.

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[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 12 points 15 hours ago

I live in a democracy and don't want to bring children into this.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 hours ago

lived under an authoritarian regime

I mean... isn't that just most of history tbh?

Most people aren't antinatalists lol

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[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

HCOL, many graduates are having impossible time of finding jobs, plus china trying to lure graduates/phd from the states has incensed them as well.

Good thing they made actual unions illegal in the Workers' Paradise ™️.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 39 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good. Can’t wait to beat this drum to hopefully shame the less than useless US congress to do ANYTHING.

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 34 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, shaming America's greatness against other countries has worked in the past. That's how we got:

  • Universal healthcare
  • Mandated paid maternity/parental leave
  • More than two dominant political parties
  • Cheaper or free college education
  • High-speed passenger rail
  • Mandated annual paid vacation time

Oh wait.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 4 points 19 hours ago

The Congress of today likely won't. But the people who takes their vacated seats? Possibly.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 19 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Yeah! Why would China spend that money on their people when they could spend it on their military and use their military to harass brown countries?

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[–] Railcar8095@lemmy.world 20 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

It's great, but I had kind of assumed it was already in place.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 20 points 11 hours ago (4 children)

China has a far weaker social safety net than a lot of people assume.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 8 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Especially considering the pedestal it lives on on Lemmy.

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[–] Railcar8095@lemmy.world 5 points 11 hours ago

I asumed little, but childbirth I thought would.

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[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (3 children)

does this apply if one of the parents was not chinese?

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[–] robocall@lemmy.world 10 points 19 hours ago (15 children)

Anything to help people that want to have children is good.

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 14 points 13 hours ago (17 children)

that want to have children

As long as people who don't want to have children aren't pressured. Not everyone is interested in parenting, and that needs to be accepted.

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[–] mrl1@jlai.lu 8 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Childbirth costs isn't what's preventing people from having babies though

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 10 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You're right, falling birth rates are affecting people in rich and poor countries alike.

I think the answer is more complicated and has a lot to do with our collective psychology as a species, what we're consuming and what we're feeling about our futures.

That said, money and cost do play a huge role in this. People have complicated feelings on having families right now, and the barrier of cost is a great idea for the brain to seize onto as a validation for avoiding continuation of the species.

[–] dude@lemmings.world 4 points 14 hours ago

In China even high schools are paid, the answer is not complicated in this case. It’s just crazy expensive to have children in China with the local salaries

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[–] idefix@sh.itjust.works 8 points 14 hours ago

Given how overpopulated the planet is, I'm not a fan

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 hours ago

nah, disagree. not anything.

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[–] aesthelete@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If they're are covered, why or how are they out of pocket?

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago

I think once they are covered, they will no longer be uncovered. I.e. no longer be out of pocket.

Still you have to pay to raise them, which I’m guessing is the main factor for people not to want children. Which I suppose is what the government is trying to encourage here.

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