China to begin two-child policy

Post by kalleboo » Thu, Oct 29, 2015, 1:23 PM UTC

adrianN wrote: post #92

kalleboo wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You're still free to have children if you want, but you're only supported by the state if you got a license This will only mean the most vulnerable (who need the most support) will be unsupported. You're creating an underclass.

If only certain people are encouraged to have children, you automatically have an underclass, no matter how it's implemented. I think that providing free (or more incentivized) birth control would lead to very few cases of unwanted children. IUDs and vasectomies are simple and effective.

Post by GordonS » Thu, Oct 29, 2015, 1:24 PM UTC

jpatokal wrote: post #37

GordonS wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"China will loosen its decades-long one-child population policy, allowing couples to have two children if one of them is an only child, according to a key decision issued on Friday by the Communist Party of China (CPC)." So there are still rules, just not as stringent.

The parent links to an old article, and that's the old rule which was just overturned. Now everybody can have two -- but apparently still no more than two?

Post by rottyguy » Thu, Oct 29, 2015, 1:25 PM UTC

zero_iq wrote: post #96

vincentkriek wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brutal and cruel? I agree it's a severe limit on the personal freedom but China doesn't value personal freedom as highly as the west does. Brutal and cruel is not the right terms for this in my opinion, you can have a beautiful, rich and fullfilling life with 2 children or less. You can plan to have just two children (up to some point). Also, I think it could benefit the earth if more countries would limit children.

The policy itself isn't cruel or brutal, but the enforcement can be terrible. Brutal and cruel acts include: * Killing of child immediately after birth * Killing of child whilst being born, e.g. in birth canal during birth * Termination of pregnancy as late as 8.5 months * Forced abortions (incorporating kidnapping and assault) All of these things have happened routinely as part of enforcement of the "one child" poli…

Post by hellbanner » Thu, Oct 29, 2015, 1:28 PM UTC

flgb wrote: post #75

tremon wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean, it is not a problem because the planet can support that many? Or do you mean it is a problem, but it will solve itself? I don't think either is correct. The first is only true today because non-First World inhabitants are living on a much smaller ecological footprint than Europe and the US. However, that footprint is increasing rapidly. The second reading at least acknowledges there is a problem, but I thin…

The earth doesn't have a "carrying capacity" or a "maximum population". The earth has resources that are used more or less sustainably at different times and in different places. If we all still lived like hunter gatherers we would have run out of resources and become extinct thousands of years ago. Luckily we've had social, economic, and technological development. As soon as anyone frames sustainability challenges i…

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 29, 2015, 1:29 PM UTC

Keyframe wrote: post #72

Are there any psychology/sociology studies how one-child policy impacted China's society? It has been documented how having one child vs siblings impact one's psyche. I wonder what kind of impact it has on a culture/society as a whole if most are from single-child families.