If each country had a two child policy

[Blackcat21]

Just an idea and my opinion, and fully aware I will probably get flamed for this.

The population is rising, not shrinking, and with that is coming ridiculous house prices, global warming, running low on natural resources and foods.

Health services are stretched and school classes are increasingly full.

Wouldn’t an solution to this be only letting per couple or mother/father have two biological children each.

I must admit, it does annoy me when some women go on to have 3rd, 4th child etc just because “they want to” or want a large family, love being with children or love being a mother.

Motherhood is a beautiful thing but it could be restricted to two biological children only.

Overpopulation is impacting the earth too much.

If this couple wanted more children they can adopt.
There are thousands of children in the U.K. and other countries each year wanting to be adopted.

Doing this could possibly tackle overpopulation but increase the adoption of children.

Obviously I’m aware there is problems of how to monitor this, what if a woman gets pregnant against her will, accidental pregnancies etc but not that is the not the point or idea I’m trying to get across right now.

AIBU to think this could be a good approach?

I must admit, it does annoy me when some women go on to have 3rd, 4th child etc just because “they want to” or want a large family, love being with children or love being a mother.

I agree. If someone ate four slices of cake "just because they wanted to" they'd be considered greedy, but want to populate the earth with four more humans to the detriment of others? Knock yourself out!

I think the only way this would ever happen in a democracy would be if it became socially unacceptable to have more than two children. (Although I did read something recently about fertility rates falling precipitously, so that may end up being what causes the birth rate to be reduced.)

"I must admit, it does annoy me when some women go on to have 3rd, 4th child etc just because “they want to” or want a large family, love being with children or love being a mother."

What other reason could there be to have a child? That would apply to the first and second to. We have kids because we want to. End of.

I have 4 kids so naturally I wouldn't be keen. Im not sure overpopulation is really such an issue everywhere. In France the government actually promotes bigger families. But here in the UK the message clearly is to stop at 2. Ultimately imposing a limit on people isn't really a sensible way forward.

Population of the UK is falling and across the world it looks like developed nations are heading for a Covid-related birth bust. Why would we need this policy exactly? Or would it only apply to developing nations and if so, isn't that a touch colonial?

We aren't overpopulated, land is hoarded and passed down to few people and the rest share what is left.
A lot of places with high populations, it is due to immigration not birth rates.

Sorry but the world is going to end one day and it won't be because of humans.

I agree op.But sadly ppl are selfish and do not think about the bigger picture.For the record I have one child so not being a hypocrite either!

@5zeds

The money spent on education surely is recouped in tax when they work?

Only if they work. Very few are net contributors, many in work claim far more in benefits than the tax they pay each month and many don’t work at all.

@alliejay81

It's factually incorrect to say the population is continuing to grow, it's levelling off. The book Factfulness is very good and I'd highly recommend.

No, it is factually correct to say population is continuing to grow, it's just the rate of increase is slowing down, but it is predicted to keep growing for another 80 years.

Or would it only apply to developing nations and if so, isn't that a touch colonial?

Its always targeted at developing nations. The birth rate in developed countries has already plummeted. But its not about racism, no sir, that's just a coincidence.

Of course a family in a developing country could have a large number of children and not have a fraction of the environmental impact of one little emperor in the first world.

Every generation puts a new spin on eugenics. Every generation pretends its about something else, this time its dressed up as save the planet. Its always about controlling just about any race that isn't white and its always about using oppression of women as the mechanism.

China's population, and reproduction rate, is already falling fast. Or so I heard this morning on Radio 4. Once there is decent health care and life expectancy, it doesn't take long for families to grasp that smaller families result in more not less prosperity.

Are you allowed anouther child if one dies or has a terminal illness?
Is sex selection allowed? That may cut down on people who keep trying for s boy/girl
Are people allowed a baby in a 2nd relationship if they already have 2 with someone else?
Perhaps just stop all fertility treatments? Nature's way and all that?
We don't want to end up with China! Also you must remember alot of emotions come into why people have children and why they have more than 1 or 2!
Perhaps population control should be the other way around??? How about no active aggressive life saving treatment for over 80's?
Or maybe we accept personal choice?
( Just to be clear I personally do not think we should sacrifice 80 year olds, or stop IVF. But I will put it out there for debate as could be interesting and I want to know OP views as they are so concerned about population)

How do we apply this logic to those feckless fathers who decide to have multiple kids with different woman?

Do we sterilise after the two child limit?

In this scenario you're seeking to applying this rule to hetrosexual couples who are together...in reality that isn't how many families are composed!

Stupid idea.

Whisky, plenty of women have children with multiple partners not just men.

Yes, you're right.

I shouldn't have sweepingly generalised.

There are, apparently, eco-warriors who are committed to having no children themselves in order to save the planet. I feel sorry for them and respect them in equal measure. Most people who are "concerned" about overpopulation are not concerned enough to take this drastic active step, but rather make sure they've secured as many children as they want first before decreeing it would be irresponsible to have more . Not only is eco-gerontocide (is that a word? Killing the old) likely to help more than limiting reproduction, but eco-suicide would be even more helpful to the planet. But funnily enough, people don't seem so keen on them, even though when you look at it in a broad way, eradicating one human life from the planet ought to be the same as any other.

Unsinkablemoll Wed 07-Apr-21 19:54:41
'Population of the UK is falling'

Are you a natural idiot, or have you been taking lessons ?

I agree op.But sadly ppl are selfish and do not think about the bigger picture.For the record I have one child so not being a hypocrite either!

Like you? Having only one child is very bad for the economic future of your country, why are you so selfish? Have two more.

I'd have been stuffed as my second pregnancy was twins. What happens then? Give one away? 🙄

I also know a lot of women including my own Dsis who have chosen not to have children - not to save the planet but because they didn't want them. Surely there's a balance there

Why not go the other way and allow euthanasia and death sentences?

@vomcomvomcom

I think it’s a great idea. I also think people should be sterilised after their two kids so they can’t break the rules.

Vile. U want people to have surgery without consent just to endorse a childbearing policy. Disgusting!!!

@Totallyfedup1979

In all honesty, I can’t imagine why people would have more than one anyway... * pregnancy was awful, everyday spent vomiting * the birth was atrocious - why would you do that more than once and no, I have never forgotten that pain! Plus, my tummy and boobs are certainly not what they were before a baby. * babies are hard work and constant worry! They also poop and wee everywhere. * toddlers can be naughty and mine drew all over the wallpaper. It’s hard to keep a neat home when toddlers are about. * kids are a pita and expensive! Sooooo expensive! They want everything! And they grow so quickly, it costs a fortune in clothing and shoes * teenagers...oh my god, I did not see that one coming and mine is an angel compared to most! * adult kids - well, being one, I know it doesn’t get easier.

Now I can understand one child. We all make mistakes but people go on to do this 2, 3, 4 and even more times! Why??!!

It’s a shame you had such an awful experience but for a lot of us it’s not like that and we actually enjoy it

Don't the choices we all make balance out one anothers? I had one child, at 43, and am happy with that result. So if someone else has twins, it evens out. I only get irritated when people are welcoming their 19th new born. Because unless you are Bill Gates or similar, you are not paying for all of your family. Four children, I get you want a large family, and as long as you can afford them, I wish you well; get to six and I start to think someone is milking the system.

India's Total Fertility Rate is now a jaw-dropping 1.7.
China is down to 1.6 .
Bangladesh is 2.0 and dropping.

It's entirely possible to have a large population without high fertility; these countries are all experiencing the same life-expectancy lag as rest of us; hence the overcrowding. In India and China's case, that also involves the dark side of population control, with a massive sex imbalance as baby girls were aborted or adopted abroad.

In fact, when I feel dystopian, I can see China aiming for a land-grab and/or regional war in the next 15 years as they will handily have a lot of young, unmarried men to occupy and Xi Jingling will be thinking about his legacy.

The UK no of children per woman is about 1.6 anyway isn’t it?

Don't the choices we all make balance out one anothers? I had one child, at 43, and am happy with that result. So if someone else has twins, it evens out.

How can people genuinely believe it's as rosy tinted as this? i.e. My sister drives a 4x4 but I don't own a car therefore we equal eachother out

It’s eugenics. Straightforward policy to stop the poorer members of society breeding. Biggest impact on minority communities.
We really are heading back to 1933.