Children are bad for our Economy? (And other rhetoric)
*Warning - I'm climbing on a soapbox...do not read if you do not share my political views.
I was recently given a book to read by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar on their family life and history. (Thanks, Cheryl, I need to send that back with Mike). I was STUNNED at some of the comments others have made when they simply SEE this cover. I almost covered it in a brown paper bag. ::snort:: I also wondered if those who were declaring how selfish Michelle must be, how wrong large families are, etc, remember that they are in the presence of a woman who HAS 9 children.... if every baby I'd conceived had been born I'd have 17 children. Do they think the same about our family? Do they think that I'm destroying my body? Do they think that I'm lazy? Do they think that I simply "birth children and force the older ones to parent them?" Hmmm.....
I read, Twenty and Counting, before I formed my opinion on the Duggars. I do not have television and haven't followed their story closely. Frankly, life is far too busy raising, mentoring, and educating my children. Not once in the book do either Jim Bob or Michelle say that "all" families must dress, eat, conceive, spend or educate as they do. Not once. I would not make all of the same choices on parenting or homeschooling that they have....but they don't SAY that all have to do it their way. They simply share their convictions. For that they are ridiculed on the internet. Unfortunately, all the comments I have received come from Christian women. When did it become unacceptable in America to live out and share one's convictions?
I am bombarded daily by the convictions of the culture around me. I'm told to be tolerant. Why in the world are parents of large families not afforded the same respect? I would NEVER say to another, "the choices you have made before God are selfish," or "you obviously don't value children because you x,y or z", or "your educational choices are wrong"....so why do others feel it is o.k. to make such comments to me? It really is very intolerant of them. ::snort::
I have discussed the thoughts I will share in the next paragraph with a couple of dear friends and Mike this week. I mentioned that my common comeback when told that, "large families are a drain on the economy," is to say, "Your tax dollars do not pay for my children's education, food, medical care, or housing." I also like to point out that MY LARGE FAMILY is doing our part to solve the social security imbalance in this country. ::snort::
I realized during this past week if America goes to nationalized health care, I will not be able to say, "Your tax dollars don't provide for my children." Hmmm....I further predicted to friends and Mike that if America goes to more nationalization of these services, there will first be complaints about how large families "use more resources" and then there will be pressure to limit family size for the "good of the economy".
I didn't expect these thoughts to be shared quite so quickly or blatantly. I was SHOCKED at the gym this a.m to hear Nancy Pelosi explain that the BAIL OUT/stimulus package contains dollars for contraceptives because, "The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now..." Speaker Pelosi goes on to say that, "...contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government." She said she has, "No apologies. . . we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy."
A friend actually sent me the above link and said, "I believe you predicted this". For the most part I stay away from politics on my blog. I do not want to drive folks away from Christ who I long to share more than any one political view. Comments generated by my reading choice, the executive orders concerning abortion coming out of Washington DC, my study of PS 127 and these comments by Speaker Pelosi convince me that this trend to devalue children will continue. I've watched this trend for 20 years. Regardless of your personal life choices...all who name the name of Christ should be able to agree on the fact that the Bible calls Children a BLESSING...again regardless of how many you have, how you educate them etc.
Our leaders want to blame America's Economic woes on CHILDREN? Shame on them. Yes, I realize that the quotes I shared do NOT quote Pelosi saying "children are at fault" but that is certainly the way it was being reported on various news channels this a.m. I have a newsflash:
America's citizens/states are in this situation because we have an
addiction to debt and spending....not because of anything any child has
done. Speaker Pelosi feels that a "consequence" of this downturn is to
limit children in America? I submit that it would make more sense to QUIT
OVERSPENDING at the personal, local, state and national levels.
Let me submit that Children are GOOD for our economy (if you wish to think in those terms):
- My large family spends MORE on expendable products that the average family of 4. Therefore, we help our economy.
- I pay property taxes that go towards the education of America's children, and yet I do not send my children to their schools. My large family helps the economy.
- Many in our large family work at a young age....they are productive members of this economy.
- We spend, we save...we simply don't do debt.
- My children and dh who work pay taxes - lots of taxes - which certainly helps the government to continue spending and helps to keep Social Security afloat.
Are you aware that JAPAN is telling it's citizens to have more children (as reported on FOX news this a.m.)? They've realized that Children are NOT bad for the economy. I pray that Americans slow down and think about the rhetoric before we continue to throw willy-nilly spending at an economic problem. If we want to see lasting stimulus to our economy we are going to have to address the issues that got us to this place.....plain and simple. I know many are struggling. I know that many saw their retirement savings take a huge slide. I sympathize and pray for real solutions to be voted on. I pray for our leaders (of both parties) to have wisdom as they seek to fix this problem.
CHILDREN did not create this economic climate...."adults" did.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
