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The Politics of
Breeding - msn's groups - childfree and happy
(c)2007 Childfree Resource Network
Written by estep_rk 10/10/2004 12:14 AM
Hello All
Since we have less than a month before election, I feel that it is time
for a new discussion. We have heard for the past four years (and
beyond) about reproduction rights and birth control and "sanctity of
life" ad infinitum ad nauseum. This is typical politics, "family
values" being used an political tool since Roman times. But have you
stopped to think about those groups to whom breeding is of interest and
is even benifiting from keeping women as broodsows? This humble ranter
has given this topic quite a bit of thought and came up with several
groups that do have an interest in our gonads.
1) Those who support the status quo. These include those who genuinely
believe that this is woman's lot in life. These also include those who
believe "this is how it has been from the beginning" . When something
comes along to disrupt their little worldview, they react with the same
fury as a child when a friend tell him there is no Santa Claus. This
also includes those who benefit from being a breeders, either in the
form of monies (government or private) as well as attention and
affection. For many, getting knocked up is probably the only time they
ever got any attention. Sad to say there are those who would rather use
their kids to get money (and I'm talking both genders here)thru the
government.
To those people, we represent the threat of being broke and being
treated as a nobody. Some people prefer to take the easy way out, and
it is a lot easier to get knocked up than bust your butt for a degree.
Add to that the very human fear of the unknown. It is easier to cling
to the familar than take a risk (and a lot less scary too)
2) The religous complex. In addition to keeping women in their place,
(The author mentioned in an earlier reply that if women demand sexual
equality, what else will they demand equality in.) but also in the
realm of growing their next followers. In the latter half of the last
century, many mainstream religions have seen their congregations shrink
(and the gratuities that go with it) So the way to fill those pews (and
in some cases, fill those coffers) is to (1) convert as many people as
possible, and (2) start growing those converts. Since the first option
is not as effective as it used to be, that leaves the second. Very
relavent when you look at the fact that the more fundementalist a
denomination is, the more breedercentric it is.
3) The military-industrial complex. I study history, especially WW2,
and I have heard some historians argue that WW1 and WW2 should be
thought of as one war with a twenty year breather in between. I did not
come across a reason for the intermission until I saw something about
the flu pandemic of 1918-1919. The death toll was so huge that the
powers that be could not field large enough armies to continue the
fight or to provide the infrastructure for a war. Well, since it takes
a human 18-20 years to grow to adulthood, well, it becomes all too
sickenly clear. They had to grow another generation of "cannon fodder".
In fact I would argue that WW2 would have been fought even w/o Hitler
and the Axis.
The powers that be need warm bodies to fill the uniforms and fight the
wars that make them richer and gains them more territory (loot,
tribute, whatever you want to call it) Fewer babies mean fewer bodybags
for the tired old men who are in power.
4) The business world. The ones who manifacture things need people to
buy thier goods. It is estimated (if I remember correctly) that the
economy needs at least five percent growth per year to maintain the
status quo. The writer Betty Rollin pointed to this fact as the reason
for "all those gooey motherhood commercials". In addition, more babies
mean more workers. Now, simple economics dictate that the less
available a commodity is (in this case labor) the higher it will cost
(in the form of wages, benefits, etc) So, keep the sprogs popping out,
keep the labor pool large. Keep the labor pool large, keep the wages
down. Simple economics; lower wages mean greater profits. Someone is
less likely to demand more if he/she knows that there are a dozen more
people waiting in the wings who are happy to do it for less.
This will also explain why there is no effective immigration policy. It
also explains why some business leaders wet their pants at the mention
of family planning!
There you have it. My personal theory of why the powers that be are so
scared of the child free. But they drape their fears in the cloaks of
religion, patriotism and sentiment; hoping that, like the Wizard of Oz,
we don't notice the little man behind the curtain. Change always comes
with those reactionary forces who want keep things the way they are.
But the one thing they cannot see is that time does not run backwards,
no matter how hard they try to make it so. They may try but they will
ultimatly fail, and ultimately end up on the "ash heap of history"
I apoligize for the length of this post, but I feel this is an idea
whose time has come.