A demographic time bomb that could hit America
The article mentions childcare, and I can definitely attest that it is a factor in people&#x27;s family size decisions, along with the push for two working parents. We are privileged enough that we can survive on one income, however, were that not the case we&#x27;d be looking at paying $12&#x2F;k a year for each child in childcare, on top of other baby-rearing costs. As it is, my wife plans to drop to (extreme) part time once we hit baby #2 ... at that point we&#x27;ll still suffer some loss, but at baby #3 it will be a wash.<p>And why such a childcare shortage? The government, of course. In a time of extreme demand, shortage, and rapidly rising rates, the availability of childcare is still decreasing. I asked about this, and our local center has to report to &amp; be inspected by three separate government agencies. Their compliance costs are enormous. They&#x27;re as much a paperwork collection, processing, and reporting center as they are a childcare center. With the advent of nanny cams, I can watch my child any time I choose, and record the action whenever I wish. Makes me wonder if the regulation needs to be quite so heavy in the modern age.<p>On a separate but related note: the impact of low birthrates and long life expediencies is unavoidable. Either:<p>1) People need to work longer, or<p>2) Retired people need to have a lesser lifestyle (so that the working population can live approximately the same lifestyle that current retirees had while <i>they</i> were working), or<p>3) Working people need to have a lesser lifestyle compared to past generations (to free up resources for retirees)<p>It seems that we are slow-walking towards 3), which is a problem because it&#x27;ll to some extent push the working population into a death spiral. They have less, so they work more, so they have less children, and the problem worsens. Repeat.