This is a very extensive, interesting and insightful article on the “Childless Culture” of modern urban America. Will there be enough children to replace those who are growing older and those who are dying? If there are not enough children who will pay for the elderly? If the childless generation succeeds, then they too will suffer. For this writer, one area that the author of this article neglected, and probably could not gauge, was the effect of aging on those who are electing to be childless.
Now, these folk have living parents and often grandparents. But grand parents and parents will die leaving the childless children without family. Friends, yes. But are today’s friends the same as today’s children who remain your children when you are old! This idea of family as companions along the journey of life may be quaint, but I suggest a visit to a contemporary elderly life home, or a nursing home. The people in these places often have families and yet, they cannot stay at home because of illness, frailty, behavioral problems, or simply because their children do not want to take care of them.
So, we posit the idea of millions of men and women who today could have children we imagine that they successfully carry out their childlessness. So, imagine that they are now fifty or sixty. They are weaker than they are now. Some are sick. Some are frail. All are without grandparents, parents or children. They are also either out of a job because of technological advances eliminating their employment, or they are forced to continue working until they are dead because of the increasing costs of urban singleton living.
Hey, they may indeed be happy. But this is also true, there comes a point in biological life when it is no longer possible to have children. So, the decision to be childless becomes, at that point, not reversible. Hey, they may be used to being a “family” of one. However, the socially hip scene changes with age. The friends move away or die away. The body degenerates. So, what! They may think that is not their problem. And it isn’t.
As the article inferred, Obama will take care of them. Oh, I forgot, he will be old too. And surprise! Obama is married and has two children. His retirement will be generous. His wife is a successful business person. And although his parents and grandparents are dead, I am sure he will have plenty of friends to keep him company as he grows older. Maybe, using him as the image for ourselves is not the best idea. Well, to each his/her own.
Progressive Politics 