Right now, people who like to have kids only have enough money and fertile years to raise on average 2-3 kids.
Not true at all. People who really like children have much more children than that. The Amish are a clear example with their average of 5 or so children.
Yes but velocity is higher than many people are comfortable with. Two kids in diapers and three more in grade school at the same time is a lot more work than many people who like children are really up for.
One reason Amish have so many children is that they are needed for farm work—you actually get a return on investment with children in a low-tech farm.
The percentage of Amish farming has dwindled in some communities. In both the Holmes County, Ohio, and northern Indiana (Elkhart and Lagrange Counties) settlements, the number of full-time Amish farmers is below 10%. This number is higher in Lancaster County, perhaps comprising a quarter of Amish households.
In smaller, more isolated communities where land is cheaper, more Amish are likely to farm. But in the larger settlements, due to population pressures, the trend has generally been towards decreasing numbers of farmers.
In light of this, the economic gains don’t seem to be the key factor here, especially since the cost of land is rising, so its harder and harder to help sons start their own farms.
Yes but velocity is higher than many people are comfortable with. Two kids in diapers and three more in grade school at the same time is a lot more work than many people who like children are really up for.
Doesn’t seem that relevant considering we’re discussing the pro’s and con’s of “immortality”. In any case my point was just that some people like children enough to want them at that rate.
Doesn’t seem that relevant considering we’re discussing the pro’s and con’s of “immortality”. In any case my point was just that some people like children enough to want them at that rate.
If I can have one child every decade for eighty years, maybe I’d like to have eight children. As it is now, it would only be two.
Not true at all. People who really like children have much more children than that. The Amish are a clear example with their average of 5 or so children.
Yes but velocity is higher than many people are comfortable with. Two kids in diapers and three more in grade school at the same time is a lot more work than many people who like children are really up for.
One reason Amish have so many children is that they are needed for farm work—you actually get a return on investment with children in a low-tech farm.
Do all Amish farm?
In light of this, the economic gains don’t seem to be the key factor here, especially since the cost of land is rising, so its harder and harder to help sons start their own farms.
Doesn’t seem that relevant considering we’re discussing the pro’s and con’s of “immortality”. In any case my point was just that some people like children enough to want them at that rate.
If I can have one child every decade for eighty years, maybe I’d like to have eight children. As it is now, it would only be two.