No Prizes For Being Childfree - Are You Kidding?
16 08 2007I need to add a new category. I’d call it fuckwittery.
Because Russians get day off to procreate, then win prizes has to be the most fuckwitted idea I’ve read in a long time. Read the article childfree folks, if you haven’t already.
Firstly, props to Mel, who, reeling from shock (no awe), and plenty of disgust, blogged it on her blog and also sent me the link.
The Denver post really should have called the article Russians get prizes for breeding.
Time off to go and… rut like rabbits, really. And, wait for it – prizes!? Most countries give incentives. Bad enough. At least they don’t make it a contest! But the crisis in Ulyanovsk, Russia is apparently so great that hardier enticements were required. So, let the games begin!
Time to get going breeders. That (car, washing machine, dining table set, golf set, SUV) you’ve set your heart on, could soon be yours. In nine months to be precise. Of course, you only get a prize if you pop out a brat or rather a number of brats a “patriot. ” Otherwise, you only get the day off to exchange body fluids while you try to make babies.
But take heart, you do get your very own breeding day, specially set aside to make as many rug-rats as you possibly can.
I wonder how Russia, a world power at time of writing, feels about this rather crass approach to breeding. I’m not sure what’s worse, the thought of people being so easily bribed to procreate (hmm, don’t really want a kid, but I fancy a new Hummer). And while we’re they’re at it (pun intended) we could replace the fridge too. Or how about a cool new camcorder?
“The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, a sport utility vehicle. Other contestants won video cameras, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.”
Seems that in the quest for babies, the lowest tackiest common denominator will do just fine. For shame.
I wonder if these same breeders turn around to their childfree sisters and tell them “how much they wanted a baby” (yeah, right as soon as you heard the prizes – and the day off) and how they feel part of the “circle of life” (with a bright shiny SUV in the middle, right?) and gosh, best of all – “how much the childfree are missing out…” (let’s add up the cost of all those goodies shall we?).
Maybe when the “patriots” are born and their parents tire of their new toy, they’ll put them in the orphanages where they’ll await new parents. Adoptive ones. I recall that Russia’s orphanages are quite full already. Or maybe the kids will simply get abused…since even parents who supposedly wanted their kids can end up being driven to drink and worse by them.
Poor kids. Let’s hope they land with parents who actually want them.
I think Mel’s image of salmon spawning is pretty apt. But I wouldn’t put it past other countries to jump on the “let’s glorify having babies” breeding bandwagon.
After all, one only has to recall that the Duggars were recently named Parents of the Year.
National Childfree Day anybody?
Technorati Tags: childfree, Childfree
Oy. I know the population is falling in Russia, but making more babies is not the solution to that problem.
I will never understand how people are lulled by financial incentives to have children by governments who want to reverse the low birth rate or to boost the general population. How can anyone possibly believe that winning a washing machine, or increasing a baby bonus or even a welfare cheque is even going to be close to compensating for the massive expense of having and caring for a child? Is basic math that difficult?
-AM
This is all too distasteful, I have no words. Prizes?! Cash incentives?! “Procreation Day”?! too much to process, must allow thoughts to settle before further commenting.
I can see a reality TV program coming on, nothing the russians do surprises me.
This is interesting… I guess governments are actually collecting stats on the CF choice.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/pdf/social/childfree.pdf
Next week on “Wacky Breeder Sex Camp”….
Seriously, Russia can’t even control HIV, STD or TB transmission. I think they probably should figure that out before they start encouraging folks to have procreative sex.
ah but that will let the weak breed, only the uber mensch will breed and the next generation will be faster and stronger super men and women.
(sarcasm off)
Dave - Heh - a reality show. Yes I can see that. It would be completely tacky and crass of course. With phone lines for the usual phone in.
It could be called “The Patriots!” Or Patriot Island…or Russia’s Next Top Breeder … or Big Patriot…. or - Wacky Breeder Sex Camp like Feh says… OK I’d better stop.
Anne-Marie… beats me
But then I don’t think this makes any sense to sane people.
Merc - “”Remember the mammoths, say the clean-cut organisers at the youth camp’s mass wedding. “They became extinct because they did not have enough sex. That must not happen to Russia”.
I could hardly believe I was reading that correctly. And then I fell about laughing. It’s beyond stupid. But thanks for sharing that article and link.
Remember the mammoths!
Lurking CF Guy… I’ll have a look at that link. Thanks for sharing it.
My understanding of Russia’s population problem is that the death rate is too high, not the birth rate is too low. What they need to do is stop assassinating dissidents
(Litvinenko), end the war in Chechnya, reduce the drug abuse rate, crack down on the mob and improve healthcare. Keep more people alive rather than bring more children into that miserable mess that is Russia.EW! That’s hideous!!
Hmm way I see it if they can’t afford to buy their own appliances they sure can’t afford to raise a child!