Thought for the Day
19 09 2008Unless you’ve been living under a rock there is no escape from the swirling financial bad news of recent. It’s unrelenting - and of course, bad news always makes the headlines… because it sells newspapers. The implications of the current economic situation are wide-ranging, because we’re linked so tighly financially now, are world wide.
Even more sobering is the thought that there’s an election in a couple of weeks and I for one don’t think either of the candidates have a clue as to what to do. With the American govt bailing out failing banks right left and centre, (and the UK govt with Northern Rock) and looking more like a socialist state by the day, the tax payer is on the hook for a bill that they may never be able to pay back their lifetime. And that’s with increased taxes - because you can bet that taxes are going to have to increase.
Thinking about all this today it occurred to me that as childfree men and women, though we may be affected as citizens, we may be better off than our childed counterparts. Remember those who say we have to keep having kids to keep paying for those pensions? It’s always been a rather vapid argument, but now it matters even less how many worker bees are produced, because all they’ll be doing now is trying to pay back the debts from their parents life time. And they’ll probably have to pass on the baton to their kids… that’s if they can afford to have them. Want to save the earth for the “next generation?” they’re probably not going to have time to enjoy it… unless they are well connected and well moneyed. Because they’ll be working, working, working.
As it is, many people’s (childfree and childed) pensions (401Ks) have probably evaporated with the carnage on the stock market. So they are going to have to keep working. But at least if you don’t have kids that’s one less thing to worry about. Especially as I heard that grown up kids are being advised to “move back home to save on rent.” No way.
But the childfree don’t entirely escape. Because we have no dependants, our tax will go up. We don’t get tax relief because we don’t have kids, but our taxes go to help support those who do.In Canada there is a promise to spend billions on child care and child tax credits.
Maybe it’s time to start agitating to keep more of it for our own retirement.
Anyway, that’s my train of thought. Feel free to add your own.
Update: I’m off to the UK this w/end for a visit home. I am SO looking forward to it. I can cheerfully say that if we had children, with the costs of flights today, we’d never be able to go this year. But we don’t so, we are. I’ll probably be having too much fun to blog 
but, then again who knows? Blogging is fun so…. And hey, maybe I will be able to get to some of your blogs! Anyhow… do continue to drop in and comment. I will have one post that will go up before I head off - so I’ll look forward to your usual thought provoking input.
Have a great time back at home! My husband, a couple friend, and a single friend are heading to London next week. Our couple friend with children have to return back to their kids after 6 days, but those of us w/o children have the time and luxury to extend the trip to see Amsterdam and Paris. They wouldn’t give up their kids for the world and they are great parents, but I would never give up travel for anything in the world which is why I would make a pretty crappy Mom.
Have a great trip!
One of the great benefits of not having children is that, on top of having less responsibilities with your income, we aren’t plagued by worries about our “dependents”. In these doom and gloom times, that is a big relief in itself.
I hope you have/are having a great time back home! The weather has been surprisingly nice here for what is now the start of autumn, although it is beginning to get just a little chilly.
You mention not being able to afford to go back to Britain if you had children - how true. We went to a large theme park at the weekend, and having booked in advance, it cost a lot less than going on the day. But we worked out that a family with two children would have to spend about £150 (300USD) just to gain entrance into the park - then add on the costs of the kids constantly wanting food, sweets, ice cream, toys, extra games…it all mounts up. While it was an expensive day for us - it wasn’t half as expensive as it was for some families. I do wonder how, when so many complain about not being able to afford to keep their homes, they manage to afford such luxuries as expensive days out!
BritGirl! Hope you’re having fun back home!
I was about to comment on the financial fiasco this week and our elections (I’m in the U.S. as you know) but decided against it. Just thinking about the two started to get me ill.
@ BritGirl and CFSinceSix: I fully agree with you and the comments. I was just reading some of the details on the government bailout and I had one of those “double-edged sword” mental moments where I realized that the bailout will hurt us whether we implement it or not. America is, basically, fucked.
I’m now scared for a friend of mine that announced his wife’s pregnancy… I’m scared for both of them. I’m thinking, couldn’t he have waited a bit more? I’m happy that he’s happy, but the timing just sucks. (He’s a dear friend of mine, so go easy on me, K?)
Don’t have much more to say on this. I’m just glad we only have beaks to feed at my home. And even that is getting expensive!
Brit Girl! I have news for YOU!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I nominated your blog for an Alltop Top Childfree News Blog & YOUR BLOG WAS CHOSEN!
All of the details are on my blog!!!
Oh and here’s the link to see the brand spanking NEW Childfree Alltop!!!
http://childfree.alltop.com/
To thank Alltop, please leave a note here:
http://blog.alltop.com/2008/09/childfree-news.html
This is a BIG day for Childfree Bloggers!
Stepher
PS - Don’t forget to snag an Alltop button! It’s not everyday you’re added to Alltop!
Hey Stephr - thanks so much for nominating Like It Is !
How cool is that? I really appreciate it. I’ll blog it on my return.. just popping in right now.