I was thinking the other day, abortion is going away. Birth control is going away. People are going to be forced to have kids they can’t afford. (Duh)
On top of that, all I see on subs like r/choosingbeggars are parents begging for cheap childcare. And it sucks but you also kind of have to consider, if someone can only afford $25 a day, what else are they going to do? Welfare is ever under attack and childcare subsidies are wrapped up in that. So many people put off having wanted kids due to associated costs, but that choice is going away.
When I was a kid, it wasn’t unusual for a 7/8 year old to stay home alone. And before that, older siblings often babysat. Not a great situation but it was an option for parents. But now authorities are arresting mothers for leaving teenagers to babysit younger kids. Like, that was a legit job for kids 12-16 before anyone “real” would hire them. Even if this weren’t happening, Kids are getting savvy to the value of their work. As they should! But we are getting to a point where families that truly struggle are even more hindered in their options.
Living wages are a far cry from what minimum wage actually is. And we are past the point where two incomes can support many families, let alone one.
Still with me? Now they repeal the laws keeping kids from working. You put this all together and you are going to have jobs that serve double-duty as daycare, justifying even lower wages for those kids. Add in the teacher shortage, especially among spec ed, and I’m at the point where I feel there’s no way this isn’t part of some master plan.
I wish someone would say “you are overthinking it” but at this point I don’t think I am.