China has decided to end its decades-long one-child policy, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports.
Couples will now be allowed to have two children, it said, citing a statement from the Communist Party.
The controversial policy was introduced nationally in 1979, to slow the population growth rate.
It is estimated to have prevented about 400 million births. However concerns at China's ageing population led to pressure for change.
Couples who violated the one-child policy faced a variety of punishments, from fines and the loss of employment to forced abortions.
Over time, the policy has been relaxed in some provinces, as demographers and sociologists raised concerns about rising social costs and falling worker numbers.
The Communist Party began formally relaxing national rules two years ago, allowing couples in which at least one of the pair is an only child to have a second child.
It's crazy to think that a country like China could have actually have a "shrinking workforce" in a few decades because of the One-Child Policy's long term effects.
It's probably for the best that they change the policy. At this point most Chinese are acutely aware that there are already significant demographic pressures on the nation and its resources, so I doubt there will be a dramatic increase in births, but enough that China doesn't have to worry about becoming a much bigger Japan.
__________________
“Where the longleaf pines are whispering
to him who loved them so.
Where the faint murmurs now dwindling
echo o’er tide and shore."
-A Grave Epitaph in Santa Rosa County, Florida; I wish I could remember the man's name.
Do wonder if their shrinking workforce will affect the rest of the world, especially the US, in the coming decade or two. All those cheap mas produced products may not be as cheap.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
As China is developing a stronger middle class it will become less likely that they are going to be the cheap workforce of the future. But don't fret, there's still India and Africa...
I actually wish the US had similar policies. Maybe not limiting people to one child, but I'd limit it at maybe 3-4 kids.
As for forced abortions..I actually agree that some people just shouldn't be allowed to procreate. I don't know if I'd go with a forced abortion though, I'd try for a forced adoption first.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
I just am always reminded of the video of the woman with 15 god damn kids going "somebody gotta pay for my kids!". See because simply not banging a variety of dudes without protection just wasn't feasible.
For me if a person is on welfare or something they SHOULD NOT be allowed to have more children, period. If they want more kids they should lose the welfare.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Last edited by Surtur on Oct 30th, 2015 at 03:23 PM
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Oct 29th, 2015 02:15 PM
