Singapore's declining birth rate a cause for concern: SM Goh
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Good point on the NS factor. Since this is compulsory unlike other countries, it may prove to be a minus point.Originally posted by sourketchup:One issue here is the mindset of people. Look at sub-Sahara Africa for example. The large majority of people there struggle on subsistence level, but birth-rates are high. Not saying that we are having it easy here, but we surely cannot say that we are having it as bad. We just want to ensure that our children are well taken care of if we do want to have children.
Anyway things do look quite gloomy. I doubt the FTs would settle here and contribute their sons for NS. -
R u in the dreamland!!!Originally posted by sourketchup:One issue here is the mindset of people. Look at sub-Sahara Africa for example. The large majority of people there struggle on subsistence level, but birth-rates are high. Not saying that we are having it easy here, but we surely cannot say that we are having it as bad. We just want to ensure that our children are well taken care of if we do want to have children.
Anyway things do look quite gloomy. I doubt the FTs would settle here and contribute their sons for NS.
Pls dont talk c sing song!!! -
Don't they know that the children of today will become the old foggies of tomorrow?
Already they are not taking care of the old people now and making life so fcuking difficult for them, what makes you think they will take care of these young kiddos when they grow old next time?
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If i have SM salary, my wife n kids n grandkids do NOT need to work liao. At hm yo lan pa liao . Oh and i will try to have more kids as possible within my ability
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Huh?Originally posted by foomwee88:R u in the dreamland!!!
Pls dont talk c sing song!!! -
Do u know our children are all stress out during the week days and they can make love at weekends only,how to produce babies???Originally posted by sourketchup:Huh?
The cost of living here is so high,everyones is struggleing 2 make ends meet, and the cost of bringing up a kid to uni level is more than half a million who can afford it now!
U are not comparing apple to apple that why I said u r talkg c singing song!!! -
People in parts of Africa starve to death and face roving rogue soldiers. The water they drink is as likely to cause fatal diseases as to keep them hydrated. But they still have lots of children.Originally posted by foomwee88:Do u know our children are all stress out during the week days and they can make love at weekends only,how to produce babies???
The cost of living here is so high,everyones is struggleing 2 make ends meet, and the cost of bringing up a kid to uni level is more than half a million who can afford it now!
U are not comparing apple to apple that why I said u r talkg c singing song!!!
Why? They do not mind having children even if their next generation would have a dismal future.
But we Singaporeans would only bring children into a world if we think we can provide well for them.
That is what i mean by having different mind-sets. I do not think that the poor Africans are totally right, though. -
I don't believe that the sub-Saharan Africa is a very good subject for comparison here. It's not just about personal mindset here.Originally posted by sourketchup:People in parts of Africa starve to death and face roving rogue soldiers. The water they drink is as likely to cause fatal diseases as to keep them hydrated. But they still have lots of children.
Why? They do not mind having children even if their next generation would have a dismal future.
Because we Singaporeans would only bring children into a world if we think we can provide well for them.
That is what i mean by having different mind-sets. I do not think that the poor Africans are totally right, though.
Human geography tells us that in impoverished agrarian communities, families tend to big for a couple of main reasons:
1. High infant mortality rates and childhood deaths. People have lots of children knowing that some of them may die.
2. The subsistence agricultural environment is highly labour-intensive. You need to have lots of children to till the soil, raise the crops and manage the herd of animals.
It's not so much about whether they mind bringing their children out into a dismal future. A lot of it also has to do with the fact that they have no choice. -
Yes, that is what I have put down too, like most highly-urbanised countries like ours, birth-rates tend to be low. But the culture and mindset play parts too.Originally posted by fudgester:I don't believe that the sub-Saharan Africa is a very good subject for comparison here. It's not just about personal mindset here.
Human geography tells us that in impoverished agrarian communities, families tend to big for a couple of main reasons:
1. High infant mortality rates and childhood deaths. People have lots of children knowing that some of them may die.
2. The subsistence agricultural environment is highly labour-intensive. You need to have lots of children to till the soil, raise the crops and manage the herd of animals.
It's not so much about whether they mind bringing their children out into a dismal future. A lot of it also has to do with the fact that they have no choice.
There are many factors at work here.