Baby Boomers and Super Bloomers
There is a rare botanical phenomenon that occurs in the American Southwest where certain weather and preferable climate creates an unusually high proportion of spring flowers. This atypical and extraordinary event is known as a Superbloom. Ironically, this natural marvel commonly occurs after a severe drought or harsh winter. The dormant seeds germinate in mass as the difficult seasons incentivize a higher yield than usual. It’s as if nature is compensating for the poor production of prior years and catches up to further the survival of the species. A similar trend of homeostasis occurs in many animals as well as human beings.
Population booms in history have typically succeeded eras of suffering and decline. The early 20th century was comprised of global wars, pandemics, famine, and eugenic philosophies that led to unpreceded death. The global industrialization of the prior century stretched supply chains and created proclivities to ween the population.
Scarce resources and geopolitical strife led to intentional genocide and poisonous medical practices that were realized too late as the aggregate population dropped rigorously. As the dust settled on a war-torn society, the new industrialized world of “peaceful and cohesive nations” would look to better times on the horizon.
Just like the compensating flora in a Superbloom, this sentiment precipitated a demographic explosion known today as the Baby Boom.
Boom generations are extremely fortunate as democracy heavily favors the majority. Being the largest demographic reaching voting age, this generation could supersede all others and shape the political and economic spheres to their benefit. They could do so with moral superiority as the prior generations left the world shaking from fringe ideologies and monetary disasters. This voting bloc could prioritize social services for their juvenile years, aggrandize corporate monopolies in their working adult life, and canonize financial superiority as they reach retirement age.
Democracy is advantageous large groups of likeminded individuals. Well placed propaganda and economic incentives for the largest demographic of a country can manipulate the spoils of a supposedly equitable constitutional republic. Everyone wants the system to work for them, but this is often at the expense of others.
Recent government efficiency audits have revealed insane levels of government expenditure exploitation. This is a predictable result of a bureaucracy checking and balancing the powers of that very same bureaucracy. The legalized corruption of corporate and government interests virtually stole the financial prosperity of generations in the opposite voting bracket.
The inequitable treatment each subsequent generation has caused the inhibition to reproduce and reluctancy to cultivate families.
Today the world is experiencing a population collapse as the existing populace is unable to restore itself. Each nation must have at least two children on average per couple to appropriately replace each generation. However most advanced countries are far below the rate of replacement. This means that the largest generation is entering retirement age while the new working generations are decreasing exponentially.
The productive working class will soon need to double its current output to balance the increase in unproductive retirees who are dependent on an inflationary economy that protects their wealth at the expense of the working class.
Unsustainable is a correct but far understating word for this economic calamity. This demographic nightmare has left every generation unequivocally screwed. How does the political class fix the issue of not enough people? They cannot print babies like currency, so the obvious solution is immigration of workers from other countries.
The nations culture and homogeneity are sacrificed for short-term benefits while the currency and economies of nations around the world suffer. The biggest losers of migration are always the country of origin. The only viable long-term solution is to encourage another baby boom.
Motivating a generation of financially stressed individuals to have more children is quite the undertaking. Even higher income households are having less kids as their expenses rival their wages. Regardless of the validity, children are seen as extreme financial burdens in a society where everyone needs expensive higher education.
Stimulating a new population boom will take more than convincing people they have to work harder to support multiple children who will then need to work harder to support the lifestyle of older generations.
It should be enough to articulate that children are blessings, not burdens, and the cultivation of large families is the greatest thing one can achieve for themselves. The attitude towards progeny changes dramatically in a secular society but there are many ways to galvanize demographic booms that can be instituted by a willing society.
Tax credits for children that rise exponentially with each new child.
Subsidized childcare, education, and afterschool programs.
Regulate insurance companies and remove penalties for large families.
Exclusive clubs and public areas that are restricted to people with children.
Parental leave programs and corporate benefits for employees with children.
Tax brackets that don’t penalize multiple income earners.
Incentives for homemaking and single income households.
The above list has proven to assist with the rearing of children as it would make having children advantageous in society rather than financially burdensome. Although none of those are particularly necessary in a community that prioritizes children and family.
The “village” that used to raise children does not need to be replaced by the state. In fact, there is a large demographic of retired individuals who have all the time in the world to help raise the next generation.
I believe we have resources to help ourselves. All generations have the same obligation to bettering our society and leaving the world better than how we found it.
Just like the wildflowers in a Superbloom, humanity needs a boom to compensate for the hardships of prior generations. The next baby boom generation could be the greatest achievers in history if the combined efforts of all past generations are devoted to raising good and prosperous people with big and happy families.