Do They Love Your Children?

There are two stories today of two backward states – Bihar and Kerala – going aggressive on birth control.

In Bihar, the state government’s attitude is summed up in the following quote from the news report:

“… the population explosion has alarmed the Bihar government. It has started realizing that without checking population growth no welfare scheme can succeed.”
The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, says, “If the existing rate of population increase is not checked, our efforts on all fronts will go waste and no scheme will remain viable,"

The future of a new-born Bihari does not depend on any “welfare scheme” of the government helping him.

On the contrary.

The future of every new-born Bihari depends entirely on self-help in a free market globalized economy. In such an economic environment, each child will be an asset – especially to his parents.

Poor Bihari parents must therefore choose between government “welfare” and unrestricted catallactic exchanges in markets, or between handouts and personal achievements.

Whereas in Bihar the government is quite clear on a “no coercion policy,” the government of Kerala has no such qualms. They intend to fine and otherwise penalize any Keralite who has a third child.

Once again, the idea is that government “welfare” measures cannot be extended indefinitely. The news report says:

“A family or person having more than two children should also be denied facilities and advantages like free education, health assistance, facilities for housing and other priorities including employment allowed under schemes or projects of the state… ”
I wonder what the free “education” in Kerala teaches a bright eyed, dark-skinned, curly-haired, pretty Malayali girl.

Does the teacher not say, “Child, this Kerala of ours would have been a much better place if you and all your classmates had never been born. Our biggest problem is too many children.”

Stay far away from this “education,” children.

And have faith in yourself and your generation – and in Liberty. You are the “ultimate resource,” to use Julian Simon’s expression. You, alone of all God’s creatures, can create wealth – for yourself, your family and your society.

Cutting to the core: there is ultimately only one question on this neo-Malthusianism: Should governments decide family size or should people take this vital decision on their own?

Take your stance, dear reader.