low birth rate, again

TOKYO — Japan's total fertility rate, or the average number of children that would be born to a woman from age 15 to 49, dropped in 2005 to a new record low of 1.25, the government said Thursday.

If it keeps going like this, there will be no population to support the future generation's social security system, health care, and more...eeks.

C'mon people, have babies...lots and lots of babies! I suppose if the government would make more nurseries, daycare centres, and other education subsidies people would be more willing to have babies. In this day and age, it costs too darn much to raise children here. My wealthy neighbor is pregnant with her third - it is great! I think the people who can afford it, should populate the rest of this country. Go go go.

I suppose there are plenty of reasons why women don't want to or cannot have children. They cost a whole darn lot, less employment advances, career-related something, less time for one's own activities or interests, infrequent intercourse, low sex drive, the parasite single (boomerang children) life is so comfortable, maintaining a good figure, low fertility, maintaining a good weight, late marriage age, unmarried, cannot stand children, don't feel mature or responsible enough to have a child.

Consider this: "An average twenty-eight-year-old woman...has a 72 percent chance of conceiving after a year of effort. An average thirty-eight-year old, by contrast, has only a 24 percent chance. Put differently, female fertility drops 20 percent after the age of thirty, 50 percent after thirty-five, and 95 percent after age 40."