Comment by saturn8601
16 days ago
The majority of countries have a negative birth rate. The US is doing "OK" (stopping immigration is why I put it in quotes).
This is going to catch up to most countries very soon. The US will be in a small group of the ones last standing.
If the US is planning on stopping the thing that made them OK in the first place, why do you think they would be OK after?
That’s also before you get into the fact that stopping immigration into the US doesn’t make those people disappear * , they’ll immigrate to other countries or stay home may very well cause some countries with a declining population to stop or reverse that trend
* Not en masse anyways, that’s come later as more of a final solution
Thats why I put "OK" in quotes. It remains to be seen if the immigration moves will kill the 'get out of jail free' card the US and few other countries have had. These trends don't change overnight so we have to wait and see. At this time though their population pyramid is pretty good compared to their rivals. It might take years of continued decline to finally destroy the good thing they had going. Meanwhile China had 20+ years to rectify their problems and now its too late.
US: https://www.populationpyramid.net/united-states-of-america/2...
China: https://www.populationpyramid.net/china/2024/
It doesn’t remain to be seen, we know the fertility rate for America isn’t high enough to maintain replacement rates without immigration. Here’s one article but you can find many with google https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2024/3/22/us-de...
The current admin is saying they are going to stop immigration. I don’t find it comforting or plausible if you’re telling me that we have to wait and see because they might fuck up one step of their plan and that’ll make the other steps less painful
How do you think economic turmoil is going to affect the birth rate in the US and how do you justify labelling a birth rate that's been below replacement for 18 years as "OK"?
We're already seeing the effects. Many people don't feel secure enough in their finances, or confident enough in the future they'd be bringing children into to have kids. As far as I can tell things will only get worse long before they even have a chance to get better.
If the 1930s are any example, war will follow, then a baby boom after the war
3 replies →
I'm in that group. The thing is China already crossed that rubicon 20+ years ago. So the US only really needs to outlast China in this regard. It will create problems of its own and pro America people like Peter Zeihan argue that large generations create more large generations. Boomers -> Millenials -> Gen Alpha. I dont fully buy this though.
Their population pyramid looks good though compared to China:
https://www.populationpyramid.net/united-states-of-america/2...
https://www.populationpyramid.net/china/2024/
Check back in a few years, right now its good, and we wont see results for at least a few years:
https://www.populationpyramid.net/united-states-of-america/2...
>how do you justify labelling a birth rate that's been below replacement for 18 years as "OK"?
The US being a nation of immigrants has this unique selling point of attracting people to make up for their woes such as birth rate. Unless we see millions of citizens getting deported, the people "voluntarily" relocating don't move the needle in this metric.
I might die on this take. But you guys really think birth rate is some magic.
India has an overpopulation issue. In India, we literally have more people than jobs. So you guys could just tap into India.
China is also similar, except it has outgrown its master. So I can understand the mistrust. But america put tariffs on India as well which is just ... funny.
Also if america really falls into a recession (60% chance, like I mentioned in my other comment), how much do you think the US would be doing "OK"
I think what the US is right now, is failed democracy. I mean, I used to hate my government, but it was because of their political views/ I just felt that a tiny change in the Indian system is needed (like Media , incentives for middle class), I have hope in India. India can truly change if need be.
I have no hope for america.
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I don't think quotes are the appropriate modifier to adjust for the damage from draconian and short-sighted immigration policy. Past tense use of the verb is probably more appropriate since countries are issuing do-not-travel warnings against the US (for the first time ever?). This administration is arrogant fools all the way down. I hope the messages sent by the electorate in 2026 and 2028 are loud enough and the brain drain is still reversible.
The point of the quotes was that we wont see the outcome of these decisions until years from now. Which is why today it is still OK but its like the car speeding and then jumping off the cliff. Will it reach the other side or fall to its doom? Too early to tell, we are still watching.