The most annoying part of all the discussions had on fertility rates is: absolutely I'm going to see the word "economics" or "afford" or other such crap. It is

The most annoying part of all the discussions had on fertility rates is: absolutely I'm going to see the word "economics" or "afford" or other such crap. It is such a reliable farce, involving such intentional ignorance towards past-present income and fertility differentials, and poor-rich country differentials, that my running theory is that this behaviour itself is likely connected to the fertility rate issues. I.e. that the true reason is, as we all know, that people just don't want the perceived hassle and reduced freedom that comes with kids, and everyone has formed an absolutely pervasive and fortified contraceptive culture aligned with that, but they want an fake excuse that's maximally far from that that sounds defensively plausible.