5 ms·

Here in the UK at least basically everyone has access to free contraception, you can usually walk into a health clinic and ask for a bag of condoms and they wil

by jiggy2011 14y ago

Here in the UK at least basically everyone has access to free contraception, you can usually walk into a health clinic and ask for a bag of condoms and they will give them to you. I think there may also be mechanisms for women to get the contraceptive pill gratis if they are on government support. The issue is though that this requires some degree of responsibility and planning, which is almost by definition missing in people who breed irresponsibly. So you have a lot of people who want a lot of children or are at least indifferent to having them, however they have no financial means to support that many children. I guess if you have not been successful career-wise then having a large family might give one a sense of accomplishment. The upshot of that is that it's not fair to let these kids starve so the government has to offer welfare to these families. For example it is much easier to get government subsidised housing if you have children. So you end up with a situation like we have in the UK where people sometimes have children because they will get a free house (and if you have more kids you get a bigger house) where otherwise they might be homeless or forced to live with parents etc. So quite the vicious cycle.

lotsofcows 14y ago
Not a particularly vicious cycle given a society that a) only works if it grows b) only grows due to immigration
- eru 14y ago
  Which society are you talking about?
  - lotsofcows 14y ago
    Parent said, "Here in the UK". Although I think it applies to most of the first world. An interesting definition of "first world" could be "the point where native deaths outweigh native births".
    - eru 14y ago
      OK. So what makes you think that a society only works if it grows?
      - lotsofcows 14y ago
        Hmmm, you might want to check out your pension plan. Also, have a look at your country's next published budget.
thisone 14y ago
at least in 2007 the pill was free as well. Contraceptive implant, coil, IUD, all still free last time I checked. It's not only condoms. And if your local surgery can't provide what you want due to a skills shortage you can go to a sexual health clinic with no problem. When I was chatting with the GUM clinic staff last time I had my implant changed, she was talking about how common it was for teens to have it, since it's such an easy fire and forget contraceptive. Preventing STIs however, that's another issue.

lotsofcows 14y ago

Not a particularly vicious cycle given a society that a) only works if it grows b) only grows due to immigration

eru 14y ago
Which society are you talking about?
- lotsofcows 14y ago
  Parent said, "Here in the UK". Although I think it applies to most of the first world. An interesting definition of "first world" could be "the point where native deaths outweigh native births".
  - eru 14y ago
    OK. So what makes you think that a society only works if it grows?
    - lotsofcows 14y ago
      Hmmm, you might want to check out your pension plan. Also, have a look at your country's next published budget.

thisone 14y ago

at least in 2007 the pill was free as well. Contraceptive implant, coil, IUD, all still free last time I checked. It's not only condoms. And if your local surgery can't provide what you want due to a skills shortage you can go to a sexual health clinic with no problem. When I was chatting with the GUM clinic staff last time I had my implant changed, she was talking about how common it was for teens to have it, since it's such an easy fire and forget contraceptive. Preventing STIs however, that's another issue.