{"id":2330877,"date":"2024-08-26T08:36:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T12:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/politicians-wont-fix-americas-child-deficit-but-churches-can\/"},"modified":"2024-08-26T08:42:39","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T12:42:39","slug":"politicians-wont-fix-americas-child-deficit-but-churches-can","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/politicians-wont-fix-americas-child-deficit-but-churches-can\/","title":{"rendered":"Politicians Won&#8217;t Fix America&#8217;s Child Deficit, But Churches Can"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpoliticians-wont-fix-americas-child-deficit-but-churches-can%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2330877&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>As Donald\u200c Trump and Kamala Harris campaign for the presidency, the\u200b birthrate in the United \u2064States has reached a new record low, reflecting a growing\u2063 despair among\u2064 Americans \u2064about the future. This declining fertility rate signals a \u2062lack of\u2063 confidence in the \u200cnation&#8217;s prospects, as people are choosing not to have children. While this \u2062trend \u2063poses challenges for economic growth and sustainability\u2063 of entitlement programs, merely emphasizing these issues may not be effective in encouraging higher birthrates. <\/p>\n<p>Neither candidate is likely\u200c to solve this \u2063deep-rooted\u2063 problem,\u2062 as political responses \u2062have\u2064 largely failed to address \u200cthe anxieties surrounding \u200dfamily formation. The Democratic Party&#8217;s stance on issues like abortion and the Republican\u200b Party&#8217;s shift away from traditional social conservatism represent facets of a broader cultural decline. However, individuals still bear responsibility for their choices\u2063 regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/inside-the-speakers-real-house-how-mike-and-kelly-johnson-keep-family-first-2\/\" title=\"Inside the Home of Mike and Kelly Johnson: Prioritizing Family First\">family life amidst<\/a> these cultural and systemic challenges.<\/p>\n<p>The article \u200bsuggests that change can occur outside of political solutions, emphasizing the importance of personal\u200c decisions and the role \u2063that community, particularly religious organizations, can play in supporting family life. \u2062Rather than relying\u2062 solely\u200d on government\u2062 intervention, it encourages\u2062 collective action through \u200dlocal communities \u2064to foster environments conducive to\u2064 family formation, thereby addressing the crisis \u200cof declining birthrates.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris race for the presidency, their boosters are insisting the stakes couldn&rsquo;t be higher for the future of our nation. But Americans have already given up on the future and are demonstrating this despair in the most fundamental way: Americans are not begetting more Americans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The birthrate in the USA has hit another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/20\/health\/us-birth-rate-fertility-final-data-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">record low<\/a>. Though the U.S. is not yet at complete demographic collapse (e.g. South Korea or Japan), American fertility is still way below <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/us-news\/america-birth-rate-decline-a111d21b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">replacement rate<\/a>. Regardless of whom voters choose in November, they are already issuing a vote of no confidence in the future by literally refusing to beget people to live in it.<\/p>\n<p>Collapsing fertility will cause a plethora of problems &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-forfeit-hope-by-forgoing-families\/\" title=\"Americans Forfeit Hope By Forgoing Families\">good luck sustaining economic growth<\/a> and paying for entitlement programs with an aging, shrinking population. Importing high levels of immigrants to maintain workforce levels is beset with its own difficulties. But highlighting the challenges of a future with few children will not encourage people to have more kids; people will not decide to breed just because it might boost GDP in a few decades. Indeed, dwelling on the problems of a below-replacement world might even be counterproductive from a pro-natal standpoint, as it just reinforces anxiety about the future.<\/p>\n<p>Neither candidate can fix this. Harris may be trying to float on a media froth of &ldquo;Joy!&rdquo; but the DNC&rsquo;s celebration of sterility and abortion, including Planned Parenthood providing not just free vasectomies but even free abortions right outside the convention, is perhaps the most grotesque example of baby-hating anti-natalism ever in American politics. And though the GOP might look better by comparison, Trump has been stampeding the GOP away from social conservatism (to say nothing of his personal example).<\/p>\n<p>Politicians are not going to save America from despairing self-extinction. And tempting as it is, we cannot just blame them for the failures of American men and women to form stable relationships and have children together. Yes, there have been unfavorable cultural, economic, and political forces, but though these may be mitigating factors, they do not negate personal responsibility. Americans have chosen the decline of America. <\/p>\n<p>However, there is an upside to this, which is that we can improve matters without relying on politicians. Yes, political action is important; policies from taxes to education to housing and more matter enormously to family formation and flourishing, and thank God for the people doing <a href=\"https:\/\/eppc.org\/author\/patrick_brown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">good work<\/a> on these issues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But we should not sit around waiting for government to fix everything. It is not just that even well-intentioned and generous pro-family policies have often proven disappointing but that individual choices still matter. People can choose to prioritize family life even when culture, policy, and the economy make it difficult.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, we need more than just exhortations to individual virtue: We need the help of others. Fortunately, government is not the only domain of collective action. As the process of family formation &mdash; from dating to raising children and sustaining a marriage &mdash; is breaking down to the point of incomprehensibility in much of our culture, America&rsquo;s churches in particular have an opportunity to step into the gaps left by the fraying bonds of family and community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Men and women need guidance in coming together to form and sustain marriages. Likewise, it is not good for parents to have to handle child-rearing all by themselves. It does take a village &mdash; but the government, and especially the federal bureaucracy, is a behemoth, not a village.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As important as help, from meals to rides to babysitting and beyond, can be, churches can provide that which is even more valuable: instruction, examples, belonging, and love. This community is what will actually make people want to marry, have children, and stay married while raising their kids well. Pundits worrying about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-defense-forces-prepare-for-another-hamas-offensive\/\" title=\"Israel Defense Forces Prepare for Another Hamas Offensive\">long-term political<\/a> and economic implications of declining marriage and low birthrates won&rsquo;t actually do it. What will work is if people believe in family life as important to what it means to live well and if they believe it is not only desirable but also attainable. For this, they need examples and assistance.<\/p>\n<p>To be meaningful, pro-natalism has to mean more than just pumping out babies for the future of the nation. Rather, it must explain why babies are good in themselves and why marriage and parenthood are the vocations to which most of us are called and which we should joyfully embrace. Indeed, this will likely be one of the church&rsquo;s most effective means of evangelization. Amid our cultural and relational wasteland, it will increasingly fall to the church to teach people how to live well despite the troubles of this life. And valuing babies over indulgence, ambition, and avarice is a good place to start.<\/p>\n<p>Even the best efforts may not be enough to save our nation. But it is clear that there is only hope for our nation&rsquo;s future if citizens place their hope in something greater than America.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Nathanael Blake is a senior contributor to The Federalist and a postdoctoral fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris compete for the presidency, their supporters claim that the stakes for our nation&#8217;s future are incredibly high. However, many Americans seem to have lost hope in that future, as evidenced by a significant decline in birth rates. The U.S. has reached another record low in fertility rates; while it hasn&#8217;t yet experienced complete demographic collapse like South Korea or Japan, American birth rates remain well below the replacement level. Regardless of who voters select in November, they are already expressing a lack of confidence in the future by choosing not to have children.<\/p>\n<p>A declining birth rate will lead to numerous challenges\u2014sustaining economic growth and funding entitlement programs will be difficult with an aging and shrinking population. Relying on high levels of immigration to maintain workforce numbers presents its own set of complications. However, emphasizing the difficulties associated with having fewer children is unlikely to encourage people to start families; individuals aren&#8217;t likely to decide to have kids simply because it might improve GDP down the line. In fact, focusing on the issues stemming from low birth rates may even discourage pro-natal attitudes by heightening anxiety about what lies ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Neither candidate can resolve this issue. While Harris may attempt to promote a message of &#8220;Joy!&#8221; through media channels, the Democratic National Committee&#8217;s endorsement of sterilization and abortion\u2014including Planned Parenthood offering free vasectomies and abortions at their convention\u2014stands as one of the most extreme examples of anti-natalist sentiment in American politics. Although Trump\u2019s GOP may appear more favorable by comparison, he has been steering his party away from social conservatism (not mentioning his own personal choices).<\/p>\n<p>Politicians alone cannot rescue America from its self-destructive path toward extinction. While it&#8217;s tempting to hold them accountable for societal failures regarding stable relationships and child-rearing, we must recognize that unfavorable cultural, economic, and political factors do not absolve individuals from personal responsibility; Americans are making choices that contribute to their country&#8217;s decline.<\/p>\n<p>On a positive note, there is potential for improvement without relying solely on politicians&#8217; actions. Political measures\u2014ranging from tax policies to education initiatives\u2014are crucial for family formation and well-being; we should appreciate those working diligently on these fronts.<\/p>\n<p>However, waiting idly for government solutions isn&#8217;t productive since even well-meaning pro-family policies often fall short\u2014and individual decisions still play a vital role. People can choose family life as a priority despite challenging cultural or economic circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Yet beyond encouraging individual virtue alone: support from others is essential too. As family dynamics\u2014from dating through parenting\u2014become increasingly complex within our culture&#8217;s fabric, churches specifically have an opportunity to fill voids left by weakening familial ties.<\/p>\n<p>Guidance is needed for couples seeking marriage stability while parents shouldn&#8217;t face child-rearing responsibilities alone; indeed it takes community support\u2014but government bureaucracy does not equate with community spirit.<\/p>\n<p>Churches can offer invaluable resources such as mentorships along with practical help like meals or childcare assistance which foster genuine connections among families\u2014a sense of belonging that inspires people towards marriage and parenthood while nurturing healthy child development.<\/p>\n<p>Concerns about declining marriage rates or low birthrates won&#8217;t solve these issues; instead fostering belief in family life as integral will motivate individuals toward forming families if they see it as both desirable and achievable\u2014with necessary examples provided along with support systems available.<\/p>\n<p>Pro-natalism should encompass more than merely increasing population numbers\u2014it must articulate why having children enriches lives intrinsically alongside promoting marriage\/parenthood vocations worth embracing joyfully\u2014a mission likely central within church outreach efforts amidst today&#8217;s relational challenges valuing babies over self-indulgence or greed could serve as foundational principles moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Even if efforts fall short at times saving our nation remains uncertain but hope exists only when citizens look beyond America itself towards something greater than national identity<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":538,"featured_media":2330878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/People-on-Couch-Watching.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32823,11263,38753,5894,36479],"class_list":["post-2330877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-child-welfare","tag-churches","tag-community-support","tag-politics","tag-social-issues"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/People-on-Couch-Watching.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/538"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2330877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330877\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2330878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2330877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2330877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2330877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}