We're Considerin' a "Baby Bonus" Cheque, But Here's Why It Ain't the Answer
Trump's Thousand-Dollar Infant Incentive: Learning How to Maximize Its Benefits
The lack of new little faces is a hot topic these days, with Elon Musk and others sounding the alarm about America's dropping birth rate. But what can we do to reverse this trend? Some say a "baby bonus" might help, but Maggie Anders from the Foundation for Economic Education thinks otherwise. Let's dive in.
The Baby Bust and its Consequences
From the global stage to our own backyard, the baby bust and the potential devastation it might bring have caught everyone's attention. Times are tough, and we need to think outside the box to turn things around.
Musk's Warning and a Hyper-Tech Lifestyle's Flaws
The famed innovator Musk recently echoed his concerns about our declining birth rate. In a tweet, he emphasized that the lack of children jeopardizes civilization itself. However, if we're to believe some recent research from the Institute for Family Studies, his tech-centric, multi-partner lifestyle isn't a recommended strategy for society, nor for his own kids.
Marriage: The Key to Above Replacement Fertility
The fact is, married couples are the ones cruising above the replacement fertility rate in the US. But here's the catch: We've got far too few of these married people around nowadays.
Bringing Families Back to the Forefront
To give policy an encouraging nudge, reports indicate that President Trump's administration is toying with the idea of a $5,000 "baby bonus" for new moms. But, as Anders explains, it'd be much more fruitful to direct this incentive towards married fertility instead.
The Moral Teachings of Law: A Two-Edged Sword
The left has been savvy in using law to promote their ever-changing moral compass. The recent court case, Mahmoud vs. Taylor, is just one example of this trend. But when it comes to what kind of fertility benefits the state and its people, the law should take a stand. Saintly research demonstrates that kids, adults, and society as a whole prosper more when they're part of married families.
Less for the State and More for the Kids
Kids born to married households cost the state far less and are significantly less likely to need costly interventions to cope with negative outcomes related to their upbringing. Put simply: Married families are better for everyone. Historically, they've led the West to become the pinnacle of advanced civilizations.
The Three Key Family Structures That Shaped History
Let's take a trip down memory lane. Back in the day, civilizations thrived under three primary family structures: the trustee family, the domestic family, and the atomized family. The trustee family, where extended family was sacred, emerged when state power was weak. But as societies matured, the domestic family model, a harmonious blend of personal freedom and family obligation, emerged and flourished. This structure fostered environments in which markets, institutions, and democratic norms could thrive.
The Rise and Fall of Family Models
Christian teaching played a significant role in the evolution of the domestic family model during periods of cultural and civilizational growth. Fast forward to the present day, the atomized family, where the individual reigns supreme, appears dominant once again. And, not surprisingly, society is dealing with the consequences—declining birth rates, rising loneliness, and widespread mental health issues.
Can Government Policy Help Turn the Tide?
A revival of Christian faith surely plays a pivotal role in our quest for family renewal. But let's also not forget the significant moral guidance that the law can provide. If tied to married fertility, the proposed "baby bonus" could be a powerful catalyst for change that would amplify the impact of private action.
Churches Lead the Way
The church can be at the forefront of this movement. Despite the pervasive brokenness in the world, two-thirds of Gen Z remain enthusiastic about marriage. They simply need guidance, hope, and vision to navigate these volatile waters of love and relationships. It's time for the church to step up, not just talking the talk but walking the walk.
Christian Faith: The Powerhouse for Civilizational Renewal
Throughout history, the Christian faith has been the driving force behind civilizational renewal. After the fall of Rome, church leaders inspired the domestic family to take center stage, catalyzing the High Middle Ages, a period of increased social trust, the birth of universities, and the growth of modern markets and law.
Washington's and Wall Street's Role—and Ours
Washington and Wall Street can do their part in supporting families, but the bigger role belongs to families themselves, and the local church. It requires courage, commitment, and action from every believer and every church to cultivate healthy, faith-filled relationships that lay the foundation for the next generation.
The Future is not Written in Stone—We Choose it Together
It's not a far-fetched idea that the family can be rebuilt, marriage restored, and communities renewed. But it necessitates vision, courage, and action. And, just like in the past, history proves that this is not a foregone conclusion—but a choice that we make together.
- Despite Elon Musk's concerns about America's dropping birth rate, some research suggests that his tech-centric, multi-partner lifestyle may not be a recommended strategy for society or his own children.
- married couples are the ones currently cruising above the replacement fertility rate in the US, but we have far too few of these married people around nowadays.
- A "baby bonus" policy directed towards encouraging married fertility could be a powerful catalyst for change, potentially amplifying the impact of private action towards family renewal.
- Christian faith has historically been a driving force behind civilizational renewal, inspiring the evolution of family structures conducive to social trust, the birth of universities, and the growth of modern markets and law.
- Washington and Wall Street can support families, but the bigger role in the revival of family structures belongs to families themselves, local churches, and every individual with the courage, commitment, and action to cultivate healthy, faith-filled relationships for the next generation.
