(Tim) Thinking about this comment, my dear brother David T. writes:
"There are certain things in life which just have to be done, including having children, raising them, educating them, and caring for the elderly. Someone has to do these things. When we set up our government, we must be very, very careful in the incentives we set up for individuals. When the government takes over the responsibility for doing something, that has long-term effects. Currently in our country, by guaranteeing people financial and health care support in their old age, we have significantly reduced their incentive to have children (who otherwise would be their primary financial and caretaker security). As a result, people are less likely to have children and care for them properly. Their own old age no longer depends upon it."
