China reconsidering one-child policy? (The perils of social engineering)

American Thinker ^ | 01/21/2013 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

Oh, the perils of social engineering in a world ruled by the Law of Unintended Consequences! American mush-heads like Tom Friedman of the New York Times may openly pine for an American government that could act as swiftly and arbitrarily as China's (to build high speed rail, shiny new airports, all the result of far-sighted leaders providing the people what they need, unencumbered by property or democratic rights), but the folly of such power is demonstrated by the sorry reality facing China as the result of its heavy-handed meddling in human reproduction.

The Wall Street Journal (link may expire) reports on the rising pressures for modification of the one child policy. Lauri Burkett writes from Beijing:

"China's top national statistician on Friday called for changing the country's one-child policy because of the nation's shrinking pool of workers, adding to a chorus of opponents who say the policy will have long-lasting effects on the country's economic stability.

The absolute size of the working population, aged 15 to 59, fell by 3.45 million people to 937 million last year, Ma Jiantang, head of China's National Bureau of Statistics, said in a news briefing Friday.

As China's working-age population shrinks, Beijing has been sending mixed signals about its plans for the one-child policy.

"You ask if I am concerned about labor-force decline? Yes, I don't want to deny it," Mr. Ma said, adding that leaders should come up with "a more proper, scientific policy."

Mr. Ma, a senior official himself, couches his argument in terms of wise leaders using "scientific principles," and is unconcerned about the human cost of forced late term abortions or the issue of personal liberty when it comes to the most basic decisions in life.

[2banana]

It is hard to go back

[11th Commandment]

Law of Unintended Consequences!...

I am sure the author is using this phrase tongue and cheek, but rarely is there unintended consequences. Statist are generally well aware of the consequences of their action but weigh the political benefit vs the damage.

China, thanks to its one child policy, will be the first country in the history of the planet to grow old before it grows rich.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Too little, too late.

There is now a massive donut hole in their demographic. They are going to start getting old in a real hurry, and even the most aggressive baby making scheme will take two decades to produce any results.

Not to mention any young person with half a brain emigrates.

[Pining_4_TX]

China’s one-child policy is causing all kinds of trouble. They are raising generations of spoiled young men who will wonder where the women are some day. Women are being kidnapped and forced to be “brides”, because there is such a shortage of females.

One wonders if these angry young men will turn into a formidable army or if they have been so spoiled by their parents, that they will become the Asian version of the modern American oaf who wastes his life playing video games in his parents’ basement.

[roadcat]

They are raising generations of spoiled young men who will wonder where the women are some day.

Already happening. In the old days, it was common for well-to-do men to have multiple wives. My wife is Chinese-American (born here). Her grandfather (born there) had multiple wives. Her mother, being born a female, disappointed the grandfather and he immediately married a second wife the same day as the birth. That's just how things were there. The son, from the second wife got everything, all the wealth. But the communists took over and he lost it all. My wife's mother fled to the U.S.A. (Long story, my wife's dad was a U.S. G.I., married my wife's mom and brought her here.) My wife (despite being full Chinese race) is disgusted with Chinese people and their treatment of women.

[Pining_4_TX]

Interesting story about your wife and her family. It takes courage to leave everything behind and come to a new country.

One of my favorite books is My Years in Communist China by Eva Diao.

[roadcat]

People born here take things for granted. Not so elsewhere. Her mom’s young cousin fled communist China in the 1970’s. He was a red army soldier and hated it there. He escaped by hiking through mountains and crossing rivers, eventually sneaking into Hong Kong. From there, he was sponsored by my wife’s mom to come to the U.S.A. He prospered here, learning english, finding work, marrying and raising children. He is very grateful (and happy) to be here.