[Dialup Llama]

We are not underpopulation in any real or meaningful sense unless by underpopulated you mean- not enough people to prop up the welfare pyramid state. With unemployment at 11% in Germany and a social policy which delays the entry of students into the workforce until their 30's, there is no sense that Germany is in need of guest workers. The same goes for any western country. The only kind of population increase Europe 'needs' is a large population spike to keep the welfare system going one more turn, at which point Europe will have been overwhelmed by immigrants from hostile countries.

[Henrietta]

I agree. Basically, we have a "crisis" that was created by overtaxation, and, like Atlas, we are shrugging, and saying "We refuse to commit our children to be slaves to your welfare state." Slaves often thwart their masters by failing to reproduce, I've heard. Let people keep more of their money, and maybe then Mom can stay home and take care of the kids. Stop stealing the bread from our mouths, and maybe we'll breed.

For the foreseeable future, though, I have no plans to reproduce. I work really, really hard to make a good living, and I need my leisure time. I probably wouldn't have to work as hard if my tax burden were reduced, but I won't hold my breath on it being reduced, so Granny and Gramps will just have to get by on fewer little drones to pay for the welfare benefits that they desire.

Thanks for letting me rant.