Can a government exercise effective population control?

Question

Look at this at a more "human nature/rights" point of view.

Answer 1

In countries where reproductive choice is not a protected or fundamental right -- such as China, for example -- yes. The govt can mandate the people become sterilized, can force people to have abortions, etc. Because they govt is allowed to make reproductive decisions for people.

In the US -- reproductive choice is still a protected fundamental right -- so the govt cannot do that. However, if conservatives get their way, and the line of Supreme Court cases declaring reproductive choice to be protected gets overturned -- then yes, the govt could then decide who is allowed to get (or remain) pregnant and who is not.

Answer 2

Look at China, with their limit on children. Since they realize that they aren't going to overcome human desires, and longstanding peasant ideas in their (Mostly peasant) population, they simply take the strong-arm approach. . Does this violate our western concepts of "Human rights"? Sure. Is it effective in that country? moreso than any other approach would be. There are even more-draconian measures that a government could use, such as mandatory sterilizations, etc., so, if a country decides that it WILL enforce a ZPG mandate, the means are there. To ENCOURAGE a ZPG frame of mind throughout a society, that society has to be educated and empowered, and persuaded that it is advantageous to THEM PERSONALLY, as well as to the society as a whole. The acts leading TO reproduction being private, there is no way to prevent them. You can either encourage self-imposed birth-control, or enforce social economic, and civil/criminal strictures on those that violate government mandates. It can, and IS, being done.

Answer 3

They do it in China. They are limited as to how many children they can have, and girl babies are not wanted. I do not condone that but I think the government should impose some sort of law regarding these women who are baby factories and live off public assistance. I know a woman who has 5 kids, from 5 different men, and none of them pay child support-the tax payer supports her and her kids. This is totally irresponsible and no one is accountable.

Answer 4

China does.
A free country could not ,but could be helpful by allowing abortions and assisted suicide .
Limiting immigration to healthy, non criminal individuals.
Not allowing illegal immigration.
Using the death penalty more often and without long waiting periods.
No aid to unmarried mothers to discourage constant pregnancies.
Free birth control aids.
Free abortions
I don't think a government should forbid pregnancy's or limit them but I also think it should not be financially responsible for children being born to people who can't say no and can't afford them.

Answer 5

Well I'm not sure about places like china...

But damn Canada could use some population control! And our government can do it effectively. I dont like walking down the streets and seeing street signs written in Punjabi... WTF is with that? We are an ENGLISH and FRENCH country, if you want to move here, learn our language instead of pushing yours on us. And we need to stop letting the asians in. There are cities that are run by them, completely ruined nice cities. I think I should be able to walk into a mall and not be stared at like I have a hideous deformity because I'm white. I don't mind areas like chinatown having their people everywhere and their stores all written in asian, but to fill our cities with their crap, thats going too far. Then they complain because our country isnt like theirs. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

I think I should be hired to do some population control, give me a bulldozer, I'll drive thru the streets of our over-populated immigrant areas, possibly thru the chink-malls...

I'm not being racist, I think they just have a lack of respect for our country. They so desperately want to move here, and when they do all they do is try to turn it into their home country. If they were willing to learn our language, write their signs in English or French and not stare at you like you're satan himself when you go into their area then I'd have no problem with them being here. I have tons of asian friends, I'm always one of the first people to make friends with a new immigrant, but if they don't want to live by our country's customs, I dont want them here. And having our street signs written in their langauge and not ours, that outrages me!

Answer 6

I sure wish we would have population control. We do not want to end up like India or China. Less is more.