patrick.net

There was also a huge amount of Gay marriages in that uptick at the end of the chart.

This seems like an opportunity for those who have good values, a good community which will help instill those values into their children, and who can nurture large families.

Maybe it will be self-correcting like richwicks says.

yawaraf says

This seems like an opportunity for those who have good values, a good community which will help instill those values into their children, and who can nurture large families.

Maybe it will be self-correcting like richwicks says.

I might be off my rocker, but I think the actual event of marriage is preventing people from getting married. The ceremony, the reception, the honeymoon and all the other shit people do now. I like a good party, but we've party(ized) something that shouldn't be. Created a massive industry. Wanna get married? Mom and dad have $30k+ to blow? Drop $1k+ on a one time wear dress. Pay $5-10k on below average banquet food?

Besides the future financial issues in a potential divorce aside, who the hell would want to have a wedding right now?? It's a fucking fortune. So people just have kids out of wedlock. So I don't think marriage is the best metric for predicting future child births.

WookieMan says

I might be off my rocker, but I think the actual event of marriage is preventing people from getting married. The ceremony, the reception, the honeymoon and all the other shit people do now. I like a good party, but we've party(ized) something that shouldn't be. Created a massive industry. Wanna get married? Mom and dad have $30k+ to blow? Drop $1k+ on a one time wear dress. Pay $5-10k on below average banquet food?

You can get married without some stupid expensive ceremony.

zzyzzx says

You can get married without some stupid expensive ceremony.

Basically not true. It's the standard. I agree with you, but that's not what people think. Traditions are gone with who pays for it as well. Guys family might have to pay for it and the divorce. So why get married? Hence why marriage rates are dropping. It is a factor for sure. Father's don't want to dump money into a wedding either. I'm soooooo happy I didn't have daughters. But I think that tradition is going away as well where daddy pays for the wedding.

No one wants to pay for it as it's approaching the cost of a Tesla that is gonna screw you in the future ;)

I doubt that the Amish have expensive weddings. Regardless of the cost, if they have lots of children to whom they pass on their values, and their neighbors don't, maybe the Amish will take over.

yawaraf says

I doubt that the Amish have expensive weddings. Regardless of the cost, if they have lots of children to whom they pass on their values, and their neighbors don't, maybe the Amish will take over.

They probably should. I won't disagree with that. The norm unfortunately is spending a shit load of money on weddings. I don't agree with it, but it's the norm. My wedding was nothing for the amount of people. I think 300 people. We spent under $10k. Live band too. Maybe my ego, but still get best wedding people have been to comments to this day. Frankly was still more than I wanted to spend.

My comment wasn't saying people "should" spend large sums. I think it literally prevents younger couples from getting married. The industry screws people over big time. So young men don't pull the trigger on marriage. Right or wrong, I do think it's a factor. It's a lot of money and parents and in laws don't have the cash to foot the bill. Hell most don't even have savings. I think that's the biggest factor in marriages declining. That and the hookup culture.

There it is! The true endgame of the Global Warming canard.

Study: Humans Contributing to Global Warming by Breathing

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/12/19/humans-contributing-to-global-warming-by-breathing-study/

The post is about world population but the comments are about the USA population decrease which is only about 4% of the world pop.

lostand confused says

Yeah, the gubmnt here is just too obnoxious. Yet in countries like these, the population is growing leaps and bounds. One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the poor are-ignorance truly is bliss.

What are they supposedly ignorant of?

lostand confused says

One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the poor are-ignorance truly is bliss.

One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the people are compared to americans. Especially the "highly educated" career climbing multiple divorced 50+ hour a week working but still debt ridden morons.

GNL says

What are they supposedly ignorant of?

Feminist/woke bullshit?

zzyzzx says

You can get married without some stupid expensive ceremony.

I didn't even buy my fiance an engagement ring. She was shamed by her peeps into buying it herself. Later, we got a pittance from the class action lawsuit against DeBeers that I had to hound her for to submit claims information.

Women - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

stereotomy says

I didn't even buy my fiance an engagement ring. She was shamed by her peeps into buying it herself. Later, we got a pittance from the class action lawsuit against DeBeers that I had to hound her for to submit claims information.

Women - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Eh, jewelry is tough. I actually think rings are a thing that is worth doing. One it lets others know you're taken so to speak. Two it's a sign you committed by spending a little (or a lot) of money on them. They can look good. I'm a watch guy so I have bling on my wrist a lot of the time. Necessary, absolutely not, especially if you cannot afford it. It's nice if you can though.

I'd never give anyone shit though for not buying a ring. Do what you want. Do what you can afford. If the chick isn't happy is that the one you want to be with? Go to a thrift store and get something unique. In the end it's never about the money if you want to be happy.

A diamond is a scam all the way from purposely shut down mines to the marketing to women's emotion and need for attention. Diamonds are so plentiful, they're worthless.

GNL says

A diamond is a scam all the way from purposely shut down mines to the marketing to women's emotion and need for attention. Diamonds are so plentiful, they're worthless.

Don't disagree at all. They look cool though. Just got to not be an idiot and overpay.

There's a great documentary about DeBeers and the entire scam out there somewhere. I watched it about 20-25 years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't be found anymore.

GNL says

There's a great documentary about DeBeers and the entire scam out there somewhere. I watched it about 20-25 years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't be found anymore.

Precious metals and stones are all a scam. Don't need to watch anything for that. Some have value for electronics, but it's way less than people that invest in it should pay for it. If you want it for fun go for it and just know what you're paying for. Gold, silver, diamonds, platinum, etc. Besides utility they're basically worthless minerals.

If someone want's to buy a Ferrari, go for it. It's a stupid expense but whatever. That's the way I look at it. Not needed, but if it makes you feel good have at it. Just make sure you can afford it. Same with diamond rings.

komputodo says

lostand confused says

One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the poor are-ignorance truly is bliss.

One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the people are compared to americans. Especially the "highly educated" career climbing multiple divorced 50+ hour a week working but still debt ridden morons.

debt is truly slavery. our entire system revolves around putting people into debt so they could spend entire life paying that amortization.

tax cuts for rich at expense to rest, we call it trickle down.

Fortwaye says

debt is truly slavery. our entire system revolves around putting people into debt so they could spend entire life paying that amortization.

John Ringo incorporates this in his military science fiction novels.

Fortwaye says

debt is truly slavery. our entire system revolves around putting people into debt so they could spend entire life paying that amortization.

tax cuts for rich at expense to rest, we call it trickle down.

easy fix for the USA as far as federal debt

just put in means test for Social Security for starters, reduce it by 10% for each $10,000 for annual household income over $50,000 (and instead of 10% make it 15% for those on federal and state pensions)

lease more federal land for using forest dead wood for biomass and engineered wood manufacturing

but with AI and robots as well as agriculture advances like growing strawberries in a Richmond VA warehouse, there can be a lot of productivity and quality of life increases to counterbalance inflation risks due to fiscal and monetary policies

so those in debt with high mortgages, car loans, etc at least will have a decent standard of living

.

AD says

just put in means test for Social Security for starters

This is already done. 85% of our SS will be taxed as income. At a 24% (for now) marginal rate that's a 20% deduction in what I'll "get back" from money that I paid in. Combine this with the fact that if I had invested that same money in an index fund it would be worth 4 - 10 times what I'll get back from SS.

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other peoples money".

AD says

so those in debt with high mortgages, car loans, etc at least will have a decent standard of living

They will figure out a way to get around that.

Besides, those in debt for high mortgages and car loans SHOULD get the shaft.

AD says

but with AI and robots as well as agriculture advances like growing strawberries in a Richmond VA warehouse, there can be a lot of productivity and quality of life increases to counterbalance inflation risks due to fiscal and monetary policies

Reingineer the Fed to finance Capital Homesteading accounts for everyone. Old idea but increasingly relevant for today.

MolotovCocktail says

Reingineer the Fed to finance Capital Homesteading accounts for everyone. Old idea but increasingly relevant for today.

Free money in any form, even easy debt, just raises prices. People could do that "capital homesteading" themselves by purchasing stocks.

lostand confused says

One thing I find travelling in 3rd world countries is how happy the poor are-ignorance truly is bliss.

They are not threatened daily by black violence.