Have you applied for your birth quota?

Hi Thea. Yes, I knew about this policy. As a mother of five wonderful sons and as one who believes all abortion is murder, I abhor what happened there. I don't know how women survived under such circumstances. I can't bear to think how I would feel under such conditions.

I think it's really unfair for one nation to impose such limitations to is citizens while others don't have them. This policy is, of course, caused by internal social and economical reasons, but I think when it comes to the number of citizens, the global number should be taken into account - something like the CO2 emissions market... I myself believe I will never have children (got my own reasons to believe that) so I would personally make good money out of my birth quota.

In Sg, our government is encouraging couples to have more babies. I think that's because the population is going to be lesser in future. I don't mind the policy of encouraging more but certainly not less.

Yes, I know all about China's forced abortions & sterilizations. How would I feel? Furious. Rebellious. Revolutionary. Maggiepie "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." —George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

This one really stumps me. On the one hand, I believe the world is already grossly overpopulated and that we have to do something about it if the human race is to survive; on the other, the draconic measures needed are horrifying. It would be lovely if it could be done voluntarily, but it can't. The response above gives us a perfect example of why not. Religious strictures against birth control and terminations, the refusal of Western individualists to accept any control over their private lives, in many cases ignorance, and in some cases neurotic maternal/paternal drives all conspire against that possibility. There is a system of quotas which I have seen in which each human is given .75 of a quota at birth. A couple would thus have 1.5 quotas, and having used one up, would then be allowed to buy or trade another .5 quota to have a second child. There will always be people who are satisfied with only one, or even no children, and thus have part quotas going to waste. If the couple splits for any reason after that one child, each would still have .25 of a quota, and would be able to get together with someone with .75 and have a second. After bearing or siring a second child, they must accept sterilisation. This is, of course, a major sticking point. Ideally, if both male and female sterilisation were able to be reversed, say in the case of child mortality to allow replacement, then perhaps it would not be quite so difficult, but there would always be people who would have to be forced into this, and at that point it all goes pear-shaped. I have even given thought to a plan in which all men must accept vasectomies once they have sired one child, but that runs into the same difficulties with those men who have the need to sire whole dynasties of replacements, or who refuse to be controlled in any way. As for those with religious convictions, there is no rational argument which is going to make them willing to accept any such plan. In the end, the only conclusion I can come to is: either continue to be glad that I'll be long gone and buried by the time the pear goes rotten; or, accept that we will have to institute some form of enforced birth control, with all the evil potentials that has. Because let's face it, if we don't stop the galloping increase in world population, we will end up like ants in an anthill, if we don't, as a species, collapse and die out first. Lash

Hi thea, birth quota if fixed is as you've portrayed harsh. But a flexibility in it, that leaves somethings in the hands of the people who want more children, is definitely worth considering. Now, if a person wanted a second child, and couldnt afford the second child, then he or she would have to forego government benefits, such as free medical care, till he earned enough to keep the second child. That is what was suggested. In effect, it would be a way to discourage people to have a second child, or encourage them to increase their productivity, and performance. That is what I envisaged. May be, I didnt express it well enough. I am strictly against abortions. In any event, for India, the right solution would be to ensure that the birthpills for the month are delivered at the doorstep! That way, they can easily be taken by teenagers, as well as ladies of the house. Because of dependence on men, women may not be able to take such pills. But if the pills reach home, they can easily take them on regular basis. Thank you for being unrelenting there. Had you relented, I would not have thought of such simple solution. :)

It is sad but interesting to find out what happened regarding birth quotas. I know that if told a lady could get pregnant sometime between January 1971 and December 1971 that lady would have felt stressed. It would have placed so much stress on the lady. Being happy and relaxed is the best way to try to get pregnant. If a lady had a baby in 1970 and then she got a surprise pregnancy in 1973 she would have been forced to have an abortion. Yes, the One Child Policy in the 1970s had a dark side. I agree with birth control but I disagree with abortions. I think that the forced sterilisation. I would have felt horrified if I had to apply for a birth quota. I hope that the one child policy is better nowadays.

Yes, I was aware of it and it's pretty appalling. I can understand the need to reduce the birth rate, but if it isn't voluntary, it just isn't going to work. Increasing income and women's education works far better.

iT ALL SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF RIDICULOUS B/S TO ME. i DON'T THINK THE GOVERMENT SHOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER. I do wish they would step in here some & stop all these women who keep having babies so they can draw more money & get all the freebies. That disgusts me to no end.

As soon as the Chinese take over the world I'm wondering if they will let any other countries have kids? OPPS! I mean children! They sure have a master plan, and I don't think we are inclusive in it! Wish we'd hurry and find another planet to ruin! tdemex

This is hideous. Talk about oppression! I cannot imagine being forced to abort my baby let alone being sterilised against my will and possibly be imprisoned for attempting to bring a life into the world! A birth quota, that is appalling! Thank you for bringing this sad issue to everyone’s awareness. We are very lucky in the country we live in not be subjected to such brutality. It is disheartening to consider that we cannot do anything to alter the situation in China.

Hi thea..wow living in the US this is one of those things I have never spent alot of time thinking about. Over here that would have a definite impact on reality tv shows like the Duggars and John and Kate!! Seriously though I would feel scared if my government had that much control over my life. What are the repercussions if you have more than one child? Our idea of family planning includes the handing out of birth control and education, abortions are strictly by choice, as is sterilization. I truly cannot imagine living somewhere such personal choices were out of my control.