Bill Maher, New Rule: I Didn't Reproduce Day

[betsuni]

[Madam Mossfern]

1. As a mother of four

I was a bit offended.

[nycbos]

3. I think the point that is what you chose and it was the right choice for you.

But people who choose not to have kids shouldn't be shamed for not doing so which they often are.

[irisblue]

2. He conflates single with child free. Those are not the same.

IMO, 'single' is an individual who is not in an adult intimate(as defined by the involved parties) relationship; one or more members of that relationship might have a child or children.
And LGBTQ people can & do have children, some through heterosexual sex, adoption, fostering, or by families of choice.
Childfree people, IMO, are those who choose/are making the choice NOT to reproduce.
I do appreciate that he did point out that women were not obligated to provide reasons why she does not have a child/children.
The writing for this section needed more careful editing & clarity, again IMO.
YMMV.

[lambchopp59]

6. I think there is something highly admirable about any who adopt ready-made kids!

Where's the day for them?
Had I not been widowed many years ago, I'd have a rug rat around. Alas I am of meager means to raise a child on my own.

[liberalmike27]

4. Tax Policy

It's funny, and I don't care so much we don't get a "day."

The thing that always bothered me is that we pay more in taxes than those who "choose" to encumber themselves with children. It's their choice. Why do single people get penalized. And married people hurt the planet more with pollution and everything else, they drain society, they create the need for public schools I'll never use. Yet single people pay more?

I've always thought it was just legislators that wanted to punish single people for not going through the same misery as they have.

[Madam Mossfern]

5. As far as public schools go

...an educated electorate is the backbone of society.
In the future, you will need the services of those 'children' whom you helped pay to educate.

Childless people - single or married, can vote in local school board elections or support specific
policies. One doesn't need to be a parent to be involved.

[lostnfound]

7. It is simply a recognition that kids need to eat, too.

Single people don't get "penalized". Every human being is entitled to keep a few thousand bucks a year to be able to feed themselves.

Kids aren't earning a living but their parents are earning a living FOR them.

Do you think kids aren't worth the food they are being fed?

Good luck finding a doctor or nurse to take care of you when you are old and sick, or a mechanic to fix your car. Can you picture a society with nothing but old people? Some countries with falling birth rates like Japan have major problems taking care of the old people or finding service workers.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. Did you or your family use public education when you were young?

[BigmanPigman]

9. People are mixing several different issues in this thread...

this could be 15 threads...
Single
No children
Education
Taxes
Choice
Climate change
Overpopulation
Natural resources
Etc
And I have an strong opinion about each but I won't elaborate. Basically I agree with Bill 100% on this one.

[betsuni]

10. And here I thought it was just a joke about how there's Mother's Day and Father's Day

but no I Am Not a Parent Day. Oh well. Recently there was a story about Self Marriage in the news and I tried and failed to explain to my husband why single women would want to do this.

[BigmanPigman]

11. Sex and the City had an episode similar to that idea.

After giving tons of wedding and shower gifts to others over the years she feels entitled to some for herself (single and childless). She has a good point.

[betsuni]

12. I know! I can't help but wonder if that's where it came from.

Makes me feel better about not having lots of friends -- don't have to pony up for all their weddings and baby showers.