The conversation with Timothy Carney explores the decline in fertility rates and the challenges of raising children in modern society. It delves into the demography of population decline, the potential consequences of a shrinking population, and the surprising lack of awareness about this issue. The conversation also examines the cultural factors that contribute to the difficulty of raising kids, such as the belief in work as the centerpiece of one's identity and the decline of community connections. The discussion highlights the limitations of government policies in addressing the declining birth rate and emphasizes the importance of changing cultural norms and values. The conversation explores the challenges and cultural factors that make raising kids more difficult in today's society. It discusses the pressure for everyone to attend college, even if it may not be the best path for certain individuals. The delay in adulthood and the failure to launch are identified as factors contributing to declining birth rates. The conversation also touches on the importance of religion and the happiness that comes from having connections and a sense of belonging. The impact of safetyism and overprogramming on parenting is discussed, as well as the regret of not having children expressed by many older individuals.
Timothy Carney joins the podcast to discuss his new book Family Unfriendly, exploring how cultural norms, workism, and modern safetyism have made raising kids in America harder than it needs to be.
Guest bio:
Timothy P. Carney is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a columnist at the Washington Examiner. He is the author of several books, including Alienated America and the newly released Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be.
Topics discussed:
Top quote:
“Pregnancy is contagious... It’s not primarily through sermons or rational discourse that people decide to have kids—it’s through culture, community, and what they see around them.”