Why Elon Musk wants Americans to breed like rabbits? Elon Musk, the enigmatic billionaire behind tech juggernauts like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, has once again stirred controversy with his vocal advocacy for higher birth rates in the United States.
Despite criticism, Musk’s stance appears consistent with his personal choices, having fathered 11 children with three different women, including two with Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive, using unconventional methods such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Why Elon Musk wants Americans to breed like rabbits?
Musk’s call for Americans to procreate with fervor echoes his concerns about declining birth rates, which he believes could have detrimental effects on society.
His frustration with those choosing not to have children has led to provocative suggestions, including proposing the deprivation of voting rights for non-parents.
However, Musk’s perspective seems to overlook the multifaceted reasons influencing people’s decisions about family planning.
Economic factors, particularly the steep cost of raising a child, emerge as significant deterrents for many prospective parents.
The average expense of nurturing a child to adulthood in the U.S. has soared to nearly $250,000, excluding college costs, a figure that underscores the financial challenges faced by families nationwide.
According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey of non-parent American adults in the age bracket of 18 to 49, as many as 56% of respondents said they don’t have kids because “they just don’t want to” while 43% quoted “some other reason”.
Of the “some other reason” demographic, 29% cited age, 23% cited medical reasons and 14% cited financial reasons.
While Musk’s considerable wealth may shield him from such concerns, it underscores a broader societal reality that extends beyond individual circumstances.
The disparity between the ultra-wealthy and the average American underscores the complexity of the issue, raising questions about equity and access to resources.
Critics argue that Musk’s vision for a population boom fails to address the underlying socio-economic factors shaping family planning decisions.
Furthermore, concerns about overpopulation and strain on resources persist, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to demographic challenges.
Despite Musk’s dire predictions about a sudden population decline, experts remain skeptical.
Demographic trends are influenced by a myriad of factors, including societal norms, economic conditions, and evolving cultural attitudes towards family life.
