On the last thread -- just before witching hour, I believe -- Cat asked what I thought of the recommendation that China modify/abandon its one-child policy. I think it is long overdue. In fact, the policy was too strict from the beginning, although in 1980 China clearly needed to limit population growth. But it didn't take much foresight to see that down the road there would be a serious shortage of working-age people. People speak of there being too few to support the retired Baby Boomers, but in fact the work force will be shrinking so rapidly it will be impossible to find people to fill more than a fraction of the available jobs. Even if they thought something that Draconian was required as a shock treatment to convince people the situation was serious, it should have been modified in 10 years, not 35.
And that's without talking about the less obviously predictable fact that because of this policy you've seen a considerably greater number of boys than of girls being born. The social problems are obvious, without mentioning that this reduces the birth rate still further.
I was mildly surprised to see that they not only recommended moving to a two-child policy by 2014 but eliminating all restrictions by 2020. But it's likely that by then China will be well past the demographic transition where people want to spend money on themselves instead of a lot of children.
FYI, I just saw this post from my cousin Linda on Facebook:
"SO HAPPY to be home after another heart attack, stent placement, and 5 long days in the hospital. Cardiac Rehab will start in a couple of weeks for 3 months. Thanks so much for prayers! I am so grateful for family, friends, and LIFE !"
Thanks for all the nice Grand-in-the-oven comments! :-)
Are we shooting for another girl, or will we let a boy into the clan?
We'll take either!!!
Another little girl would sure make a sweet addition to our already gorgeous gaggle of girl Grands! This one would be most likely to have blonde ringlets and blue eyes.
A little boy would be quite welcome as well. In fact, he would be the very first boy with our family name in his generation, despite that fact that our Son is the 17th grandchild out of 23! This is because all the boy cousins who have children have girls. And all the girl cousins, many of whom do have boys, have taken their husband's family name.
Just to add that it was a difficult night for the parents-to-be on the even of Hallowe'en. DIL came down with schoolteacher flu on Monday and by Tuesday was so sick she couldn't even keep down water. Her doctor has told her that if she couldn't keep down water she should go to the ER for an IV. Around 1:00am they decided the had to go. This was painful for them because it was exactly one year (nearly to the hour) that they had gone to that same ER, where she miscarried. That added a level of fear and anxiety, for sure. I was hoping that going there this time for help and going home in better condition would be a healing experience for them. No such luck. Long story short, they left the hospital at 4:00am and she never got the IV! Too much waiting while she was feeling terrible, when the ER wasn't busy!, and they felt staff was rude and unhelpful. :-(
So, on Hallowee'en morning her doc's office told them to go to the other local hospital's walk-in clinic. Thankfullly, the staff there was wonderful! She got two bags of IV and her vital signs were MUCH better then when she arrived! Best of all, they took away all their fears that the baby might not be okay after all the illness.* They did a sonogram and showed them the baby, which Son described as "so cute and dancing", and they saw the baby's heart beating. :-)
* I tried to explain that illness doesn't cross the placenta and that the mother's body takes care of the baby first and mom second, but quite understandably after what they endured last year, they really needed to see to believe. ♥
Anyway, the point is to underscore the difference to the patient between poor care and good care. We need a good health care plan in this country and we need a National Nurse.
Yeah. I'm wondering whether I will be able to bow out of the Disability Pride Parade when my term of office is up in two years. Tow of the original five Directors have bowed out, not counting the one who died. As has the replacement for the deceased Director after less than a full term. And Earl is suggesting he might move out of town. That would leave me the only one of the original five physically present at board meetings.
But we'll see. The big question is whether Spokane will win the right to hold the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention and I run disability services there. I was department 2nd this past year, and a lot of the things normally handled by the department head fell to me. Doing that plus the parade plus my work was a challenge I'm not sure I want to repeat. But a Spokane victory is not a given.
Howard is first, today and always.
ReplyDeleteOn the last thread -- just before witching hour, I believe -- Cat asked what I thought of the recommendation that China modify/abandon its one-child policy. I think it is long overdue. In fact, the policy was too strict from the beginning, although in 1980 China clearly needed to limit population growth. But it didn't take much foresight to see that down the road there would be a serious shortage of working-age people. People speak of there being too few to support the retired Baby Boomers, but in fact the work force will be shrinking so rapidly it will be impossible to find people to fill more than a fraction of the available jobs. Even if they thought something that Draconian was required as a shock treatment to convince people the situation was serious, it should have been modified in 10 years, not 35.
And that's without talking about the less obviously predictable fact that because of this policy you've seen a considerably greater number of boys than of girls being born. The social problems are obvious, without mentioning that this reduces the birth rate still further.
I was mildly surprised to see that they not only recommended moving to a two-child policy by 2014 but eliminating all restrictions by 2020. But it's likely that by then China will be well past the demographic transition where people want to spend money on themselves instead of a lot of children.
FYI, I just saw this post from my cousin Linda on Facebook:
ReplyDelete"SO HAPPY to be home after another heart attack, stent placement, and 5 long days in the hospital. Cardiac Rehab will start in a couple of weeks for 3 months. Thanks so much for prayers! I am so grateful for family, friends, and LIFE !"
Excellent news, Renee!
DeleteSooo happy to hear she gets another chapter!
DeleteRenee, I'm so glad. My phone line would never let me post a candle, but I did a virtual virtual. . . .
ReplyDeletelistener, yay, on new babies! Especially if they're related to one. And even more so if they come in the spring!!
My phone is "back on" but still VERY crappy. I'll get here as I can. . . .
Alan, Bill: <*a href= XXXX> YYYY<*/a>
You don't need the quotes (though they don't hurt).
XXXX is the URL with the HTTP in it.
YYYY is either a word you want to make live, or the URL, again.
REMOVE THE ASKTERISKS!!! (and don't leave a space where they were.)
Thanks for all the nice Grand-in-the-oven comments! :-)
ReplyDeleteAre we shooting for another girl, or will we let a boy into the clan?
We'll take either!!!
Another little girl would sure make a sweet addition to our already gorgeous gaggle of girl Grands! This one would be most likely to have blonde ringlets and blue eyes.
A little boy would be quite welcome as well. In fact, he would be the very first boy with our family name in his generation, despite that fact that our Son is the 17th grandchild out of 23! This is because all the boy cousins who have children have girls. And all the girl cousins, many of whom do have boys, have taken their husband's family name.
So, we'll see! :-)
Ah, that makes a difference. Carrying on the name is good.
DeleteJust to add that it was a difficult night for the parents-to-be on the even of Hallowe'en. DIL came down with schoolteacher flu on Monday and by Tuesday was so sick she couldn't even keep down water. Her doctor has told her that if she couldn't keep down water she should go to the ER for an IV. Around 1:00am they decided the had to go. This was painful for them because it was exactly one year (nearly to the hour) that they had gone to that same ER, where she miscarried. That added a level of fear and anxiety, for sure. I was hoping that going there this time for help and going home in better condition would be a healing experience for them. No such luck. Long story short, they left the hospital at 4:00am and she never got the IV! Too much waiting while she was feeling terrible, when the ER wasn't busy!, and they felt staff was rude and unhelpful. :-(
ReplyDeleteSo, on Hallowee'en morning her doc's office told them to go to the other local hospital's walk-in clinic. Thankfullly, the staff there was wonderful! She got two bags of IV and her vital signs were MUCH better then when she arrived! Best of all, they took away all their fears that the baby might not be okay after all the illness.* They did a sonogram and showed them the baby, which Son described as "so cute and dancing", and they saw the baby's heart beating. :-)
* I tried to explain that illness doesn't cross the placenta and that the mother's body takes care of the baby first and mom second, but quite understandably after what they endured last year, they really needed to see to believe. ♥
DIL is feeling much better today. :-)
has told her = had told her
DeleteMUCH better then = MUCH better than
What a terrible experience! I am soooooooooo glad she's better!
DeleteAnyway, the point is to underscore the difference to the patient between poor care and good care. We need a good health care plan in this country and we need a National Nurse.
DeleteThanks Cat!! Me too! =Whew!=
DeleteBill, no doubt you're right that eventually being able to bow out is wishful thinking. But wishing doesn't cost anything. *wry grin*
ReplyDeleteYeah. I'm wondering whether I will be able to bow out of the Disability Pride Parade when my term of office is up in two years. Tow of the original five Directors have bowed out, not counting the one who died. As has the replacement for the deceased Director after less than a full term. And Earl is suggesting he might move out of town. That would leave me the only one of the original five physically present at board meetings.
DeleteBut we'll see. The big question is whether Spokane will win the right to hold the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention and I run disability services there. I was department 2nd this past year, and a lot of the things normally handled by the department head fell to me. Doing that plus the parade plus my work was a challenge I'm not sure I want to repeat. But a Spokane victory is not a given.