GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST - What's better for Russia: to stimulate the birth rate or use imported manpower?
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Ziad       September 18, 2007, 10:43
Apparently we all agree that it is a social aspect, (IMHO) the best way to address the problem is by looking at the couples problems, sort them out and re-evaluate the situation. That sounds quite an open idea and a useless answer, here comes some interpretation to materialize it (Again, it's just the way I see it).

In most of the cases, a couple get married young enough to grow a big family. However, they get divorced after few years of marriage only (THAT'S ONE PROBLEM TO LOOK AT) with one small child in the family, the child will be in the custody of the mother. This child will grow missing a lot of the essentials he needs as child, a teenage, and a young man/woman. This child will grow seeing the mother suffer to survive, put food on table and educate him. The child will grow in a very old house, very small house, not maintained, etc... (THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM TO LOOK AT).

In case this child is a girl, she'll grow only willing to leave and get a better life, at least better than her mother's life. She grabs the first opportunity to go work abroad hoping to meet someone who will be able to support her for the rest of her life without having to worry about divorce and all the things I listed above (THAT'S A THIRD PROBLEM TO LOOK AT).

The reason of the divorce may be men or women, I really cannot tell!!! Anyway, instead of growing a Russian family, these women are having families and raising them abroad. Their kids are having having their own families abroad as well, and so on and so forth. I believe that a solution for this issue is not an immediate solution but a long term solution, starting with addressing social issues such as the ones I noted in the above (real life - I didn't make it up) story. Kind Regards
vencor       September 12, 2007, 21:48
Effective Immigration, reducing infant mortality, increasing birth rates, improving artificial conception - all are needed and FAST! RF is losing REAL TIME in delaying these options. It's high time Russia had a population minister on the lines that Canada has, he has to be resposible for effective regulation of the country's migration, medical, maternity and illegal workers authorities. It becomes his/her responsibilty to ensure a positive increase in Russia's population year after year!!
Dino       September 12, 2007, 08:53
"Golo" has it exactly right...I want to hear Mr Putin (Sorry Lavelle) justify this? What Einstein dreamed up this corn ball idea? I will look into my crystal ball and see the future of Russian Orphanages "Over Flowing" with un wanted "Patriot" children...once the TV set and Car are delivered to the proud new parents. The united states has already went down this same road with "Welfare"...paying people money for babies. It went on for 50 years and was a miserable failure. You are not attracting the "BEST" DNA for your Patriot Babies by bribing people with cars and tv sets. In the end you will have a whole generation of adults with NO morals and broken family values...like what the US Gov. has done to the Blacks and Indians...by giving them a hand out $ and not a hand up!
Golo       September 11, 2007, 20:23
Imported labour would be a slippery slope. In no time China would have a new Northern Province.

Russians should have more children if that’s what the economy needs and is able to sustain. I don’t want there to be a generation of sex crazed youths but… kick it up a notch. But by NO means should family morals, and fraternity be set aside because having children could been seen as a “duty” or purely for government subsidies. Educate the youth today to give incentives for having a family, NONE self-centred reasons. What’s the use of boosting the population if the new generation will be maladjusted? Have children for the right reasons. And Russia needs to teach more of those reasons.
Al       September 11, 2007, 17:27
First in the short term you need to import some labor, if properly controled and fairly done in a limited manner it works great. Use the American standards as a way NOT to do it.

SECOND make family and children paramount. Russias children are truly their future, good education is needed better housing and support of the parents if they both work improve medical care. You can't go wrong here if you support the family.
Dino       September 11, 2007, 16:26
If Russia needs help to stimulate the Birth Rate...I will gladly "Volunteer"
fred       September 11, 2007, 13:06
what should be done ? not very difficult to answer ...

1° improve the capacties of newly married couples to plan for their life
2°get the standarts of living better and more important raise the "mind-value" of russia in russian population thinkings (no russia is a normal country where no one should be ashamed of anything , and grass isn't any greener in the western world = no needs to get married to a US or european citizen to have a decent life ...)
3°create more infrastructure helping the famillies (kindergarten , school , alowance for famillies of more than 2 children ...)
4°allowing decent peoples (from anywhere) to be able to work and live in russia thru leading to (may be ) marriage (or marital life) in between foreign citizen and russian more easy (specially if they can build a firm or business leading to more quality employment locally)
5°improve education system to give the idea to parents that good instructions can be achieved in russia without having to sell off an arm or your two legs to send kids to university
6°create laws to ensure to mothers life won't be extra-difficult if husband fails his duties as a father ( divorce, alcoholism , etc...)
7° work to promote travel abroad to "teach" russians their country is a good country , if more russians could see with theirs own eyes life isn't any easier in New-York or Paris (the myth of the gold paved streets in the west is a myth ...despite what some try to say....) russians would probably more pro-active in changing theirs vues on life inside russia

the list could be endless ...
the first step is to give some confidence to russians themselves ...!