I bought a box of condoms today.* It costed me 5 dollars for three condoms. That's $1.66 per condom.

I attended a party full of liberal hipsters this weekend. There were talks about why low-income people had so many children when they couldn't afford them. Religion and education were pointed at, but not the obvious.

The federal minimum wage is $5.75, $9.16 in California.

France has a rather low fertility rate at most economic levels. I suspect it is the same for other European countries. At the time I left, condoms were 1 franc. This is the fifth of a dollars. No, less (at the time I left, the dollar was at 5.25 francs).

The issue is of course highly political.

The American Congress has just authorized more money for abstinence-only sex education, while cutting on the State Children Health Insurance Program.

*Actually, I didn't buy it, but the price tag was staring me eye to eye.

Comments

( t.a. noonan ) said…
The American Congress has just authorized more money for abstinence-only sex education, while cutting on the State Children Health Insurance Program.

Not to mention passing the new Deficit Reduction Act--which includes a clause jacking up the price of birth control, even at Planned Parenthood, colleges, and not-for-profit clinics.
Johannes said…
I think Sweden may have the lowest birth-rate in the world (more or less zero), and also a very high abortion rate.

I'm beginning to think that the old banal, simplistic answers are true.

For example, the kliche about homophobic Republicans being gay.
François Luong said…
t.a., this is why i don't trust dems. too moderate to try to do anything, even the bad things.

johannes: i think the us still have a higher abortion rate than sweden. i must have read that in a recent who report. and the swedish government, unlike the hand puppet one we have in this country, actually does its job with competence.
Unknown said…
Usually there are still Free Clinics around town that give out free condoms. (http://www.stopaids.org/resources/free_condoms/check it out)

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