And the point of this is what?

I like guest opinions in newspapers. Every once in a great while you find a talented person who has something important to say coupled with an ability to write.

Then you have this.

...But no one would dream of making it more difficult to have children. Imagine financial penalties for having more than two children, for instance. Why two? Well, that is replacement growth — two parents, two children. But such a platform would be unthinkable politically: millions of large families casting their votes for the other, pro-creation candidate. That’s right, no one talks about birth control at a national level — growing economies are predicated on growing demand for products and that hinges on a growing population.
But in China they limit family size. The one-child family is still national law. In China, they have to. After all, it is the most populous country in the world, with 1,314 million people. But we are not far behind, after India with 1,095 million, the U.S. weighs in at number 3, with 300 million. Surely, there will come a time when large families are frowned upon, when the government will sanction against large families either in monetary terms or by making them illegal. Right now, larger families are rewarded through our taxation policies — more children, more deductions.
So if you worry about rural Yolo becoming urban “Sacramento West,” the bottom line is to tell your kids not to have children of their own. If they want families, adopt, and if they must have “biological” progeny, stick to one or two — replacement growth. But no parent ever says that.

Read the whole piece if you must, but the basic point seems to be the Government of the United States needs to limit in some way the number of children you are allowed to have. Talk about social engineering. I would bet these folks have read the population bomb a number of times. The problem is there are too many Americans, and I guess we are bad people who must be stopped. Besides, with less people, the carpool lanes will be less crowded and we can drive our Prius without having to dodge all those SUVs, right?

Al Vallecillo and Tim Caro are the authors of this deep thinking, replacement growth idea. I wonder if these two men, who seem to travel around together protesting the war when they are not pondering guest opinions, ever thought about having children in that world.

Would you have to fill out an application at the Department of Procreation? Oh, I'll bet that would be a great experience.

Blong ( the sound of the computer operated waiting line prompt) Now serving number 765 at windown 65.

Yes, my wife and I have our paperwork all filled out, we both have our blood work, medical exam clearance, past 5 years tax returns, forms from our local planning department and a Procreation Lottery winning numbers for you Mam.

Yea, well you see line 163 on the DPD773EZ form? You didn't have your local building and planning department notarize the change in your home zoning to allow you to convert your extra bedroom into an 'authorized new human occupancy space"..

You mean the nursery?

Don't interrupt me gain, yes, your nursery needs to have a rezone before a new human can occupy that space.

That was my mothers old room, she past away last year, I've already had the room rezoned.

Your mother died last year?

Yes.

Last fiscal year or last calendar year?

I don't know, last June.

That was last fiscal year, if the room's occupant dies and the room is not rezoned before the next fiscal year begins, you must re-apply for re-zoning.

It took me six months just to get an appointment with the planning department last time.

I'm sorry, it's time for my break. But you need to get the rezone notarized by next Monday because your Procreation lottery number expires then.

When is the next lottery?

Oh three years from now, but if you have been a winner, you are ineligible for another turn. I gotta go, my bunions are killing me.