I think we will see a large US population decrease over our lifetime if the middle class continues to be squeezed.

The single income supporting - 4 kids, a house, cars, and annual vacations is a distant memory. We are firmly in a two-income economy without any pathways to affordable childcare or elder care. It is unlikely that we would ever sink our money into kids. We watched our parents have kids they couldn’t afford out of pressure from boomers. They now haven’t saved enough for retirement and likely will work until they die or be impoverished.

It is sad that most people think this when someone doesn’t have kids.

What’s worse is that a large number of American elderly go uncared for by their kids. Rotting in nursing homes that barely do enough to provide for them.

I see many patients that never have any family visit them in the hospital, sometimes it says more about the patient than it does about the family.

I would say having kids never guarantees someone taking care of you in your old age. I’m not having kids and I’m also not taking care of my parents. They are grown adults with jobs and the ability to save for their retirement.