How many people here would support 1 (or 2) child policy if it is proposed by the government?

They knew the consequences, it isn't as though their leadership didn't know what was going to happen (Lets not talk about Mao now, he was an idiot,). They have done their cost vs benefit analysis and obviously chose to do what they did. They knew their benefits would be reaped many years down the line.

Most of us, on the other hand, don't even acknowledge overpopulation as a problem. We don't even care what is going to happen to our cities in the next ten, twenty years. Obviously, I talk of 'we' and 'they' in broad strokes, so kindly refrain from using anecdotes.

Let me also point out, from the wiki article you talked about-

Although 76% of Chinese supported the policy in 2008, it is controversial outside of China.

Their populace, in general, believe in the party line because the party has delivered. The day their money becomes worthless, or they don't get enough to eat (after having enjoyed the benefits of a strong economy over the last few decades), is the day the party will fall. And that is a huge motivation for the party to continue to deliver. Whether or not they will continue to deliver five decades down the line is a debate for another day.

Whereas most people in India don't understand the concept of the 'greater good'. I don't even need to give examples for this statement.

But coming back to whether something like this will work in India. Maybe, who knows. We need to recognise what the motivations of creating babies are. Is it shortage of money, so more people to earn? Or is it religious reasons? Or plain illiteracy? All of the above?

We have to discourage baby making in a softer way, say for example, by de-regulating the food economy. It is a hard choice but not as hard as the chinese way. Removing subsidies on food will make having children more expensive and hence discourage baby making. I'm not saying this is the way to go, this is only an example. But at the very least, we need to acknowledge that this IS an issue.

/r/india Thread Parent