Falling birthrates, poorer education for kids--Democrat policies in action

The leaders of the Democrat party believe Americans should have fewer children.  The stated reason is "global warming."  Excuse me: "Climate Change."  

See, Dems are convinced that Climate Change is caused by CO2, from burning carbon fuels.  And since Americans use more carbon-based fuel per person than residents of other nations, they quietly urge Americans to have fewer children.

(By contrast, Democrat pols are totally fine with Africans (Somalians, etc) having as many kids as they want, cuz dey use way less energy--at least until they emigrate to the U.S. or Europe, where liberal politicians spend thousands of dollars per month giving 'em welfare and free housing.)

Since at least the 1970s Democrat "elites" have denigrated traditional wives, pushing "smaht" women to enter the "far more exciting world" of corporate America.  "Why would you want to waste your skills on raising kids, eh?"  Or if a female wanted kids, CBS pushed chosing to have children without being married.  Show those stupid deplorables how strong and independent you are!"  And now all those years of indoctrination are bearing fruit for the Dems:  Democrat/liberal women are now pushing avoiding marriage.  

See, for at least two decades Democrat elites and politicians have pushed the idea that men are useless, because Democrat rulers offered to give women everything they needed.  Why have to put up with an icky man when those faaaabulous Democrat politicians would give you whatever you needed, eh?

Naturally you don't believe any of that.  "Dat jus' right-wing lies," eh?  

Really?  The Institute for Family Studies analyzed birth rates against voting in 2024, and reports that in the 20% of counties that voted for Harris by the highest margin, the "total fertility rate" was 1.37 children per adult female.

Democrat: "Whut dat mean?  And if it's not guud fo' my party I won't believe it."

Of course, cupcake.  I wouldn't expect that to mean anything to ya.  To keep the population level, on average each female needs to have 2.1 children (slightly over 2.0 because some children die before reaching adulthood).  But in 2024 the national average TFR was 1.63, and that includes ALL births, not just to native-born Americans.  Since illegals have a TFR well above 2.2, that means Americans aren't having enough kids to keep the population from falling.  

In the 20% of counties where Trump had the highest margin, the TFR was 1.76--still below the replacement rate but WAY above the 1.37 noted above for the counties with the highest Democrat vote.  So what does this show?

The most logical conclusion is that Democrat policies have a huge downward effect on birthrates, as any unbiased analysis of those policies would predict. 

And that brings us to education.  Rational people would think Americans would want to support education policies that would produce the best-educated children in the world, eh?  In theory that was the rationale for the creation of the laughably-misnamed federal "Department of Education"--which was immediately captured by Democrats.

So how has that worked out?  Turns out every policy pushed by the Democrats who ruled the DoEd has not only NOT resulted in better-educated kids, but the reverse:  every year, year after year, schools produce kids who are less well educated.  Turns out the DoEd is really about indoctrinating your children to be good socialists and Democrats.

Think that's hyperbole?  Wake the fuck up, sheep.  Back in the 1960s researchers developed a test of basic proficiency in both math and reading, called the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  Over the HUGE objections of the teachers' unions, conservatives got more and more states to have their students take that test every four years, in the 4th, 8th and 12th grades.

In 2024, only 31 percent of fourth graders and 30 percent of eighth graders met or exceeded proficiency in reading.

In that same year only 39 percent of fourth graders and 28 percent of eighth graders were proficient in math.  NAEP test scores have fallen almost every year.  So naturally the unions bleated that testing should be abolished. 

In 2024, the average ACT score was 19.4 on a scale of 1–36.  It was the lowest average since the test’s redesign in 1990.  More than 40 percent of middle school teachers say they work in schools where there are no penalties for late work, no grades of zero are allowed for work not submitted, and there are unlimited test retakes.

The unions claim the problem is teachers aren't paid enough.  But between 1999 and 2021 the average state increased spending per student by 37 percent more than the rate of inflation.

The federal government has thrown over $189 billion to state educational agencies since 2020 through its “Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief” (ESSER) program to combat learning deficiencies.

The two biggest teachers unions in the U.S. are the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).  Each has a political action committee.  In 2024 the NEA gave $27 million to its PAC--nearly all of which went to Democrat candidates and causes.  The AFT’s PAC spent around $13 million--again mostly given to Democrats.

There are lots of good, dedicated teachers.  Problem is that Democrat-ruled school boards tend to hire liberal Democrats, who quickly join one of the unions--both of which exclusively support Democrat politicians because they agree with Dem policies.  How's that working for ya?

Doesn't matter, because the unions run the system and will always block any reform because it reduces Democrat power.  Union leaders have one goal, and it's not improving education, but winning more members and higher salaries for themselves.