Keris Bugis for comments

A. G. Maisey · 25th August 2016, 01:10 AM

Depends David.

Kids can be either a debit entry or a credit entry.

I hold the opinion that we should improve their education by sending them to work just about as soon as they can walk, just make sure they make more money than it costs to feed them.

Of course, if you're a farmer your kids just naturally start work as soon as they can get around without a nappy.

I probably didn't start young enough, but by age 8 I was going on to building jobs with my Dad and getting morning teas, and lunches, and sweeping up and fetching tools. It was very educational. It taught me that I never, ever wanted to earn my living as a tradesman.

Then there is the example of my barber. He was born in Italy. The system in the town where he was born was that kids went to school in the morning, and as soon as they were judged to be sufficiently mature, usually about 8 years of age, they were expected to find somebody in the town to teach them a trade. He started work with a barber. He was a fully trained barber at age 14.

This whole thing that is now current in many places about child labour being evil is totally, totally incorrect. It displays abysmal ignorance of any world other than the one in which people who do not know insufficiency live.

In places like Indonesia, India, and other developing countries the contribution of the children to the family income is essential.

It continues past prepubescent childhood too. In most working class Indonesian families one child will be identified as the one to be educated, and the other children will leave school as early as is feasible in order to pay for that child's education. The educated child, if successful repays the debt when he becomes productive.

Children are only expensive if they are treated in a way that fails to educate them in the ways of the real world.

David · 25th August 2016, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Children are only expensive if they are treated in a way that fails to educate them in the ways of the real world.

Well, welcome to the "civilized" world Alan. I live in a culture that frowns just a bit on child labor. Child rearing is a great expense, from the cradle through the excessively expensive college educations that ideally i am supposed to be saving for all through the child's life if i am trying to be a "good" parent.
I am not arguing your logic Alan, but i don't live in Indonesia or India or any other place where children make an essential financial contribution to the family.

Rick · 25th August 2016, 07:19 AM

It works out.
Mine does by not asking for loans, ever.

He makes really good money, works 7 months out of the year, has two houses, 3 Toyotas, two boats and is living the dream.

Plus I got a Grandson out of the deal.

A. G. Maisey · 25th August 2016, 08:16 AM

Yes David, I live in a similar society, and not particularly wanting to spend time in court fighting well meaning but deluded "do-gooders" I have lived my life more or less in accordance with the standards of the society I live in, however, having seen both sides of the coin, I really do wish sometimes that the fat, happy tree huggers who live in Sydney, New York , London etc, would just butt out of telling people who live in other societies, how to raise their children.

I do know more than just a little about the cost of raising children, including a number of children whom I did not father.

mariusgmioc · 25th August 2016, 08:36 AM

The problem with our "Western" societies is that "politically correctness" (which I equal to idiocy) has completely replaced common sense.

A. G. Maisey · 25th August 2016, 09:55 AM

Yep.

I could add a 5000 word paper to that, in fact I have a suitable one ready that I wrote maybe 7 or 8 years ago --- and things have become worse since then.

But I doubt that it would be appreciated.

mariusgmioc · 25th August 2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Yep.

I could add a 5000 word paper to that, in fact I have a suitable one ready that I wrote maybe 7 or 8 years ago --- and things have become worse since then.

But I doubt that it would be appreciated.

Of course it won't be appreciated as it won't conform to the newly imposed politically correct norms.

25th August 2016, 07:19 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Sometimes....... It works out. Mine does by not asking for loans, ever. He makes really good money, works 7 months out of the year, has two houses, 3 Toyotas, two boats and is living the dream. Plus I got a Grandson out of the deal.

25th August 2016, 01:10 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Depends David. Kids can be either a debit entry or a credit entry. I hold the opinion that we should improve their education by sending them to work just about as soon as they can walk, just make sure they make more money than it costs to feed them. Of course, if you're a farmer your kids just naturally start work as soon as they can get around without a nappy. I probably didn't start young enough, but by age 8 I was going on to building jobs with my Dad and getting morning teas, and lunches, and sweeping up and fetching tools. It was very educational. It taught me that I never, ever wanted to earn my living as a tradesman. Then there is the example of my barber. He was born in Italy. The system in the town where he was born was that kids went to school in the morning, and as soon as they were judged to be sufficiently mature, usually about 8 years of age, they were expected to find somebody in the town to teach them a trade. He started work with a barber. He was a fully trained barber at age 14. This whole thing that is now current in many places about child labour being evil is totally, totally incorrect. It displays abysmal ignorance of any world other than the one in which people who do not know insufficiency live. In places like Indonesia, India, and other developing countries the contribution of the children to the family income is essential. It continues past prepubescent childhood too. In most working class Indonesian families one child will be identified as the one to be educated, and the other children will leave school as early as is feasible in order to pay for that child's education. The educated child, if successful repays the debt when he becomes productive. Children are only expensive if they are treated in a way that fails to educate them in the ways of the real world.

25th August 2016, 08:16 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Yes David, I live in a similar society, and not particularly wanting to spend time in court fighting well meaning but deluded "do-gooders" I have lived my life more or less in accordance with the standards of the society I live in, however, having seen both sides of the coin, I really do wish sometimes that the fat, happy tree huggers who live in Sydney, New York , London etc, would just butt out of telling people who live in other societies, how to raise their children. I do know more than just a little about the cost of raising children, including a number of children whom I did not father.

25th August 2016, 08:36 AM	#5
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,912	The problem with our "Western" societies is that "politically correctness" (which I equal to idiocy) has completely replaced common sense.

25th August 2016, 09:55 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Yep. I could add a 5000 word paper to that, in fact I have a suitable one ready that I wrote maybe 7 or 8 years ago --- and things have become worse since then. But I doubt that it would be appreciated.