Travis and Taylor

[CFordUNC]

Not opposed to enacting legislation to encourage people having babies and assisting young families with child rearing expenses. But I don’t think “cost” is the only reason young people are not getting married and having children. That’s why I think culture can play a part and there’s no bigger cultural phenomena than Taylor and Kelsie. The can make marriage and having children “cool.” Look at smoking. We put the warning labels on packs from the early sixties. But it was culture that finally killed smoking from being acceptable to most Americans.

I don’t understand why this is so controversial.

It’s not controversial at all. It’s just humorous to me that you think that Travis and Taylor having kids as a billionaire couple is somehow going to magically make it more tenable for more young people to have children, when a big part of the fundamental reason that young people are not having children – or fewer of them are having fewer children – is that many of them quite simply cannot afford to do so anymore. Do you really not understand why young people aren’t having kids anymore? Do you really think it’s because they’re all a bunch of child-hating lefties? Because…that is literally the entire crux of your argument on this thread so far. In fact, all of your arguments on all of the threads on this board always center around some variation of “left wing lunatics” being the root cause of all that ails America. You never have any policy proposal or solution.

 

[Zoo_View]

I'll give you three (off the top of my head) that you'll like.

National Park Service and FDA- Teddy Roosevelt

EPA - Richard Nixon

ADA - GHW Bush

I always love when modern day Republicans cite old, old, old, old school Republicans and what they did as if that defines who the right-wing GOP is today.

Remember, they’re “the Party of Lincoln!”

They’re also the Party of Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms - Segregationists who left the Democratic Party and became prominent Republicans because they opposed Civil Rights.

The EPA? Today’s GOP is trying to kill it. Today’s GOP believes climate change is a hoax.

ADA? Yeah, today’s GOP has no interest in funding it.

National Parks? Again, today’s GOP is not funding the national parks or national wildlife refuges or other prized, endangered national lands.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

Taylor and Travis’s engagement came up on the family group chat this morning.

My mom goes “oh wow, I can’t wait to see if they have babies soon!!”

My sister (diehard Swifty and left winger politically) immediately said “shut UP. I don’t want her to have babies”

I have no clue if Taylor will have kids or not, but I do think Taylor can make it “cool” to be a mom for women in my sister’s demographic (29 years old, good career). Same way she could move the needle in some circles with a political endorsement.

Does her having a kid make it magically more affordable all of a sudden? No. But affordability is not the reason my sister is so anti-children. So for some people, it could matter. And I admit I’m probably biased because I happen to have a close family member who is in the exact demographic where something like Taylor Swift becoming a mom really COULD influence my sister’s whole outlook on what a meaningful/ideal life looks like.

 

[Ramrouser]

It’s not controversial at all. It’s just humorous to me that you think that Travis and Taylor having kids as a billionaire couple is somehow going to magically make it more tenable for more young people to have children, when a big part of the fundamental reason that young people are not having children – or fewer of them are having fewer children – is that many of them quite simply cannot afford to do so anymore. Do you really not understand why young people aren’t having kids anymore? Do you really think it’s because they’re all a bunch of child-hating lefties? Because…that is literally the entire crux of your argument on this thread so far. In fact, all of your arguments on all of the threads on this board always center around some variation of “left wing lunatics” being the root cause of all that ails America. You never have any policy proposal or solution.

Lower taxes
Reduce and streamline regulations making housing (among other things) much more affordable - looking at you California
Tax credits and cash payments to parents

Taylor can do the rest.

 

[Ramrouser]

I always love when modern day Republicans cite old, old, old, old school Republicans and what they did as if that defines who the right-wing GOP is today.

Remember, they’re “the Party of Lincoln!”

They’re also the Party of Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms - Segregationists who left the Democratic Party and became prominent Republicans because they opposed Civil Rights

The EPA? Today’s GOP is trying to kill it. Today’s GOP believes climate change is a hoax.

ADA? Yeah, today’s GOP has no interest in funding it.

National Parks? Again, today’s GOP is not funding the national parks or national wildlife refuges or other prized, endangered national lands.

He asked. I answered - citing legislation I knew most liberals would support

If I answered citing a Reagan / W / or Trump accomplishment you never would accept it as benefitting ordinary Americans.

 

[CFordUNC]

Lower taxes
Reduce and streamline regulations making housing (among other things) much more affordable - looking at you California
Tax credits and cash payments to parents

Taylor can do the rest.

What does California have to do with anything, other than you felt like you had to get your usual dig in at California? As far as I know, there are 49 other states where people are struggling to afford housing, groceries, childcare, maternity leave, diapers, formula, education, etc. Also! Nice to see you’re all aboard the socialism train with the cash payments to parents. Welcome aboard, comrade.

I agree with you on child tax credits. Unfortunately, Republican saw fit to block the expansion of the child tax credit in 2021 that made the credit fully refundable, which would have allowed the lowest-income families to receive the full amount. They also elected to block the bipartisan effort to expand the child tax credit in the BB but did elect to not make the child tax credit fully refundable, which again disproportionately negatively impacts the lowest income families. But I do agree with child tax credits, and I favor not only expanding them, but also significantly increasing the phaseout threshold.

As a classical conservative who believes in limited taxation, I’m all for lowering taxes- but I think lowering taxes to help improve the birth rate would only be effective in conjunction with policy implementation that addresses structural issues like childcare affordability and workplace flexibility.

Is affordability or lack there of the only reason that people are having fewer or no children? No, it’s not. Of course not. It’s also that higher educational and career attainment for women, often lead to a desire for fewer children- people with more life opportunities may not want to center their lives around raising children. But my point is that relying solely on tax policy alone is not likely to meaningfully address the birthrate crisis.

Also, if “Taylor can do the rest” what does that even mean? I’m not aware that Taylor Swift has any ability or influence to enact or incentivize legislation that can accomplish the things we are talking about on this thread. So does that mean you are advocating for us to re-distribute Taylor‘s wealth to all of the young people considering whether or not to have children? Boy, that socialism bug has really bitten you lately!

 

[lawtig02]

Not opposed to enacting legislation to encourage people having babies and assisting young families with child rearing expenses. But I don’t think “cost” is the only reason young people are not getting married and having children. That’s why I think culture can play a part and there’s no bigger cultural phenomena than Taylor and Kelsie. The can make marriage and having children “cool.” Look at smoking. We put the warning labels on packs from the early sixties. But it was culture that finally killed smoking from being acceptable to most Americans.

I don’t understand why this is so controversial.

They’re not having babies because they don’t want to subject new lives to the world you and your tribe are creating.

 

[TangledUpInBlue06]

Lower taxes
Reduce and streamline regulations making housing (among other things) much more affordable - looking at you California
Tax credits and cash payments to parents

Taylor can do the rest.

For someone who earlier said "Typical left wing thinking. Government solves all problems." your solutions certainly require a lot of government action.

Two require legislation, one requires state/federal regulatory action to withdraw or amend existing regulations, and the fourth places the burden on Taylor Swift to "do the rest."

Maybe you want to clarify your earlier statement?

 

[CFordUNC]

For someone who earlier said "Typical left wing thinking. Government solves all problems." your solutions certainly require a lot of government action.

Two require legislation, one requires state/federal regulatory action to withdraw or amend existing regulations, and the fourth places the burden on Taylor Swift to "do the rest."

Maybe you want to clarify your earlier statement?

Socialism and big government for me, but not for thee!

Ever since I grew a brain and left the Republican Party, I have been so amused and fascinated by the Republican notion that government should not exist to meaningfully improve the lives of its citizens. Like, what the hell else is the role of government? What else is it for? Republicans act like anything legislative that could actually make quality of life better for its citizens – which would have a direct impact on reducing things like poverty, which reduces things like the crime rate, and also reduces the need for things like welfare – is one giant socialist communist Marxist bridge too far. We can’t have our taxpayer dollars helping ourselves and our neighbors out!

 

[dukeman92]

 

[wmheel1287]

Lower taxes
Reduce and streamline regulations making housing (among other things) much more affordable - looking at you California
Tax credits and cash payments to parents

Taylor can do the rest.

Housing and living expenses are skyrocketing at an even greater rate in places where Republicans have a iron grip on power. I know that doesn't fit your perceptions, but it is the reality.

 

[wmheel1287]

Thats the most of Charlie Kirk I have ever watched. This is one weird fucker. I mean this in all sincerity...anyone who watches or listens to that is absolutely poisoning their brain and needs help immediately.

And fuck, why do conservatives now look so OLD? I just checked and that dude is 31. He looks 45 at least. Without exception, every conservative politician and talking head looks 20-40% older than their chronological age. Something off about that.

 

[ChileG]

Have you looked at the US's birthrate recently?

Yes. Which is why any thinking American would support increased immigration to the US.

 

[HeelInTheOzarks]

Does this mean we have to engineer the Chiefs to the Super Bowl again so they can win it going into the wedding?

 

[Zoo_View]

Taylor and Travis’s engagement came up on the family group chat this morning.

My mom goes “oh wow, I can’t wait to see if they have babies soon!!”

My sister (diehard Swifty and left winger politically) immediately said “shut UP. I don’t want her to have babies”

I have no clue if Taylor will have kids or not, but I do think Taylor can make it “cool” to be a mom for women in my sister’s demographic (29 years old, good career). Same way she could move the needle in some circles with a political endorsement.

Does her having a kid make it magically more affordable all of a sudden? No. But affordability is not the reason my sister is so anti-children. So for some people, it could matter. And I admit I’m probably biased because I happen to have a close family member who is in the exact demographic where something like Taylor Swift becoming a mom really COULD influence my sister’s whole outlook on what a meaningful/ideal life looks like.

Seriously, your family’s group chat text includes T2?

Why?

 

[wmheel1287]

Taylor and Travis’s engagement came up on the family group chat this morning.

My mom goes “oh wow, I can’t wait to see if they have babies soon!!”

My sister (diehard Swifty and left winger politically) immediately said “shut UP. I don’t want her to have babies”

I have no clue if Taylor will have kids or not, but I do think Taylor can make it “cool” to be a mom for women in my sister’s demographic (29 years old, good career). Same way she could move the needle in some circles with a political endorsement.

Does her having a kid make it magically more affordable all of a sudden? No. But affordability is not the reason my sister is so anti-children. So for some people, it could matter. And I admit I’m probably biased because I happen to have a close family member who is in the exact demographic where something like Taylor Swift becoming a mom really COULD influence my sister’s whole outlook on what a meaningful/ideal life looks like.

Maybe Im misreading but are you saying that you are hopeful that your sister will be influenced into having children? If so, why? Why wouldn't you just be happy for her whichever way she decides to go?

 

[Ramrouser]

Yes. Which is why any thinking American would support increased immigration to the US.

LEGAL immigration - not let the third world bum rush the southern border - which was Biden’s immigration policy.

 

[ChileG]

LEGAL immigration - not let the third world bum rush the southern border - which was Biden’s immigration policy.

And Trump is having legal immigrants arrested.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

Maybe Im misreading but are you saying that you are hopeful that your sister will be influenced into having children? If so, why? Why wouldn't you just be happy for her whichever way she decides to go?

Yes, in the same way she has been influenced by all her life experiences and external factors in the past. Attending UNC, being a Swiftie, etc.

 

[Mulberry Heel]

It’s not controversial at all. It’s just humorous to me that you think that Travis and Taylor having kids as a billionaire couple is somehow going to magically make it more tenable for more young people to have children, when a big part of the fundamental reason that young people are not having children – or fewer of them are having fewer children – is that many of them quite simply cannot afford to do so anymore. Do you really not understand why young people aren’t having kids anymore? Do you really think it’s because they’re all a bunch of child-hating lefties? Because…that is literally the entire crux of your argument on this thread so far. In fact, all of your arguments on all of the threads on this board always center around some variation of “left wing lunatics” being the root cause of all that ails America. You never have any policy proposal or solution.

Based on conversations I have had with young couples I know who are choosing to not have kids, the economy and cost of living is the number one reason. Put bluntly, they don't give a shit if celebrity couples aren't having kids and that's not an influence, they're not having kids because the cost of childcare is prohibitive, the cost of living for many young couples has become prohibitive, and it's a matter of money. Buying a home is now out of reach for many young couples, and might always be, and rent is insanely high as well, as is the cost of college. I know couples where the wife got pregnant and they had to give up jobs they liked and move back to be close to their parents because they couldn't afford daycare for the kids and so the parents agreed to do it. And - I know this horrifies conservatives - but we now live in a society in which it is acceptable to make your own choices about whether to have kids. My wife and I don't have children, and we didn't choose to do so because some celebrity didn't, it was simply our choice. I have spoken to older conservative relatives and people I know back home who have looked at us with shock and horror when we say that we don't have children; it is simply unfathomable to them. Welcome to the 21st Century, folks.