As usual, the grouses are that they are spending too much time trying to eke out a living, and to have a child is simply not something on their agenda, at least not one concurrent with their plans for financial security.

The thing is, I believe that these Singaporeans are attempting to extract more from the government not because they really believe they cannot make do financially if they have kids, but because of where they believe they stand in a bargain.

Over the years, the government has continually lamented the impending doom of an insufficient and declining fertility rate, and relentlessly encouraged Singaporeans to help Singapore by giving birth to "three or more if you can afford it". In doing so, it has instilled this mentality in some that having kids is something of a responsibility to the state rather than a personal commitment, hence their demands. Furthermore, by attempting to awaken people to the peril that might await the society as a whole, it tweaks these people's mindsets to believe that the state stands to lose more from a lack of childbirth.

Both of these essentially form the belief that the 'contract' that is childbirth is one skewed in favor of the state and not the individual, hence if there is any party that should be putting in a greater effort in sealing the deal, it would be the government. It is clear to see that the debate on the decision to have kids has clearly steered away from anything to do with the child himself.

More importantly, though, we also see that in this perspective, the individual has lost consciousness of the fact that he or she forms a part of the society, and what happens to the society will affect them too. Because we've been so caught up in our sphere with the way things move today, it is not surprising that such a mentality that the state and the individual are separate entities exists, though only where the concept is convenient.

The government might emphasise what happens to the state as a whole with the current trends of fertility rates, but maybe it must dumb it down to the level that it says you as the individual will suffer if you don't help do your part. (I don't agree with the element of social obligation in this area, though)

Still, there are no two ways about it, the government has to continue informing us of the perils of a declining birth rate, and the individuals who currently complain that the government isn't doing enough are not going to squirm out of that flawed mindset.

Personally, in my current mindset I'd prefer having three kids in the future. It's not something I do with the state's welfare in mind, but a personal choice. Of course, choices may change with time.