Baby tax, sterilization needed to save planet, claims expert

[Herman Munster]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22896334-2,00.html

A WEST Australian medical expert wants families to pay a $5000-plus "baby levy" at birth and an annual carbon tax of up to $800 a child.

Writing in today's Medical Journal of Australia, Associate Professor Barry Walters said every couple with more than two children should be taxed to pay for enough trees to offset the carbon emissions generated over each child's lifetime.

Professor Walters, clinical associate professor of obstetric medicine at the University of Western Australia and the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth, called for condoms and "greenhouse-friendly" services such as sterilisation procedures to earn carbon credits.

And he implied the Federal Government should ditch the $4133 baby bonus and consider population controls like those in China and India.

Professor Walters said the average annual carbon dioxide emission by an Australian individual was about 17 metric tons, including energy use.

"Every newborn baby in Australia represents a potent source of greenhouse gas emissions for an average of 80 years, not simply by breathing but by the profligate consumption of resources typical of our society," he wrote.

"Far from showering financial booty on new mothers and rewarding greenhouse-unfriendly behaviour, a 'baby levy' in the form of a carbon tax should apply, in line with the 'polluter pays' principle."

[aquart]

1. Nah. We'll be dying in the millions. That should cover it.

[flashl]

2. No prob. We doing fine with the sanitized holocaust called healthcare crisis

[LiberalFighter]

3. Let's start it immediately. Anyone identified as a Repug is immediately entered into the program.

[SharkSquid]

4. Wow, eugenics much?

"Thank you Mr Hitler, here is your vegitarian platter"

-Eddie Izzard

[wuushew]

7. How exactly is it eugenics?

No particular trait or traits is being favored or discouraged.

[SharkSquid]

8. Except the traits that naturally tend to lend some people towards

Conservatism...

Or am I loosing my effin mind here.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Awwwww

[SharkSquid]

11. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Is that not Eugenics? Stinks like it to me.

[Marrah_G]

5. So the only people who can have babies are the well off?

Another stupid idea......

[Fleshdancer]

6. I vote no on the baby levy and yes on earning credits for sterilisation

Any increase in family planning procedures is a good thing IMO, but punishing the poor and middle class for having children is ridiculous.

On the flip side, I would love to see the people who choose to not have children be treated with more respect in this society. The stories I hear from people who are childless by choice boggles my mind.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. Some RW think tank tool, I forget who

Claimed that childless people were "free riders" on society because we failed to dutifully procreate more consumers.

[Fleshdancer]

12. Gross!

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though.

[The Straight Story]

13. Why do people always seek to control womens' reproductive rights?

First it was fundies, now others are joining in?

Sheesh.

[wuushew]

14. sterilization is not gender specific

n/t

[porphyrian]

15. Yeah, that's so much easier than changing anything else.

Let's penalize breeders before corporations.
:eyes: