In the ever-evolving world of political debate, President Trump’s consideration of a $5,000 baby bonus to encourage higher birth rates has sparked predictable outrage from the peanut gallery. Enter “The View,” where the hosts have taken their usual stance of finding racism in everything under the sun. It’s as if “racist” is their favorite word in the English language. They assert this proposed bonus is some covert scheme to favor certain racial demographics over others. Perhaps if they put as much effort into research as they do into labeling, they’d uncover a more reasonable argument.
Yet the entertainment value of “The View’s” predictable repertoire is not lost, likening their logic to a broken record stuck on the same tune. If they named a segment “Things We Don’t Find Racist,” it would probably be shorter than a commercial break, only for someone to inevitably find the segment itself objectionable. Greg’s amusing hypothetical about paying parents to have abortions instead of babies raises a question: where would that land in their worldview? Would they deem it a step forward, or would they still find a racial narrative?
While wrapping one’s head around this conversation, the idea of a financial incentive to have children might seem like a stretch—but hey, it seems to work in other countries like Hungary. However, Dana points out a valid concern: the costs of parenting stretch far beyond a one-time check. Childcare costs have experienced a sky-rocketing increase since 1991. Regulations and financial burdens aren’t solved by a single stack of bills. Key solutions, Dana suggests, involve tackling financial burdens directly, like lowering daycare costs and relieving oppressive regulations, making it genuinely easier for families to thrive.
Brian highlights the role of immigration, noting its heavy influence on U.S. population growth. It’s a connection frequently overlooked in debates about birth rates and child policies. Yet, critics of incentives like the baby bonus fail to recognize the larger picture. Viktor Orbán’s policy in Hungary to promote procreation seems to work just fine, but maybe that’s just too practical for the critics.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Dana discuss other measures such as child tax credits and universal pre-K, hinting that even minor adjustments can have broader impacts on the economy and families. While Ivanka Trump is praised for her work on family policies, she might need to take a break from sunning herself in Costa Rica and lead the charge once more in the States. There’s a great opportunity to build on these existing ideas, like paid family leave and increasing tax credits. Let’s see if the White House can make meaningful changes beyond the superficial, and maybe then conservatives won’t have to rely on hypothetical scenarios for levity.
