Re: The Roads Must Roll -- In Japan, at least

On 11/11/2024 5:22 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

On 11/11/24 09:43, Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 11/10/2024 9:58 AM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:

Noted by Sarah Hoyt with the blurb:
   IT'S HEINLEIN'S WORLD. WE JUST LIVE IN IT.
>
https://www.newser.com/story/359125/japan-has-a-trucker-shortage-its- solution-is-novel.html
>
>
>
    Japan Has a Trucker Shortage. Its Solution Is Novel
>
    Nation plans to build a giant 'conveyor belt road' connecting
    Tokyo and Osaka
    By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
>

It isn't just a shortage of truck drivers, Japan is undergoing a slow motion population implosion.  The age demographic that would be having children is basically refusing to.
>

      That is because the world they live in is very demanding of youth and workers. Which is why so many manga are set in "Other Worlds"
The Japanese governments have not yet come up with a plan that makes
having babies a easy thing especially for the career types. Despite
legal equality a lot of the former regimes are still in power and
intensely pro-male and wealth in there law making.

The coming demographic collapse is one of the things I worry about.
Wanting a smaller population is one thing, but  we're headed there
in a way that's going to be very disrupting.
Up until the mid-20th century, children coming along was
pretty automatically  if a woman lived with a man. They cohabited
out of love, and/or economic necessity. It was pretty
difficult for a woman to avoid doing so.
Now, being childless is a much more attainable option, and
many women are making that choice.
Our current society makes parenthood immensely costly to
parents, and especially mothers, in both income and
lifestyle  restrictions.
In the US at the moment, it's also made it very
difficult for young people to find housing, jobs,
and income sufficient to make starting a family
a reasonable choice.
Should something be done? I think so, others may differ.
Clearly, coercing people to have kids is utterly
unacceptable.
But, if 'mother' was made a viable, respected, and
attractive career choice, maybe things could be
reversed - it would require massive subsidies,
essentially paying people for life if they have
sufficient offspring.
Is there any SF dealing with this?
pt