Is it just me or is there a conspiracy against our children?

A report recently came out that stated the costs of raising a child in today's american society is approximately $220,000 in the first 17 years of their life, not including college. That is a lot of dough, but is it enough to discourage the prospective parent? I can't speak for eveyone but for my husband and I who are planning on having children in the near future I would say not. I'm not really sure why the governemnt thought it was a good idea to figure this out (and to the penny mind you) when they have far too many other calculations they could be productively spending time on eh hem-healthcare reform and where to cut wasteful spending...

Just today I read that Oregon State University issued a report that "suggests that if people are serious about reducing their so-called "carbon footprint," they should consider having fewer children. According to the press release from OSU, "the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environmentally sensitive practices people might employ their entire lives -- things like driving a high-mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.' "The study added that the average long-term effect of a U.S.-born child is more than 160 times that of a child born in Bangladesh because it is a lesser developed country. However, even in developing nations, such as China, which have higher population rates than the U.S., their carbon footprint is smaller than the U.S. because of shorter life spans and less consumption. According to the study, a Chinese child has less than one-fifth the long-term carbon impact on the environment than an American child." (excerpt from onenewsnow.org)

So our kids are a bit more pampered than a lot of kids around the world but is that really a reason to have fewer or none at all? Hardly a valid case.

Save the kids!!!