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Comment by rdtwo | Hacker News Reader

He won’t get it until/unless it happens to him. I was the same way once

Childless people don't feel bad for parents for the same reason they don't feel bad for startup founders that work 100 hour weeks. You're putting in the effort for 95% your own benefit (a child that grows up and keeps you company on Christmas in old age, or a big pay day from selling your company), and 5% societal benefit (children growing up and joining the workforce, or a company providing a valuable service and employment). At the end of the day, there will be enough people that pursue these things without any extra incentives so you don't get the pity as well. You can disagree and still see the argument as valid. I certainly won't give a shit if no one pities me for being a parent because the time and effort is mostly for me -- just like it is for everyone else.

I'm childless but I disagree. Children are a public good (objectively) and a moral good (in many frameworks). The childless also benefit from children, as the very social order they exist in depends on raising children. They enjoy the public good with minimal contribution (additional tax). They take on very little of the real cost.

If everyone was childless, applying Kant's categorical imperative, I think the societal issues would be obvious, as society would cease to exist within 90 years or less. If not everyone can be childless then morally some sufficient amount of people must have children.

The fact that the parents do it for themselves doesn't reduce its importance or benefit to society. It's just a fortunate alignment of incentives.

The problem I see is that further accommodating parents isn't enshrined in law. Parenting is essential work that is undervalued because it is passionate labor.

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