US population growth slows as immigration declines

> what insane person would reproduce under current fascist regime?

You forgot "wealthy", because who can afford food and rent and rely on continuing to be able to do so?

What if our economy has more than the maximum amount of participants? There appears to be a housing shortage, and other daily necessities feel more expensive every day. Not to mention that AI is already here and is being used as an excuse to destroy jobs that people once had. How can one meaningfully participate in an economy when their job is gone? Gig work? Unemployment? That doesn't feel like the building blocks of a 'vibrant' economy.

Yes, if we all stand shoulder to shoulder and eat nothing but rice we can fit billions more in here. Then we can get wages low enough to afford some real corporate progress!