Easy stuff first. Think good thoughts for my English professor, as she's in the running to be selected as a spokesperson for a political party (she didn't identify which one), and it's something that she's very interested in and would do really well at, so...yeah. Think good thoughts.
Geography yesterday was...entertaining. Right now, we're talking about east Asia, and spent most of our time talking about China. 1.3 billion people, most in the eastern third of the country, which is about the size of the US. Compare that with our 295 (I think) million, and imagine how bad the traffic would be.
Anyway, one of the things that was discussed was their 'one child, one family' policy that has been in effect since 1980. The only exception to this is when two only children marry, then they're allowed to have two kids. It's a pretty hefty penalty if you have more than one, in fact--the fines are two times a person's annual income. Amazing. But the birth rate is still fairly high for the 'one child, one family' rule, mostly because the country is 70% rural, people in rural areas are less educated, and less educated people have more babies--a worldwide truth, which I found interesting.
And thus, their population continues to grow (though India is estimated to outstrip China's population by year 2025), and the gross domestic product is around $324 US per *year*, and people commit infanticide, and selective abortion is not only popular but is government funded, and and and.
One of the girls in my class asked, "But...can't someone fix it? Give money or something?" The implication is, of course, can't the United States fix it, by throwing money and social programs at it?
I guess this is one of the things that makes me something other than a democrat, because I sat up there in the front of the class, shaking my head. Sorry, but no--I am not going to let the government raise my taxes still further to throw still more money out in foreign aid, and by the way, we already DO send aid all around the world. If you're that interested in making a difference, join the Peace Corps.
It shows my age, I suppose, that I am not the idealist I used to be, that people who *are* still that way just...make me shake my head.
I really love the class, though. Makes me wonder how I'd use a dual degree in psychology and geography, if there's even any way for me to do it.
But then I remember that it's bad enough to deal with *one* major. Two would probably be the death of me. :)
Posted by Liz at May 13, 2005 09:46 AM