Not GP, but I read that more as "if you can't afford something, don't do that thing" coupled with "kids are not an exception to the previous recommendation".

It's not a matter of forcing that decision on people, but rather having the same expectation of personal choice and responsibility for that choice that we have for other health matters (exercise, diet, smoking, alcohol use).

Yes, well stated.

Yes. I think we need stronger education in middle school and high school as to what kids cost, and what they deserve in terms of a stable home and parenting, education, etc. And to not have kids until you are in a position to provide those things.

It's a biological drive so it's tough. But I think we could do better. We're too sensitve that we might be "poor shaming" or such nonsense to even discuss it these days.

> I think we need stronger education in middle school and high school as to what kids cost, and what they deserve in terms of a stable home and parenting, education, etc. And to not have kids until you are in a position to provide those things.

That's mostly value indoctrination (both the what they deserve part and the “do not do X if you cannot do Y” part fairly directly,and also the “what they cost” if it focuses on what a preferred approach costs rather than the costs of a spectrum of choices), not education.

> It's a biological drive so it's tough

It's also an economic choice, which is why birthrate declines with strength of social safety nets.

(Which is also why strengthening the social safety net is probably a better approach than trying to shame people into not reproducing.)