You could make an argument that something like that is an externality. But capitalism’s goal is closer to incentivizing productivity by marrying needs and opportunity for mutual gain.

That's the goal of governments who want an easier to control population.

Hat tipping Keynes I like to distinguish rentier capitalists from all the other types. In short capitalists that collect rents on stuff. Different than say an industrial capitalist the in the business of manufacturing and selling stuff.

The latter sort of understands that he needs workers to staff his factories. And consumers to buy. So he understands that children are tomorrows workers and consumers. The rentier capitalist is a financial parasite. He can't understand doesn't want to understand. Anything that reduces his rents like taxes to pay for school lunches pissed him off.

In the last 50 years rentier capitalists have managed to completely suppress the power of industrial capitalists and labor. And have managed to convince most people to think like them. So people think a parent spending time taking care of a child instead of working is 'a loss to the economy'

Ahh yes, versus the magical system where your kids get taken care of generous people for free.

What a low effort comment.

> Ahh yes, versus the magical system where your kids get taken care of generous people for free.

What an odd way to say 'family'.

Ahhh yes, the magical system where you family doesn’t have to work for a living.

Genius!

This is a made up problem.

People needing to work to support themselves is a "made up problem"?

This reminds me of those late night infomercials where someone is struggling to do something absolutely mundane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM4zMofsI7w

Is it possible someone somewhere is unable to successfully place socks on their feet? sure. Is it possible most people struggle with that? nope.

Mine is a comment that requires context, yours is the low-effort.

For example, prior to you being born, a family could survive on a single wage (typically the husband's) while the other parent raised the children. But societies were convinced that for our freedom, both parents should work, or be able to. And now you can barely even afford rent with two wages in many places, and often not afford both the rent and the family.

You can certainly survive off a single wage (I know many who do) if you’re willing to maintain a lifestyle similar to when single wage earner households were common - 1960’s.

Of course you’d have to live with all the healthcare, technology and housing (small!) like it was in the 60’s. But it’s absolutely doable.

Shocking how many people don’t make that trade off!

People complaining basically want their cake and eat it too. They want the lifestyle off a two income household but also the free time to raise kids without help. Life doesn’t work that way.