Responsible Parenting as a Means of Avoiding the Armageddon of 2054

We face constant problems such as nuclear proliferation, wars,
depressions, terrorism, plagues, global warming and pollution. If we
examine our problems, we will see that these problems are really the
symptoms of our difficulties, not the cause.
In fact, the cause of our problems, in each case, is not the symptoms but our
biology-our basic instincts. If we look at our history we can see how
dramatically our environment has changed over the past twenty thousand
years. On the other hand, our instincts evolved over twenty million years ago.
Our instincts consist of sensual instincts, motor instincts and reproductive
instincts. We adapt to our motor (external) instincts relatively easily through
logical knowledge. We adapt to our sensual (internal) instincts through
emotional knowledge. On the other hand, it is more difficult to adapt to our
reproductive instincts.
The fundamental principle in the U. S. is to allow choice (such as we have
done with cigarettes) and to use education and positive and negative
reinforcement to encourage responsible choice. Sex is a personal choice.
Reproduction is a social choice as well. If parents do not provide for their
children society must bear the cost.
As a child, a parent or a grandparent, we have all had experiences with
parenting. It is our responsiblity to the next generation that we use our
knowledge of responsible parenting to reduce irresponsible parenting in the
future.