Immigration, not baby booms, is the real answer to falling birthrates, argues columnist
By
John Harris
1d ago· 7 min readenOpinion
100/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Front-window bakery material. Catches the eye, delivers the goods.
Score100TypeopinionSentimentnegative
Summary
This Guardian opinion piece by John Harris argues that while right-wing figures like JD Vance and Elon Musk are concerned about falling birthrates and advocate for a "Maga baby boom," the real solution to aging populations and demographic decline is immigration. The article critiques the anti-immigration stance of these figures, pointing out the contradiction between wanting more babies while opposing the migrants whose labor underpins economic prosperity. Harris contends that immigration has historically been the answer to demographic challenges and that the right's desperation for native-born population growth ignores this reality.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe vice-president, JD Vance, and his wife are expecting their fourth child, and Vance says he wants 'more babies in America' – and, presumably, fewer of the people he derided as 'childless cat ladies'.
Reform and Maga are correct that ageing populations are storing up huge social problems, but our prosperity still rests on the hard work of migrants.
Who's going to tell them that the answer is immigration?
Reform and Maga are correct that ageing populations are storing up huge social problems, but our prosperity still rests on the hard work of migrants, says Guardian columnist John Harris