I agree with you there, but I don't think people have kids for entirely unselfish reasons. Especially here in eastern europe I think a lot of people have the notion that they need to have kids so someone takes care of them when they're old.
That's why it's generally a stupid idea, because if you're not willing to make the big, long, hard sacrifice in raising those kids, it's less and less of a chance they'll take care of you. Even if you do make it, the kids may end up as shits and leave you or even die before you grow old.
It's an old notion from centuries past where big families were a norm and it was a given the family sticks together and takes care of each other, but in a globalized world that notion is disappearing, sad as it is. And more and more people are simply incapable of raising good families anymore.
For me, the notion of having kids is selfish in the sense of having someone whose benefit you work and struggle for. Living only for yourself unto old age seems sad and empty. (Although, not necessarily, since there are many ways you can have a positive impact on the world.)
Some people are forced to be old and alone and merit doesn't guarantee you that you won't be old and alone regardless if you build a big family or not. The whole point of looking into a family as purely an investment as if it's a retirement plan is a bad idea that can backfire real bad and real soon. Maybe your kids don't turn out right, maybe you have some midlife crisis and get depressed and you won't even be able to figure out why.
The main reason to have a family is to share love not only among your own, but also with society in raising some good kids who will be a benefit not only to you, but to others. Having a family is a great thing, but, as said it takes a colossal sacrifice, but more often these days it does not work out, families tear each other apart and everyone stills end up alone. This is why we're so deep in a moral crisis.
All the bullshit about population rates, lack of workers for the future is just political propaganda that's severely outdated. So is the bullshit that family is a guaranteed benefit of love and care that's propagated by rich cunts who can't even imagine hardship and poverty and big business who want your kids to grind the bottom gears for cheap. Their motives to promote the "nuclear family" is purely for their own gain, not your or society's gain. They'll drain you and your kids out and throw you into garbage.
But yes, you are right, my initial post was rather thoughtless.
It has to be said that if you do feel an urge to have a family, you should go for it. Out of all goals in life to have, a family is one of the greatest ones to have. You don't have to be super rich or big strong cool man to raise a good family, but you will need to pour all your love and your strength into it, and be ready for the possibility that it may not work out. It's like Shakespeare's line about better to have loved and lost instead of ever having loved at all. You just have to find the right people to love and care for and they will care for you no less.
