From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 9/24/2006 6:47 AM
Russians Die Out
Publication time: Today at 09:44 Djokhar time
In an effort to boost their perennially low birthrate, Russia is debating a parliamentary act to introduce penalties to childless families.
Russia's Duma, the lower house of parliament, demanded that a 6 percent tax on the income of childless families should be reinstatement, which was in effect during the Soviet era.
The childless tax, which was levied in 1941 by Stalin, aimed to ensure a rapid increase in the Russian population.
According to the law, men between ages of 20 and 50 and women between ages of 20 and 45 had to pay a tax equal to 6 percent of their income if they had no children.
The upper chamber of the Russian parliament, objected to the Duma proposal, claiming a reinstatement of a childless tax would not contribute to the demographic problem of the country.
Low salaries of young households and the fact that they did not own their houses act as the most important reasons why people avoid having children.
Experts state that further reasons why Russian families avoid having children are not only financial, listing other discouraging factors such as inadequate schools, parks, health services, transportation and entertainment facilities.
Another important factor of the decreasing Russian population is high death rates.
In Russia, life expectancy is as low as 59 years. Especially in recent years, diseases such as tuberculosis, AIDS and Hepatitis C are common.
In Russia, deteriorating health conditions are seen among the causes of early deaths.
The Russian population, which was 145 million in 2002, decreases by 700,000 people annually.
According to the United Nations, the Russian population is expected to decrease to 100 million in 2050, and 80 million by the end of 21st century.
The Russian dog Putin called for Russians to have children in his latest statements and requested 250,000 rubles (app. ,200) economic support be given to the households with at least two children. No Russians believes his promises any more.
Solutions are also sought by incentives through immigration of the Russian population living abroad. Bit these people are not crazy to go to the rogue country of Russia.
Source: Zaman
http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2006/09/24/5692.shtml