Today, in the United States, we celebrate Independence Day, the anniversary of our freedoms. I spent all morning cleaning the grill and trying to fix the patio umbrella in preparation for the fourteen or so friends who will be here shortly.

As I reflect on our freedoms, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to practice medicine here based on the wants of the patient and based on smart science rather than based on the frustrating arbitrary rules set by non-medical politicians. It’s easy to take this for granted, but what we are blessed to have here in the US is not something that is found in all other countries. The ironic thing is that while some countries are setting rules and regulations to try and force people to have fewer kids (China), other countries are setting rules and regulations to force people to have more kids.

After you have had your BBQ meals and shared great companionship with your friends and family, you might want to unwind by reading this fascinating article.

I’ll offer a thought. Back when it was normal for people to prepare for old age by personally saving money and raising loving children who will someday help support us, the ideas of having children and living a great family life were something natural, to be treasured. Now that we have shifted more toward a nanny state where GOVERNMENT and not FAMILY are our providers, people seem less interested in having children. We shouldn’t need artificial incentives to get people to want to have children. Ridiculous.