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.