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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russian mothers offered cash for more babies
2006-05-11
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia's population was shrinking so fast the state would pay women to have more children. "Let's talk about the most acute problem facing Russia - demography," the Kremlin leader said in his annual state-of-the-nation address. "The number of our citizens shrinks by an average of 700,000 people each year."
"So get out there and hump!"
To rapturous applause from his Russian establishment audience, Putin said the government would include special finance to boost the birth rate in next year's budget. He proposed more than doubling monthly payouts to families for the first baby to 1,500 roubles ($55), and giving twice that for a second child. Average wages are below $100 a week. "But the problem of low birth rates cannot be resolved without a general change in the attitude of our society towards the issue of family and family values," Putin said.
Posted by:Fred

#12  Didn't Ceausescu have a similar program, and Mussolini, and Hitler, and ... ?

Is there pattern here?
Posted by: Xbalanke   2006-05-11 17:01  

#11  They should start by improving their orphanages.

They've lost too many to adoption and prostitution.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2006-05-11 12:06  

#10  The Chechens have no problems reproducing. Do they get subsidies too?
Posted by: ed   2006-05-11 11:55  

#9  No DB because your an over qualified American, being preggers and 'all! »:-)
Posted by: RD   2006-05-11 11:40  

#8  Ok Vlad, lets do talk about "the most acute problem facing Russia". It's YOU.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-05-11 11:27  

#7  Well, at least it would bring the evil empire back!
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-05-11 10:55  

#6  Yeah, that's all they need is a bunch of baby Vaders running around.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-05-11 10:44  

#5  Are they taking volunteers to do the humping?
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-05-11 10:11  

#4  Hey, I'm having a 1/2 Russian. Do I qualify for a check? (Anything to help with future college tuition, baby!!)

;P

Posted by: Desert Blondie   2006-05-11 10:04  

#3  Russia's real domestic enemy is its greatest; its non-bearing fertile women. Too bad they're voting with their woombs, Pootie.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-05-11 07:42  

#2  AK-47's, drugs, nukes, babies.... kapitalism at work.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-05-11 04:53  

#1  I hear the Russian Goulash is pretty tasty...
Posted by: Captain America   2006-05-11 01:13  

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