Thread: In down economy, Arizona has fewer births

In down economy, Arizona has fewer births

by Ginger Rough - Dec. 30, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Arizona's anti-illegal-immigration laws and the poor economy have had a chilling effect on the number of babies born in the state.

Newly released figures from the state's Department of Health Services show a 7 percent drop in the number of infant births in the past year alone and a more than 10 percent drop over the past two years.

Much of that drop has come in births to Hispanic mothers, state data show.

There were more Latino babies born each year in Arizona from 2003 to 2008 than any other ethnicity. But in the past two years, thousands of Latinos, both legal and illegal, have left in search of jobs and a friendlier climate.

Valley obstetricians and statisticians say they aren't necessarily surprised by the overall drop in births: Historically, couples have put off starting or expanding their families in tight economic times.

"We've seen this since the Great Depression," said Dr. Dean Coonrod, chairman of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Maricopa Medical Center.

"I think people just decide that it's going to cost a lot to have a baby, so they put it off . . . until they feel more secure," Coonrod added.

Data provided by the DHS' Office of Vital Records show that 84,368 babies were born in the first 11 months of 2009, compared with 90,876 in the same period in 2008.

In the first 11 months of 2007, 94,110 babies were born in Arizona.

That is a "significant" drop, said Christopher Mrela, a statistician for the DHS.

A blending of factors

Mrela believes a combination of factors related to the economy, including unemployment, foreclosures and a decrease in the number of new residents choosing to call Arizona home, are contributing to the trend.

But the impact of the state's anti-illegal-immigration efforts, particularly the nearly 2-year-old employer-sanctions law, cannot be ignored, he said.

That law punishes companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Since the law took effect, Arizona's undocumented-immigrant population has decreased by about a third, according to a report commissioned in July by a Washington, D.C., think tank that favors less immigration.

The number of babies born to Hispanic mothers dropped by 6.8 percent, to 42,639, from 2007 to 2008.

So far this year, there have been 3,193 fewer births among Hispanics compared with 2008.

"2001-07, the major force of population dynamics in Arizona was the in-migration, rather than an increase in births over deaths," Mrela said in an e-mail.

"Since 2008, because of all the factors mentioned, Arizona isn't really an inviting state."

www.azcentral.com

Could it not be that illegals are not dropping their loads as often due to them leaving
the USA in our downturn in the economy and more laws to scare them away?
GO Sherrif Joe!

If they think that births were down before, they ain't seen nothing yet compared to what the numbers will be at the end of 2010. Not only is our economy going to become far worse but with our new and improved law requiring proof of legal status by those applying for any public benefits and services, and the reporting of those without it, the number is going to drop right through the floor.

Arizona's anti-illegal-immigration laws and the poor economy have had a chilling effect on the number of babies born in the state.

What is chilling about this? This is fabulous, and long overdue!! Add to that the reality that the care and support of this over-population frenzy has fallen primarily on responsible law-abiding Americans, and I suspect there is quite a bit of celebration going on over this.

But wait; now you’ll hear the drums pounding for immigration increases, because you see, with a declining fertility/birth rate, how will we ever sustain the nation??? These bozos refuse to acknowledge that Americans are deliberately and purposefully controlling our birthrates out of concern for the quality of life of future generations, and for the environment. Population control is an absolute must for these very reasons.

Let's face it, the human race is in no way in danger of extinction, and every time I read about or hear drivel regarding our declining birth rate it is all I can do to keep from screaming.

Someone tell me how long China has had the one-child rule in effect? As far as I can see we are in no danger of running out of Chinese.

Originally Posted by melena29

Arizona's anti-illegal-immigration laws and the poor economy have had a chilling effect on the number of babies born in the state.

What is chilling about this? This is fabulous, and long overdue!! Add to that the reality that the care and support of this over-population frenzy has fallen primarily on responsible law-abiding Americans, and I suspect there is quite a bit of celebration going on over this.

But wait; now you’ll hear the drums pounding for immigration increases, because you see, with a declining fertility/birth rate, how will we ever sustain the nation??? These bozos refuse to acknowledge that Americans are deliberately and purposefully controlling our birthrates out of concern for the quality of life of future generations, and for the environment. Population control is an absolute must for these very reasons.

Let's face it, the human race is in no way in danger of extinction, and every time I read about or hear drivel regarding our declining birth rate it is all I can do to keep from screaming.

Someone tell me how long China has had the one-child rule in effect? As far as I can see we are in no danger of running out of Chinese.

Ditto melena!

The Pro-Amnesty idiots keep saying we can't deport 12 million IAs and that Attrition through Enforcement won't work. I hope every one of those idiots reads this article!

Originally Posted by melena29

Arizona's anti-illegal-immigration laws and the poor economy have had a chilling effect on the number of babies born in the state.

What is chilling about this? This is fabulous, and long overdue!!




It's not!!

It's maddening to me the rampant misuse of the term "chilling effect" that we've been beaten over the head with relentlessly for the past two years.

"Chilling effect" is actually a legal term also known as "libel chill"....and this journalist should know exactly what it means since it's a tactic primarily used against......well.....journalists!!

Here is the simple, basic explanation:

Censorship

By media
Banned books · Banned films
Re-edited film · Internet · Music
Press · Radio · Thought
Speech and expression
Video games
Methods
Book burning · Book challenging
Bleeping · Broadcast delay
Chilling effect
Conspiracy of silence
Content-control software
Euphemism · Expurgation
· Gag order
Heckling · Memory hole
Pixelization · Postal
Prior restraint · Revisionism
Self-censorship · Speech code
Whitewashing · Verbal offence
Strategic lawsuit

Contexts
Corporate · Political · Religious
Ideological · Criminal speech
Hate speech · Media bias
Suppression of dissent

By country
Censorship · Freedom of speech
v • d • e

A chilling effect is a term in law and communication which describes a situation where speech or conduct is suppressed by fear of penalization at the interests of an individual or group. It may prompt self-censorship and therefore hamper free speech. Since many attacks rely on libel law, the term libel chill is also often used.[citation needed] This is the same concept as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or "SLAPP" suit.

In United States and Canadian law, the term chilling effects refers to the stifling attribute that vague or overbroad laws may have on legitimate speech activity. Recognition of a law that may permit a loophole for such chilling effect as a vehicle for political libel or vexatious litigation provides a prompt to allow changes to such defamation laws, and therefore prevent the suppression of free speech and censorship.



Now....where does the use of "chilling effect" in any way make sense when referring to illegal aliens?

And where in the blazes does this woman draw a line even remotely between "chilling effect" and our bad economy in Arizona as being the cause for fewer illegal alien births?

All that happened with this is that one of their advocates threw out this nifty little bit of legalese somewhere along the line.....and probably in it's proper context in response to something..... and ever since then it's been bandied about by a bunch of people who's ignorance is showing. In a big way

More evidence of just what kind of IQs we're dealing with inside the pro-illegal advocacy

[quote="Ratbstard"]

The Pro-Amnesty idiots keep saying we can't deport 12 million IAs and that Attrition through Enforcement won't work.


Let them try telling that to someone like my boss and other landlords who built their businesses on illegal alien tenants and are now faced with all but deserted apartment complexes and manufactured home communities out here, having to face the consequences of their own greed driven, poor business decisions that has left them holding the bag with trashed and irreputable properties no one wants to move into and they don't want to spend the money to turn around

Azwreath,

I'm having some difficulty understanding what you are trying to explain in the above post. Perhaps this is because I am reading the original piece as well as your response to my post with a layman's ear, if you will; I perceive this to be a piece of journalism directed toward the general populace and not the legal community.

If the intent of the article was in regard to legal premise, then perhaps the venue it appears in is wrong.

I will take this piece at face value, and stand by my post. The chilling effect can only be considered as it was noted in the piece, which is with regard to the decline in birth rates, due to what the author considers an adverse effect of immigration enforcement. If he means to say something else, then that is what he should do.
If he or you intended this to be a legal opinion, it’s in the wrong publication.

With regard to the following:

A chilling effect is a term in law and communication which describes a situation where speech or conduct is suppressed by fear of penalization at the interests of an individual or group. It may prompt self-censorship and therefore hamper free speech.

Let me submit to you that illegal aliens do not have the same rights ascribed to American citizens; therefore there is no violation of their rights to free speech, or a guarantee of the civil liberties and right to pursue happiness that the Constitution of the United States of America bestows on its legal citizens. Allowing this farce to continue ad nauseum serves only to cheapen American citizenship, and I, along with many hundreds of millions of my fellow Americans refuse to allow the prostitution of our nation and our citizenship for the sake of mediocrity any longer.

These reasonable efforts at immigration law enforcement are accomplishing exactly what they are intended to do, which is to encourage self deportation, and put an end once and for all to the abuse of my country, the injury to my people, and the havoc these criminal wreak on the future of my progeny.

Originally Posted by azwreath

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

The Pro-Amnesty idiots keep saying we can't deport 12 million IAs and that Attrition through Enforcement won't work.


Let them try telling that to someone like my boss and other landlords who built their businesses on illegal alien tenants and are now faced with all but deserted apartment complexes and manufactured home communities out here, having to face the consequences of their own greed driven, poor business decisions that has left them holding the bag with trashed and irreputable properties no one wants to move into and they don't want to spend the money to turn around

They are getting exactly what they deserve. They made their bed (at our expense), and now they must lie in it.

Americans are screaming for justice, and will settle for nothing less. If it were up to me each and every American who enabled the violation of our immigration law would be held on charges of treason. They would be made to forfeit every assett, every scrap, every dime that was made off illegal alien labor.

You say you want a revolution...