Reporting from Workstation 9

Of ballet, birth rates and vaginas.
Perakath, now now, don't get too excited. I read the book the vagina monologues finally two days back. And my hesitation to elaborate on the points in the book in a public blog, makes me wonder how truly "free" I am in that respect. I could discuss it with say my close girl-friends. It's one of those chicken soup for the soul type of books, narrating stories of women, and some of the thoughts of the women about their V's is indeed an eye opener. Only in the spirit in which the book in written, it is worth a read. I am now onto another book I kept putting off reading, 1984. I've given TVM to my chinese classmate. I eagerly await her reaction. I'm quite fond of her. She's just as dreamy* as me.

Of Birthrates, the paper today noted that in Britan, 1 in three graduate women choose not to/ or like J Anniston keep putting it off, until they are too old to give birth to children. It said that France and Australia are handing out generous benefits to women to make them give birth to children. Singapore is literally on a do or die crusade to prop up the birth rate in the country. In my so I believe libertarian world, is this justified? Is enticing people with money to give birth to children, which they otherwise wouldn't have had, against a persons right to excercise his freedom? Or is it, just one of the fundamental principles of economics at work: people respond to incentives and does not in any way infringe on anybody's right to free thought?

I think its the latter. The choice to have or not of have children is still there, except you will not get that $5000 bonus. But the choice is still there.

I actually don't think there is much of a debate in this matter, but sometimes, the less the Government interferes in people's lives, it is thought that the better off the society is. But that probably does not apply in cases like this where there are no distortions of any sort. You have a child, you get that transfer. You are not making anyone worse off.

On a similar note, sometime back Amartya Sen wrote an article in FT on how banning smoking in public places is not infringing on a libertarians right to smoke. He gave two reasons, the first one is the obvious passive smoking one, and the other I forgot. But it was a good argument..

Finally, ballet. I realized after attending ballet class today that being thin makes a difference to how nice you look while dancing. I really looked a little out of place there with all the poles around you, and me with my weight-trained(I usually prefer sporty) calves and thighs. But I didn't mind. I was going for the experience and it was a wonderful experience. You just feel so graceful. But it's not at all easy. I know tomorrow when I get up(if I do), I'll be limping my way to school.

Things to accomplish list: Ballet and Gymnastics done. Now left on the agenda is advanture sports, travelling and working as a bartender/waitress at a nice cafe/bar(preferable crazy elephant..they had an ad sometime back, but I don't have the time:(...)

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