From io9, State-controlled reproduction is a nightmare, with appropriate references to Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, a wonderful book I reviewed early last year, Brave New World, and Philip K. Dick‘s short story called, The Pre-Persons, that pro-choice activists hated. The piece briefly covers the issue of child-rearing and abortion, and while the author seems to have agenda, it’s a fascinating read. And of course, some of the commenters bring up China’s One Child Policy and population control.

My take on it? I refer to an old interview with Margaret Atwood, discussing The Handmaid’s Tale,

Any power structure will co-opt the views of its opponents, to sugarcoat the pill. The regime gives women some things the women’s movement says they want—control over birth, no pornography—but there’s a price. If you were going to put in a repressive regime, how would you do it?… Anyone who wants power will try to manipulate you by appealing to your desires and fears, and sometimes your best instincts. Women have to be a little cautious about that kind of appeal to them. What are we being asked to give up?

It’s a good question for us all: When we vote for some new government program that will supposedly benefit our lives, just what have we given up that was trivialized or that nobody even identified? Science fiction has a way of giving us hints to possible futures.

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