Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire who bought Twitter, recently raised a ruckus when he agreed with a Tweeter who said people without children should not be allowed to vote. “Non-parents have little stake in the future,” he said.

Here’s the link to one of several articles about Musk’s statement. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/elon-musk-suggests-childless-people-195500862.html

My initial reaction: Of course we have a stake in the future.

My second reaction: What is it?

My third reaction: I made a list.

* We may not have given birth, but we love and care for stepchildren, nieces and nephews, godchildren, the children of our friends, our students, and our co-workers. Our lives are linked in one way or another with all the young people in the world. What we do and say and vote for affects their future.

* We share the same planet and suffer the effects of climate change, war, economic upheaval, discrimination, poverty, homelessness, and other problems. We can make a difference with our personal choices, our actions, and yes, our vote.

* We affect the economy with how we spend our money now and after we die. Because I have no children of my own, I can choose to fund a scholarship or grant or an outright gift to support organizations I believe in or enable a young person to do things he/she would not otherwise have been able to do.

* We affect the future of our world by our work and our service, by the things we make, the things we organize, and the things we do and say. The childless military veteran, pediatrician, mechanic, cook, artist, author, garbage collector, and firefighter all contribute to the future of everyone.

The voting bit only refers to the United States, but, wherever we live, we do have a stake in the future, as well as in the present, whether we have 10 children or none. That’s my opinion.

Your comments?

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