Jonna Carter: Go Forth and Multiply

Tuesday began just like any other day in our new reality — another gobsmacking day of headlines and stories about Trump administration atrocities. I opened The New York Times and grazed the usual fare of illegal deportations, war plans indiscriminately texted, Medicaid and social service programs slashed, personal retribution furthered — yada, yada, yada — until I was stopped in my tracks by an article titled "White House Assesses Ways to Persuade Women to Have More Children." This had to be rich. The lead sentence was, "Baby bonuses and menstrual cycle classes are among the ideas pitched to Trump aides as they consider plans to try boosting the birthrate." Here we go.

Once again, I have underestimated this president. Apparently in March Trump pledged to be “the fertilization president.” How on earth did I miss this? Anyway, an evangelically-laden White House is promoting a "cultural agenda" which, among other things, vows to promote "family values" and shift declining birthrates. Has anyone in this administration read The Handmaid's Tale? Something tells me they have. Just to clarify, Margaret Atwood intended her book as a warning and not a how-to manual.