Only in America do we focus on happiness in such an absurd, simplistic way. Only in America do we make a business out of claiming that one group is "happier" than another, as though there is only one way to define happiness, as though being happy means that you are in a constant state of happiness. What the heck does it even mean to be "happy"?

A few weeks ago a similar poll came out claiming that conservatives were "happier" than liberals. Duh. The people who want to make change, who want the world to improve because they're unhappy with the way it is now are not going to be generically described as "happy." Fuck happy. I can't think of a more meaningless, insipid word to describe life.

If caring about the human condition, about other people other than myself means that I am "unhappy," so be it. I'd rather be fighting against inequality than be "happy."

Only young children think about happiness in this way-- it's not a constant state, and it shouldn't be. I do not define happiness as an existence without challenge or struggle.

Because if you've made it to your late 20s or 30s without a kid you have a lot more to give up-- you've built a life for yourself, and the more you like that life the harder it is to willingly volunteer to throw a large, kid-shaped wrench into it and hope for the best.

By your late 20s and 30s your maturity and life experiences (should) tell you that parenting isn't easy and that things don't always turn out the way you've hoped and planned. It is no mystery that life is a huge balancing game, with or without kids. However, as someone already wrote, if you have a desire for kids that at times overwhelms you then odds are that you'll regret not having kid(s) more than you would if you did have them. Can you live with that regret?

What I do find interesting is how many thoughtful, pondering people skip over all the different ways to become a parent. It's all about growing their own. If you're a progressive thinker and want kids but have anxieties about overpopulation or the environment, then think about the kids who need homes who are already here. I'm not talking about costly trips to adopt babies in Romanian orphanages either. The fact is that there are children all over the US who need stable, loving homes. Some are babies, some are older, most are not white. I wish more people would do a little more research about domestic adoption instead of swallowing all the myths out there. There are African-Amerian domestic adoption programs that cost less than $10,000-- remember there is a $10,000 adoption credit, so basically they're free-- that say things like "we have more babies than we have homes." But even adopting a white baby isn't nearly as bad as most people think, for many it's not a lot longer than trying to conceive and give birth.

I'm not saying adoption isn't difficult, especially if you adopt trans-racially, however being a parent of any child is fraught with challenges, even if it is your own biologically.

Just something to think about.

Thanks a lot, Broadsheet, now I have to try and scrub my short term memory.

What the hell is wrong with these parents? Whoring out a sexy image of your child for money-- which is somehow that much worse when they're prepubescent preteens or younger-- is truly beyond the pale. It is no accident that the index of all the girls mirrors a porn site banner list. The porn references are unmistakable-- interchangable-- as most of them are scantily clad, have come-hither stares, are in underwear or bikinis! The only difference is that most of these girls don't even have developed breasts yet! SQUICK. SQUICK. SQUICK.

I'm not debating whether or not it's technically illegal but it certainly is a 20-foot tall NEON BLINKING SIGN that there is something deeply wrong with the parents of these kids. It speaks volumes about their judgement, about their comfort level with allowing and presenting their preteen girls as sex objects for public consumption. I can't help but wonder how many of these young girls have unnatural relationships with their parents.

This company and it's clients should be investigated. If nothing comes of it legally at least the parents might realize what they're doing is wrong.