Megabroods

Today there's a story in the Journal about Chinese billionnaires trying to build massive families for themselves using American surrogates. Of course there are a wide range of reactions about how morally regugnant it is, whether it's illegal, immoral, etc. My reaction tends to be more in the range of ick/good luck with that and, ultimately, sadness for the children of these colossal, raging assholes. Raising children should be the most engaging, engrossing and rewarding things one ever does, really the most if not the only meaningful thing many of us do, not some volume play.

It merits noting in passing some of the variants of the schemes these guys have in mind. One wants to create a corps of sons who can take over his businesses. Another wants a bunch of daughters who carry intermarry with other rich people. Each of these variants has its own ick factor, but at least the second guy has some imagination and sees the value in cross-fertilization and combining with others.

At the end of the day (i.e. the end of the post), I can only wish the best for these poor little rich children, and hope that they find love and fulfillment somewhere along the way on this often harsh planet. And I hope that those born here in the USA are not denied their birthright American citizenship and that it will provide them opportunities for edification and growth, lest they all be subjected to the ruthless discipline of the gaokao, on top of the demands of an asshole father who will most likely smoulder just outside the ashbin of history before being ingested by worms.