Yes. Child rearing's so much less stressful than work-a-day life.
Much less worry, stress, and emotional turmoil.
No worries at all...
Then again there is concern about travel, immunizations, getting home in time to care for kids, twisting over one schedule juggled to commit to another, doctor visits, diaper/milk/food/allergy or school issues. Certainly no concerns caring for mentally or physically challenged children. No worry about temper tantrums/ hypreactivity, loosing sleep over children crying, teething / ill / growing quickly, or affording medications for them. No worries over diapers, clothing, cost of school supplies, after-school activities, dentistry/braces, college/university, alcohol/drug useage, insurance for cars they borrow/wreck, or over pregnancies, weddings....

So where's the stress? ;)

Any person wanting to have children should need to take a parenting education course. Make it like anyother thing, like driving, or practicing medicine. They could be required to take care of an imitation child (a doll that poops, cries etc), to the satisfaction of a board (made-up of parents, educators, medical staff). And then write the same licencing exam (including the care of the imitation baby) for each child they want, beyond their first.
This class could be done for teenagers as well as adults. It needs to start in the schools, with sex ed. This could be a manditory part of every level of education, in order to avoid the unplanned events...as it were.

This whole thing seems extreme, but when you educate people properly, it makes them think, and maybe, see the reality, not just the fantasy of having children.
It would reduce heart ache, misery, infant abuse/death and yes, finally, money spent dealing with it all.

Much like you, I see people that should not have children, as they can not hope to raise or support them. I think that in order to have children, you should have to prove you have the parenting infrastructure to support it...or you don't get to have them. I do not believe the rest of society should be taxed to raise children, or support the people that have them.

Too many people fall into the "fantasy" that a child will make their lives better, without thinking about how they might have to do the same for the child. Do they truely realize their resposibility, and the commitment required? Most sadly do not, and as a result do more harm than any good, to their,"bundle of joy". Babies are cute, like puppies/kittens, for only so long, then the parenting reality sets in..."OMG, I have this for the next twenty years"( at least)!

I am childless because I want to be. There, I said it. I am upper middle class, as far as income goes, have a good education and career, and can not imagine ever giving up my freedom to raise children. I am not selfish. I simply just do not want the burden of spending my time and money on them. I never wanted children. Even as a young woman. My mother used to say " you'll change your mind when you get married". I never did. I was honest about that with my husband of 30 years (while we were still dating), because I did not want to have THE arguement. He didn't want children either, thank goodness. We are very happy D.I.N.K.s (for those unaware, Dual Income No Kids). and enjoy the freedom to go anywhere, for the time we want, when we please...no schools, no screaming tantrums, diapers to change and expenses to worry about. We live mortgage and loan free, and own the "toys" we've always wanted.. We have good pensions. What's not to like about this life!