Australia's fertility rate has fallen to around 1.5 children per woman. We need about 2.1 to maintain a population. People blame the cost of living. Some of the wealthiest societies have the lowest birth rates. Birth-Rate Crisis is out today. Link below.

I rarely walk into a bank branch. Like everyone I try to avoid it. But you still need to access a teller from time to time. Today I walked into a Westpac / St George branch. As one of about 15 people lined up for 1 teller, I had a lovely elderly lady standing behind me. A young man started to walk up the line asking everyone what they wanted to do trying to get them to go to the ATM’s. No luck there. What a waste of time. After cringing at the lack of privacy - another (more rude & entitled) young man, maybe 23 years old at best, decided he wanted to tell people to go to the ATM’s as well. Then he proceeded to debate with the woman behind me (who eventually told me she was 90 years old) that she could no longer transfer money at the teller. But, she kept saying “I’ve been doing it for years”. After she started becoming distressed, and he was digging his heels in, I stepped in to help her. To at least give her some moral support. The rudeness and disrespect towards both of us was next level. The banks treat those who are uncomfortable with technology like dirt. He just simply couldn’t understand her perspective. We are living in a world where customer service and empathy is disappearing with each passing generation and to listen to this beautiful lady and watch how she was treated was another real world example of how far our society is sliding down the slope of mindless AI twats thinking they know better than everyone else.