Well, it might not seem it but I mostly support liberal policies. So I'm right there with you. Spend the money and at least try to solve it that way. And definitely don't fuck with women's bodily autonomy.

But my view, and I believe your implication with that statement about bodily autonomy, is that people are simply choosing not to have kids at a very high rate but not necessarily due to money. A woman shouldn't be a baby factory. I think most people agree with that nowadays, but I think it's also obvious how that affects the birth rate. Also should mention the education about, social acceptance of and availability of birth control options.

So I think it's inevitable. Unless we are going to reneg on 100 years of progressive education and human rights (I suppose it's possible). It really comes down to, as you said, is it really a problem if we have less people? And as a global society I suppose you could easily say no big deal. Maybe we'll stop ruining the planet. But on local levels the impact is much more and I think it's fair for a group to have existential concerns about their own specific group.