November 7, 2002

12:19 PM

As Romanian factory workers prepare to sell sperm to a fertility clinic to try to reduce their company's debt one begins to wonder if capitalism is helping to fulfill Ceausescu's dream of increasing Romania's population from 23 million to 30 million by the year 2000, or if it's simply fueling the countries recent increase in the illegal sale of babies.
posted by hatutah (5 comments total)

...a clinic in the western city of Timisoara was offering donors the equivalent of $50 per donation - almost two-thirds of the workers' $80 monthly wage.

Jeeze, why don't they forget their jobs and just, er, donate a couple times a month...
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:41 PM on November 7, 2002

My question is - what the hell do they do with all that sperm? I mean, since when is there a sperm shortage? Anywhere?
posted by MsVader at 12:49 PM on November 7, 2002

I thought the title link was hilarious... perhaps i should not have gone so political on the post...
posted by hatutah at 2:09 PM on November 7, 2002

watch this if you want a surprisingly interesting take on what's up in modern-day romania. (hint: they export a lot of flesh to japan, and it doesn't get cooked.)
posted by subpixel at 3:41 PM on November 7, 2002

Having been all over Romania, there is a lot potential for that country. The mountains alone could be a great tourist destination, they need to oust the old-time politicians and get more creative thinkers in power.

Oh, and to get out of the car-building business. Selling sperm won't erase the fact that Romanian cars are the worst junk ever.
posted by MJoachim at 9:07 AM on November 8, 2002