Underlying every problem we are currently experiencing is unchecked population growth. Dr. Albert Bartlett of the University of Colorado in Boulder gave a very informative lecture several years ago, and it is a classic.
Basically, he says the most important thing we are ignoring is the simple mathematical principle of exponential growth.
To know how expogro relates to population, watch this excerpt, and if you have time, watch the entire video posted in Google. The lecture is in 8 segments, each about 8 or 9 minutes long. It’s worth every single second.
The “population bomb” has been threatened for years. It has, so far, failed to explode. In fact, it has not even fizzled.
A couple of things: First, there is plausible evidence to support hte fact that the agricultural systems of the world, using current technology can support up to 29 billion people. Second: Folks have large families due to economic and religious pressures.
We here in the United States had reached a negative population growth in the seventies as children have become a huge economic burden. They are no longer a free labor source for the family and also are likely to live to maturity. No need to have fifteen. SO… we have allowed the illegal immigration of millions and thereby have allowed our population to explode. As an aside, much of this growth has been in the dependent class rather than the productive class. This is a problem.
If we truly wished to control the population of humans on earth, we would export capitalism to the world and discourage the welfare state. We would first fix our educational system and then export education (fact, not dogma, not feelings) to the world. As the influence of antiquated religious dogma wanes, and the true economic costs of non-slave children (dependents) becomes evident, families will naturally become smaller. Population growth will adapt to fit the physical and economic environments.
Or, we can continue what we are doing now. A welfare state that encourages a growth in the dependent class and a misinformed preservation of archaic religions and cultures that encourage the prolifieration of the species.
It is our choice.
I am the author of a book titled “Five Short Blasts: A New Economic Theory Exposes The Fatal Flaw in Globalization and Its Consequences for America.” I think you may find this book to be very interesting because population density lies at the heart of this new economic theory. To make a long story short, as population density rises beyond some optimum level, per capita consumption of products begins to decline out of the need to conserve space. People who live in crowded conditions simply don’t have enough space to use and store many products. This declining per capita consumption, in the face of rising productivity (per capita output, which always rises), inevitably yields rising unemployment and poverty.
For most people who see never-ending population growth as a problem, their concerns are rooted in a concern for the environment. Economists, on the other hand, shrug off such concerns, claiming that man is ingenious enough to overcome any obstacles to population growth. Resources can be used more efficiently and recycled, pollution can be abated, and so on. Making matters worse, they can’t envision how an economy can remain healthy without further population growth. So our government and business leaders hold fast to their “pro growth” approach.
This book, however, finally offers the ultimate weapon for environmentalists and anyone concerned about population growth – a solid economic argument for a reduced population. It explains how everyone’s wallet is directly impacted by growth which has become cancerous, driving up unemployment and eroding their finances and quality of life. It’s written in plain language, not economic gibberish, and is aimed at average Americans.
If you’re interested in learning more about this important new economic theory, I invite you to visit my web site at OpenWindowPublishingCo.com. There you can read the preface, join in the blog discussion and, of course, purchase the book if you like. (It’s also available at Amazon.com.)
Please forgive the somewhat “spammish” nature of the previous paragraph. I don’t know how else to inject this new perspective into the debate about overpopulation without drawing attention to the book that explains the theory.
Keep up your efforts to raise concern about our growing population problem.
Pete Murphy
Author, Five Short Blasts
Thanks Benjamin Napier and Pete Murphy for the comments above. We are always hoping for informative commentary, and both give much food for thought!
Three cheers for Al Bartlett.
Benjamin Napier is mistaken about one thing. Having lived in the third world for over fifteen years, I see that it is the states with social security that have low natural population growth, and the states with free market capitalism that have more children (to take care of parents in old age). In poor countries, they are still sending children out to work (such as maids of six years old) because parents can’t feed them. But those same parents are still expecting some monetary support from those children as they receive the minimal wages from the children’s employers, and are expecting children themselves to contribute as they get older.
Eileen
Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas
elementaryteacher.wordpress.com
Yes, I know about Dr. Albert Bartlett. He is a great men and have very experienced. He is providing effective information to University of Colorado or to all world. Great job.