Are there not enough people on the planet yet?

Answer 1

Enough for what?

Answer 2

I am not sure if the human population on our planet is sustainable for a long period of time. I suspect that modern agricultural practices and a stable government infrastructure encouraging trade creates enough food for everybody here, even with the occasional drought or famine. Genetic engineering of crops also promises to extend this population threshold even higher.

We've already gone beyond the maximum population that can be sustained by Earth's resources through natural agriculture. If we did not use modern pesticides and irrigation systems to improve crops, then the world could only support 4 billion people. This is why I am always skeptical of environmental claims for organic agriculture, because 1 out of every 5 people would have to starve before their proposal even works.

Science can help to improve the chance for increasing human population with the least impact on our resources. Norman Bourlag, a scientist who genetically altered crops to aid starving nations, was credited with potentially saving 1 billion people from malnutrition and starvation. Amazing, isn't it? And chances are you didn't even know his name.

But the earth has limited resources and we haven't yet discovered ways to increase our efficiency at using them. So obviously we will have to keep the problem of overpopulation in check, unless a government is willing to invite the suffering and starvation of its people.

And remember that even though there is enough food to go around (over 3,000 calories a day/person from agriculture and meat products alone), over 700 million people in the world suffer from hunger today because their governments cannot effectively make use of those resources.

This is important to keep in mind for future generations, especially in the third world. We must balance our self-interest against the needs of the human species.

Answer 3

Birth rates are dropping rapidly in all human populations. There will be an imbalance of between older people and younger people (more old than young) that is unprecedented in human history. This will have many implications for medical services and retirement income.
Also, economic expansion and development has consistently correlated with population expansion. throughout history. Resources have continued to be found and/or developed that will support the population.
So, no, not enough people.

Answer 4

Well we have more than enough resources for everyone on the planet, so technically we could have a whole lot more people, but do we really need any more? Also, so many countries are overpopulated already, so trying to spread everyone out equally would be grim.

Answer 5

I was driving down an old country road yesterday, and I realized that there wasn't much of that country road left anymore. This road used to be endless miles of corn fields, wheat fields, grazing animals, etc. Now it's new housing developments, apartments, storage units.

Yes, there are enough people on this planet. I fear for the future when there is little room for grass or trees to grow....let alone food to feed all of these people.

Answer 6

Quite. There is more than enough room and food for the humans currently on the planet, but when we start wanting electricity and private houses, then it gets crowded. Maybe we should head into the caves?

Answer 7

There are too many. The planet can't support the population we have even now. In 2006 there was a massive global food defecit. We're eating into our reserves, and soon they'll run out.

There's no way that there's not enough.

Answer 8

Apparently not. The world population increases everyday and some people have to make room for others. I regret that I won't be around to see the day when every square foot of land is occupied by someone. That will be the day when sex is outlawed for at least twenty years--depopulation is essential. We should start practicing now....

Answer 9

There are too many people on the planet and the population is only growing. I think that population laws need to be enforced in order for future generations to live comfortably.

Answer 10

There are too many people on the planet. Gradually, we will just over-populate to the point where we will run out of natural resources and then... for lack of better term... we're screwed.

Answer 11

Of course there are enough. What do we need any more for.

I'm a bit paradoxical, I believe we need population control. I like the idea of less people and more resources per human.
However, I made 3 little people of my own and enjoy them dearly.

The trouble is in the idea of choosing who is worthy to reproduce. Nature generally takes care of this in harsh ways, but we are social and empathetic so we protect our "weak" allowing them to reproduce.